One minute I’m in a peaceful forest and in the next an enthusiastic woodpecker takes over. The sounds seem to come from everywhere.
I am thrilled to get distracted from chasing chickadees with ADD. This is a larger, more significant bird with real capability. There could be lessons to learn.
I am fascinated to watch the woodpecker use the force from its entire body to slam that beak deep into a tree branch. This hammer-drill approach that gets an important result – lunch. Good strategy.
It is also quick. In an instant it is on another branch, a few beak blows later it is on another tree.
Some holes got deeper than others as the hunt for food continued.
Before long it is back to the original tree – I begin to see more madness than method. Perhaps all that brain-rattling activity damaged the woodpecker’s ability to focus.
Despite any pretence of a plan, the woodpecker quickly finds new locations to hammer away. In just a few minutes, it leaves behind a myriad of unfilled tree holes and a dizzy photographer.
Along the way, the woodpecker found fuzzy yellow morsels that didn’t look particularly appetizing but quickly went down the hatch. Protein!
No style points here – the eating process looked a bit awkward.
I was impressed with the solid work ethic that kept the woodpecker in food. Who needs a good plan if you’re well fed.
What’s the moral of the story? Make noise, plan less and eat lots – sounds like the beginnings of a solid list of New Year’s resolutions. But then who needs a list?
Triumphantly showing off food!
I was amused to learn that a woodpecker has the strangest looking tongue.
Krahnpix 
wow I have never seen one of these birds, I have heard of them. Excellent shots, so sharp!
Cheers Callie
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I have certainly heard them a lot more than seen them. It was fun to finally catch up with one.
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its great we all get to see different scenes and animals from all over the world, this blogging is a great thing.
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I agree. I have thot about many times especially when you post some exotic (to me) creature. We all get pretty familiar with what is around us.
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The tongue looks like a tool.
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It’s a fascinating piece of equipment all right. I had to check with someone who knows a lot about birds and he confirmed it was a tongue and it’s used to grab the food and reel it in so that sounds like a tool as well.
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Fantastic pics of ole Woody here! And now with 20% more tongue! Gotta love that!
These guys do amaze me and good eye on your part to capture this bird in action.
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Thanks Phil. There was a lot of action to capture – sometimes too much in too many places. Good thing there were no leaves on the trees. Your 20% more tongue comment is hilarious.
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Lyle, your pics amaze me!!
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Thanks so much. It’s pretty wonderful on those days when I find wildlife and everything co-operates. I guess that’s what keeps me going the other days.
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Love the combination of pictures and writings. You do it well!
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I’m glad you like the combination. I figured out early on it would be a lot easier just to post the photos but challenged myself to write something as well for each post. It’s good discipline and a lot of fun when it come together. A little less fun when I get stuck.
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magnificent – what sort of lens here Lyle?
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Thanks. After 15 years of feeling frustrated with being too far away from the action and drooling over the longer lenses, I got the 500 mm lens for our 25th wedding anniversary. Nice present eh? I also have a 1.4 extender that rarely leaves the lens. Unfortunately it didn’t come with a pack mule!
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WoW that is scary power – stunning result though
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It is a lot of power and I’m totally happy for it. But there are still times a creature still seems just out of reach.
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What a great post, and such beautiful shots of a *difficult* critter…. 🙂
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It is an unusual critter so it lent itself nicely to a different story. Thanks for the comments.
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Wow, amazing shot!!
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Glad you liked it. I had a lot of fun chasing it around though I’m sure it was so focused it never noticed.
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Great capture.
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Thanks. I had heard woodpecker so many times and never actually located them but this one was different.
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Wow, those are impressive shots of a woodpecker, Lyle. You either had a long lens, a cooperative woodpecker, or both. You also had one of the most effective uses of a slide show I’ve seen in a blog to show the hammering action of the woodpecker. And, of course, I couldn’t help but laugh at the conclusions you drew from the actions of the woodpecker.
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Some days the star all align. I had my long lens with me on a tripod and the woodpecker magically came to the area and proceeded to hammer away. I even got unobstructed views for the most part. I need to remember days like that when nothing appears. I’m pleased you like the slideshow – I was fortunate that it worked out so well and then it took a long time to figure out how to add the other photos so they weren’t in a slide show. Appreciate the comments.
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I never had a chance to look at woodpecker in this close distance, if not my eyes will be in danger! great to share this post, thanks! cheers!
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Until I took these photos, I had never seen it so close either so I had to share! It has amazing power in that beak. Glad you liked the post.
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Wonderful post Lyle.
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I appreciate that Gary.
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I really like this woodpecker. Nice pictures. It must be a day for birds. I posted about a Red Tailed Hawk.
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Thanks. I noticed another woodpecker post today as well – it must be bird day.
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Wow – I have never seen their tongues – this looks like a downy – I have them here too. I love how they swoop when they fly. Great set, I love the slide show at the top.
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Thanks so much. I had never photographed a woodpecker before so I was excited to find it. I have to admit the tongue was a pleasant surprise later on the computer.
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