click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney
There is an old slogan amongst photographers that rings true for me--"f-8 and BE there". The point is--while a Woodpecker might conceivably come knocking at my door some day, I've really got to go where they live. And the less dicking-around with equipment and camera settings, the greater the chances are that I might find something (just possibly woodpeckers) to snap.
click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney
I'm no expert on birds, but I believe this is California's Acorn Woodpecker. But I have never seen more than one Acorn Woodpecker at a time. On Thursday up on my beloved Mount Tamalpais there must have been 10 or more, and they all seemed quite active, going between tree to tree in the same general area.
Because of all the activity I wondered if it might be mating season, but in checking the Wikipedia entry I see that it may be a little bit early--California Acorn Woodpeckers are said to mate in May and June. Possibly they were just enjoying the pleasant day. Or just possibly, love is arriving a little bit early this year?
click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney
Okay, those of you with nothing better to do for 6 minutes and 13 seconds are welcome to watch Woody Woodpecker playing the piano.
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4 comments:
Wow, that's amazing. I heard a woodpecker in the next door neighbors tree yesterday but could never find him. And here you found a whole family.
I'm impressed.
what wonderful captures! the other day I had the pleasure to have a bird duo come and knock+peck at my window, def. not woodpeckers but was still quite a beautiful peculiar happening.
how high is this pole? thx for sharing I love these ;)
Hi PHOTOWANNABE SUE - Yeah, it was a pretty lucky encounter. Definitely a first for me.
AND HI MELIGROSA - Yeah, sometimes you've got to wonder about birds--what goes through their feathered minds. Those trees are up on Ridgecrest Boulevard, about 1/16 of a mile north of the hang-glider launch area. Usually I just shoot the holy trees but this plethora of Woodpeckers was definitely something else. To answer your question about the height of the tree, it's probably 50 feet tall, but it is on the down-slope from the road, so the top is only about 20 feet above the level of the road, and about 50 feet away. I had to crop the image quite a bit for the close view.
Ultra-nice woodpecker shots.
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