He was partially hidden by the branches, but I was happy—I had finally gotten a clear view and a recognizable photograph of a Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus).
I have long hoped to spot a Pileated Woodpecker. I have seen evidence of their handiwork (or is it more appropriately “beakwork”) several time and heard the loud sound of these large woodpeckers at work, but I had not been able to find one. This past Monday, while I was attempting to photograph dragonflies, I heard the sound of a woodpecker in a nearby patch of woods and went to investigate. I was surprised to see a Pileated Woodpecker, because the soft tap-tap was not what I expected from this species.
My shot is really just a record shot, but the first time that I see a new bird, insect, or animal, I am invariably content to get any kind of shot. I know I can do a lot better, if I can just find a cooperative Pileated Woodpecker.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Nice, Mike.
We see pileated woodpeckers from time to time in Seneca Creek St Park and occasionally in our neighborhood. Their tap taps are not usually soft, believe it! They can make a heckuva racket when they choose.
Good to make the find. I like that term beakwork.
Congrats, Mike. Now that you’ve seen the first one, I bet you’ll get a bunch more. The only time I had a super cooperative one (foraging on a fallen tree feet from the ground and only 25 feet or so from me) I was without a camera. Alas! It was still a magical moment.
That sounds like a really cool experience. As I learn more about nature and as my powers of observation increase, I am enjoying it more and more. I enjoy seeing and hearing and experiencing new things in nature, irrespective of whether or not I can get a photo–the photos are often just the bonus.
Agreed! Enjoy every moment you get out in nature!
These birds spend quite a lot of time tearing apart fallen logs, from what I’ve seen. As you say, I see much more of what they leave behind then the birds themselves. When I do see them there always seems to be trees and branches between us.
I’ve noticed their work mostly when I see trees with a series of large holes in them (like the ones I showed in a posting this past spring https://michaelqpowell.wordpress.com/2013/04/11/daunting-challenge/) The holes are mighty impressive. The woodpecker was probably not doing any real work when I photographed it perched on small branches.
I would say that is more than just a “for the record” shot. It’s an almost branch less portrait of a female Pileated. Nice work.
This is the first woodpecker I’ve ever seen that looks at all like Woody Woodpecker. Do you happen to know whether this is the kind that the cartoon character is based on?
[…] month, a year after the initial sighting, I finally got a photo of one and featured it in a posting My First Pileated. The photo was a little blurry and the bird was partially obscured by branches, but it was clearly […]