My holy grail bird

Do you have those one or two birds you are constantly seeking and when you do see it, you are in awe? I call those my holy grail birds. One of mine is the Pileated Woodpecker. Such a shy and alert bird - I can't tell you how many missed photo opportunities I have had with this fellow! I swear, it can hear me breathing even when I'm in my cabin, and if I dare to look at my camera, he flies away screeching in protest. Well yesterday I got my brief moment to memorialize him on film......I was doing the happy dance afterwards. (And of course he was screeching louder than my blue jays through the trees shortly thereafter.) So what's your holy grail of birds to see and photograph?

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.....

Another Pileated Photo

I forgot I had this photo as well when the Pileated moved to the other side of the tree. You can see his eye a little bit better. I have big plans to buy some big suet cakes to keep him around and get better shots!

P.S. I will be at the Log & Timber Show in Chicago the next few days so I will have automatic postings of some of my past favorite photos. I'll be sure to catch up with all of you when I get back!

My first Pileated Woodpecker!

This weekend up at our log cabin, I finally got to see my first Pileated Woodpecker! My friend Eddie is always sending me pictures of his 20 Pileateds and making me envious. I shot this photo from inside the cabin because I knew they were notoriously shy and he might fly away as soon as I went outside. (Sure enough he did, but at least I got this one as proof.)

Slow Birdwatching Day

Today was a "slow" bird day for me! Over 3 hours, I observed 4 house finches, 5 mourning doves, 1 nuthatch and the usual 20 sparrows. I also had a persistent squirrel which I bribed with peanuts thrown on the ground for him so he would quick launching himself from the tree to my feeders.

Eddie - my friend in Northern Michigan (a.k.a "Up North) had a much more impressive day. He shot me an email with this picture of the Pileated, Hairy and Downy woodpecker all eating together.

I was hoping for a good variety of birds so I would have great data input for the Project Feederwatch survey. For those not familiar, this is a winter survey of birds that visit your birdfeeder between November till April. This is run by Cornell University who you then report your data back to. It has also inspired me to put up 6 feeders and a heated birdbath in an attempt to draw every bird that exists in Michigan to my feeder. (After reading 20 bird books, I found out not matter how many feeders I put out - not all birds use them. )

My husband Greg was motivated to put bird seed out in the middle of our yard in the hopes the mourning doves would eat there and a hawk would see them and swoop down and snatch one of them. He's not too far off the mark in thinking this would happen. We were witness to such an event last year in our yard when an innocent mourning dove was out in the open and a sharp shinned hawk swooped down, squeezed him to death - tore his feathers apart like a pillow and then ate him. I managed to snap a couple photos before he flew away with his carcass. Greg is still mulling over how to present the hawk with more bird treats......