Thursday, October 30, 2008

Red-bellied dreams come true!


The wait is over - a Red-bellied woodpecker has come to visit me! In the summer they ignore my feeders. But in winter I become quite popular with them. I saw the male briefly. And then the female obliged me. The first photo was shot through the window - and then when I opened it - I was only able to get off one shot of the back of her before she flew away. Usually they are not this shy.

17 comments:

Eve said...

Fantastic Shelley!!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Shelly: What a very neat bird, I'm glad you captured him.

MuseSwings said...

Sooner or later "suet will do it"! Love your pics!

Peggy said...

We are on the same page with woodpeckers today. Glad to see you finally got yours, as I got my first ever P.W too! Congrats! I'm sure they will both be back daily now!

jalynn01 said...

yippee! Isn't it great to finally see a bird show up at your feeder that you've been waiting for? I love this fella. He is just so beautiful. He also likes grapes..check out my blog.

sandy said...

wow, these are fantastic photos!!

That top one is perfect in every way.

Mary C said...

I'm so happy for you, Shelley. I hope they continue to visit and then you can get more photos as they get used to you. ;o)

NCmountainwoman said...

So glad the red-bellieds are back. Soon they will hardly notice that you are around.

Denise said...

Aren't they cute? They fight with the Red-headed's during breeding season, but are at our cabin year round. Sometimes I put out whole peanuts in the shell and they seem to come out of nowhere. Your photo's are so clear!

Knatolee said...

Oh lucky you!!!! And more great photos. What do I get at my feeder this morning? A rat. Whoo hooo. I prefer your sighting!

Tina said...

I love these guys also ..so colorful! Great photos Shelley, hope he stayed while to enjoy the suet and you didn't have to lean out the window to get these!!:)

Kathie Brown said...

They look a lot like our Gila's...until you look at their bellies!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Shelley, Our Red-bellied likes our 'open' plate feeder. He stops by about 4-5 times every day and chirps LOUDLY to let us know he is there. When we are outside, he hollers at us from the trees. I'm not sure there's more than one.. I've only seen one. He's the only woodpecker to come to our feeders so far.

Shelley said...

Eve - thank you!

Fishing guy - me too!

Birdgirl - I love them too!

muse - how very true!

hannibal - your shots were great!

jalynn - so glad you shared your grape secret!

sandy - i think i can do better...

nc- I hope so!

denise - I'm still envying your red heads!

Knatolee - time to send the cats out!!

Tina - I'm going to need a trapeze soon! ha,ha

kathie - they do have cute bellies!

betsy - how great you have them too!!

Nick S said...

I love those guys Shelley. One came all the way up to Southern Saskatchewan last year, but it was still a long way away from our place !

Jessica said...

Love those woodpeckers. I had such great fun watching a baby red bellied grow up this past summer. Love those woodpeckers!!

Leedra said...

Great views to help us see the difference in the male and female. Captured both yesterday at Lake Seminole Park. I was so excited. Wish I could get them at home.