Tuesday, September 22, 2009

The Miraculous Pileated

“Hope is the companion of power, and mother of success; for who so hopes strongly has within him the gift of miracles.” - Samuel Smiles



Seeing a Loon, Bald Eagle or Pileated Woodpecker feels like a miraculous event for me. I'm always searching for them and always hoping to capture that moment on film. I've been pursuing the Pileated Woodpecker as of late and it's been a long summer. I always hear the Pileated Woodpecker near our log cabin. But as soon as I gather my camera equipment and head out to the deck to get a photo - the normally shy bird is gone in a big whoosh! But on this Sunday morning, I lucked out. I was able to get off two shots until she flew off across the lake. Until next time.....

48 comments:

Richard said...

Great picture. I believe "he" is a "she".

Deb said...

Wonderful capture Shelley! Your cabin sounds like a fabulous spot for birds & wildlife.

Janice K said...

Wow, Shelley. What a great closeup. It's tail feathers are really interesting. I hear them a lot but they don't come up close very often.

Chris said...

Hi Shelley,
This is a great shot of a species i would definitively like to see with my own eyes, but I'm so glad you presented it on your blo. Talking about loon, I guess you will like my present post, but I'm keeping one especially for you and Chris Petrak!!! I got common loon shots just before leaving in France for my holidays, and they are just the best ever I got... I'll post them soon!

Wall-to-wall books said...

The same thing happens to me with the Pileated woodpeckers around here, I hear them, then see them but are gone before I can get my camera.

Deborah Godin said...

What a great shot of the Pilly. Just look at the wonderful bright alert eye! Love it!

Peggy said...

Well, you finally got her! And maybe next time, you will see her before she sees you! Hearing them are a treat in itself! Good luck!

Ginnymo said...

Great shot of that beautiful bird Shelly! I know how hard it is to get photos of them. They seem to move so fast.

Eve said...

Wonderful Shelley! I hear them way more than I see them too!

Anonymous said...

Lucky you this time! We have some around here but there's no way I can get a photo. I'll just enjoy your beautiful shots!

Dorothy said...

Wonderful picture, Shelley! I don't see those around here. Maybe if I were actually out in the woods I might see one, but it's a wilderness out there.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Shelly: I feel the same way when I see a Great Blue Heron, Green Heron and any hawk.

Wildflowerhouse said...

We have quite a few of these woodpeckers. Found one eying my log home. No way Mr woodpecker, no bugs here!!!!!! They are beautiful though. Sharon

holdingmoments said...

Great feeling to finally capture an elusive bird Shelley.

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

Wow!This is a perfect shot.
Blessings,Ruth

Jenny said...

I'm sooo glad you got some shots of that Pileated at last. They're stunning birds. We don't have anything quite so dramatic over here.

Patsy said...

Beautiful! I have only seen a pileated one time and that was when we lived in Texas. It was a thrill.
Patsy

Tina said...

Wow Shelley!! What a great photograph. I know what you mean about getting all excited when you think you got a good shot of this guy!! I have yet to see one really up close..to appreciate his hugeness!!
Great job!!

Jen said...

Now that's what I'm talkin about!
Please send him FedEx overnite-I will feed him whatever he wants. I'll even cook if necessary!

Coralie Cederna Johnson said...

What a thrill to be able to capture that very shy bird of great beauty! I have seen a few but they do not stay long. Great photo!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

I love the Pileated Woodpeckers also, Shelley... We have them around here ---but they are hard to photograph..

How is school going????
Hugs,
Betsy

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

That's a great photo Shelley!
I think they're really special.

The Retired One said...

How GLORIOUS!! They are always on my wish list for photos, too. Aren't they amazing birds??? SOOO big and beautiful.
I am so happy for you.
My hands would have been shaking like crazy.

BTW, still no mailbox delivery. Did you trace that package? I am so worried as to why it got lost!!
How is school going?

Adrienne Zwart said...

Fantastic capture, Shelley! I have the same experience with the Hairy woodpeckers here. They come to the feeder on the deck frequently, but they are skittish, and as soon as they see me move in the kitchen, they are gone! I've never seen a pileated in the wild. What do they sound like?

Elaine said...

Beautiful shot! It's so rewarding to capture the elusive bird.

Jayne said...

Oh, she's beautiful Shelley! Lucky you!

Rural Rambler said...

We have three Pileated Woodpeckers here. We don't see them all summer but see them frequently during fall and winter. They are awesome birds but I have to admit to sweating over the damage they do to our trees. Man they can work a tree over. I am thinking they pick trees that are already diseased, I will have to google. That is a great picture Shelley, they are such a large comical kind of bird! They are definitely hard to capture for a photo.

Anonymous said...

I took photos the other night of pileateds in our campground but they were busy eating choke cherries and the leaves on the trees covered them up so my shots aren't very good! They remind me of an ancient bird.

orink3 said...

Hi, Shelley:
Excellent photo. If the background woodland shot on your home page is a satellite shot of your area, it looks like you are in a good location for these woodpeckers.

I walk in forests after the leaves have fallen, listen and look for Pileated WP nest or roost holes. This January, I used this strategy to find a male just starting to create a hole. Follow up observations eventually gave me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPwsPOItWWQ
or google 2009 Pileated Woodpecker Nest

As Ever,
Orin

Connie said...

That's a great shot, Shelley. He's posing just for you. Have a good week! :D

Grace said...

I love the picture and the post. :)

Mary said...

Your wait was worth it....great shot! I love these big woodpeckers.

Anonymous said...

The Pileated looks contented too. It seems to be playing a catch and release game with you. Congrats on catching up with this laughable creature.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you got that shot! What a beauty!

Kelly said...

....gosh...I love the Pileated Woodpeckers too....they are just spectacular in sight and sound! You're so lucky she came up close. The photo is gorgeous. (Did you see Chris' site? He posted Loons for you!)

Dawn Fine said...

Its been a long time...i have been sans internet while traveling thru much of the west..but now in Oregon.
i love your piliated picture and your looney loons below!

Knatolee said...

Your persistence has paid off! Beautiful!

Anonymous said...

I've just started watching birds -I do hope someday I'm able to catch a great shot like this!
vickie

Andrea said...

They are breath-taking.
Glad you captured the moment for us.

Coy Hill said...

Congratulations Shelley, these birds are difficult to capture.

As much time as I spend in the outdoors still I have only had one good photo encounter with these birds when a adult male decided to drill a tree near my portable gound blind.

Wendy said...

Beautiful :)

Unknown said...

Breathtaking.

BirdingMaine said...

Very nice photo Shelley! We had a trio of Pileated WP's coming around this summer devouring our blueberries.

Anonymous said...

I saw my first bald eagles soaring over my office last month and was able to get a picture, albeit fuzzy!

I am a very novice birder (if I can even be called that! More of a backyard bird watcher) and seeing those eagles just made my whole summer!

Sherry in Detroit

Nature Nut /JJ Loch said...

Beautiful shot, Shell!!! I love woodpeckers too. Flickers always follow us down the two-track. :D

How are you, dear?

Hugs, JJ...almost bird feeding time again.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful picture! I love your blog.
vickie

Unknown said...

This woodpecker species is such a difficult one to spot and get close to, nice shot.

Ms. ~K said...

Amazing photo of an amazing bird!!!

I've missed you and your wonderful blog while we were traveling!!!