It’s nice to be back home from my recent overseas trip and to have the chance to go out in the wild for some photos. Urban shooting is ok, but somehow I feel more comfortable chasing after wildlife.
Yesterday I spotted this Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) high in the trees at Huntley Meadows Park, the local marsh that is my favorite spot for wildlife shooting. I’ve been trying for quite a while to get some good shots of this spectacular woodpecker and they are getting better, though they are not quite there yet.
These two shots are part of a series that I took as the woodpecker moved its head from side to side as well as up and down, chiseling out a hole in the tree. I was amazed to see how far back the woodpecker pulled its head before each stroke and the powerful force with which it struck—it was enough to give me a headache.
I’m still hoping that I will find a Pileated Woodpecker a bit lower in a tree (or working on a fallen log) in a location that will permit me to get some better shots, but I am content that I was able to get these shots when I caught sight of this woodpecker yesterday.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved
Mike Powell 
I’ve never seen one do it but yesterday I saw another log that had been shredded by a pileated woodpecker, so I know they sit on the ground.
Wow, he sure looks intent on his project, and even more so because of his wise choice to close his eyes when striking. I suppose they have to learn that the hard way!
Excellent shots..:-)
Thanks, Ed. It’s always nice to find new subjects, but often I am just as content to try to get better shots of the same subjects.
Where did you see/photograph Woody, Mike?
Boy, they are hard to photograph when they are hammering away. This is great. It’s amazing how much damage they can do with that chisel-beak.