Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
May 9, 2022
Red-headed Woodpecker
Tag Archives: Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
A Red-bellied Woodpecker was very busy investigating a small hole in a tree limb.
From another angle the bird is nearly camouflaged against the rough bark.
He finally put his head up long enough for me to get a better view, but never came fully out of the shade.
Downy Woodpecker
A Downy Woodpecker chose a wide open spot on a vine wrapped tree for a moment of rest.
I haven’t seen many Downy Woodpeckers lately; 2018 was the last time I had one on this blog.
This one posed for a few images before getting to work looking for food.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
February 15, 2022
Pileated Woodpecker, Learning to Forage
There were two Pileated Woodpeckers in a Live Oak tree above my head, picking through the Spanish Moss and Resurrection Fern. The vegetation looks lovely in the tree, but sure limits photography of birds.
I never saw what they were eating but it appeared to be berries or nuts, and no pecking was going on.
It is likely this was an adult teaching a juvenile as a few times the younger looking one was just watching then got fed.
One came out into the open just before they flew off.
July 23, 2021
Red-headed Woodpecker In a Snag
A snag at the edge of a swamp was the perfect spot for this Red-headed Woodpecker to survey his territory.
Red-bellied Woodpecker Overhead
I heard this Red-bellied Woodpecker way before I finally spotted him. I waited and got this reward.
Pileated Woodpecker, Cheesy Wood
Swiss Cheese, anyone?
For probably not the first time this Pileated Woodpecker did the rounds of this well pecked tree.
Checking out the existing holes…
…giving it a few new knocks…
…and having a general look around.
June 9, 2021
Red-headed Woodpecker
The Red-headed Woodpecker is a bird that I have only glimpsed, generally flying away from me. Then a few weeks ago I saw two in less than ten minutes!
The second one, perhaps a mate to the first, tormented Ted and me with knocking that we could not locate. Who knew they could make such a racket inside a tree?
Once out of the cavity he stuck to the shady side of the tree.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
The Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are industrious and fun to watch when feeding in plain view.
This one was in the drinking phase of his routine, from holes previously made in the bark.
Holding still on a short break I got a nice profile view showing off that sturdy beak and beautiful color pattern.
They tend to circle the tree, moving up and down, enough to make the photographer dizzy guessing where they will reappear.
Red-bellied Woodpecker Pair
I didn’t have a great view when I first spotted this pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers. I was pretty sure the one on the right zipped into that hole while I maneuvered around the tree between us.
I watched for him to come out before turning my attention to the other one as he was pecking on the tree. Then I could hear the second one calling.
The question then was to keep watching the first subject or risk missing some action there and look for the second. I succumbed to looking and he eventually popped up behind this branch. Or was there the whole time and I just didn’t notice.
He quickly flew off. Meanwhile the first one had moved a little higher, paused a moment, then also flew off.
