Category Archives: Birds

Red-headed Woodpecker

In between watching the action of the Red-headed Woodpeckers and Blue Jays in yesterday’s post I captured some images of just the woodpecker.

Red-headed Woodpecker in Flight
Red-headed Woodpecker in Flight

These dead pine trees made nice perches, even if the birds were very high up.

Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-headed Woodpecker

They were zipping around so much I have no idea how many there were.

Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-headed Woodpecker

This one looked like he might have been foraging for a meal, but he didn’t do any serious pecking.

Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-headed Woodpecker

Botany Bay Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 19, 2023

Red-headed Woodpecker & Blue Jay

There was a lot of bird chase action in the upper reaches of some pine trees I passed.

Blue Jay and Red-headed Woodpecker
Blue Jay and Juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker

I thought the Blue Jay was the aggressor, he was certainly making the most noise.

Blue Jay and Red-headed Woodpecker
Blue Jay and Juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker

Multiple individuals of both species were involved. Some of the Red-headed woodpeckers were adults, with a few juveniles as seen above mixed in.

Red-headed Woodpecker and Blue Jay
Red-headed Woodpecker and Blue Jay

I watched them go back and forth for about 20 minutes and never figured out what the ruckus was about.

Red-headed Woodpecker and Blue Jay
Red-headed Woodpecker and Blue Jay

Both were showing off their flying skills, and maybe that was the point.

Botany Bay Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 19, 2023

Belted Kingfisher On The Move

You often hear a Belted Kingfisher before you see it, with a distinctive chatter as they swoop over ponds or marshes looking for a fish lunch.

Belted Kingfisher
Belted Kingfisher

This one landed in the Spoonie Tree, too far for a good photo of such a small bird, but a picturesque scene.

Belted Kingfisher
Belted Kingfisher In The Spoonie Tree

A little while later one that was clearly on a mission passed me as I walked along a dike.

Belted Kingfisher
Belted Kingfisher

And then he landed in another artful looking dead tree, creating an unmistakable silhouette.

Belted Kingfisher
Belted Kingfisher

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
September 2, 2023

Pileated Woodpeckers

I’ve seen and heard Pileated Woodpeckers near this spot at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens many times.  Last week I got a photo op of not just one,

Pileated woodpecker
Pileated woodpecker

but two, at the side of the exit road as I was headed to my car.

Pileated woodpecker
Juvenile and Adult Pileated Woodpeckers

The youngster ducked into hiding while the adult worked his way around this oft trimmed tree.

Pileated woodpecker
Pileated woodpecker

Finally they came back together, with junior getting a taste of whatever the parent was finding.

Pileated Woodpeckers
Pileated Woodpeckers

June 15, 2023

Red-bellied Woodpecker Working Hard

It took me awhile to spot this Red-bellied Woodpecker after listening to the rat-a-tat for several minutes.

Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker

He was working very high up in a dead pine tree on what I presume will be a nesting cavity.

Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker

All in, the pecking continued.

Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker

He took a few pauses and you can see there are several other holes.

Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker

I tried for a different angle, and this isn’t a great image of the bird but it shows off more of the well-used tree.

Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 11, 2023