Taking a nap

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Taking a nap

March 11, 2016 by Mike Powell

Woodpeckers are amazingly energetic, but I guess they too sometimes need to take a break. On Monday I saw a Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) hard at work on a cavity at Huntley Meadows Park. Eventually the woodpecker climbed inside the cavity and, after looking around a bit, appeared to close its eyes to take a little nap.

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife | Tagged Alexandria VA, Canon 50D, Huntley Meadows Park, Melanerpes erythrocephalus, Red-headed Woodpecker, taking a nap, Tamron 150-600mm | 20 Comments

20 Responses

on March 11, 2016 at 7:39 am | Reply shoreacres

I’m beginning to think you spend a good bit more time in the woods than most people. Between the frosty-breathed red-wing blackbird and this napping woodpecker, you’ve produced some fabulous images of things that no doubt are going on all the time, but that we don’t see. That sleeping bird is just precious.
- on March 11, 2016 at 5:03 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. I think you have figured out my “secret.” I indeed do spend a lot of time walking about in the woods with my camera. Today, for example, I was out for a bit more than 8 hours. Although I shoot a lot at a suburban marshland, there is a diverse set of habitats, with wetlands, woods, and meadows. I also try to shoot a variety of subjects. In the winter, there are a lot of birds, but soon you’ll see a lot of insects featured in blog postings. As for the sleeping bird, it’s not super sharp, but it is super cute.
on March 11, 2016 at 8:33 am | Reply Mike Hartley

great shots
- on March 11, 2016 at 4:59 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Mike
on March 11, 2016 at 8:36 am | Reply laura lecce

So very cute Mike, great photos.
- on March 11, 2016 at 4:59 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. Laura. The Red-headed Woodpecker is amazingly photogenic and I was fortunate to capture some interesting poses.
on March 11, 2016 at 11:15 am | Reply paws2smile

Awwwww! I just adore that last shot!! 🙂 Fantastic job capturing this little one!
- on March 11, 2016 at 4:57 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  It was a pretty lucky shot, but it definitely rates high on the cuteness scale.
on March 11, 2016 at 11:39 am | Reply Lyle Krahn

That’s awesome. Work before nap.
- on March 11, 2016 at 4:56 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  That’s my kind of schedule. I’m finding that as I move along in age, naps are regain the status they had when I was a child.
  - on March 12, 2016 at 1:33 am Lyle Krahn
    
    I agree!
on March 11, 2016 at 1:36 pm | Reply Sarah Longes - Mirador Design

Aww!
on March 12, 2016 at 9:20 am | Reply New Hampshire Garden Solutions

Napping in the sun on a warm spring day. He’s got it made.
on March 12, 2016 at 7:55 pm | Reply svtakeiteasy

Very cute napping bird😊
- on March 12, 2016 at 7:57 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Chris. I don’t see that very much, though it doesn’t surprise me with a woodpecker, considering how energetic they are.
on March 13, 2016 at 5:01 am | Reply Brockelman

i’ve always believed that mid-day naps are highly under rated. I applaud the bird.
on March 15, 2016 at 1:33 am | Reply Ginny Alfano

Amazing photo’s, Mike. Woodpeckers have always fascinated me. I notice that our Downy’s and Hairy’s are very adept at putting themselves into a catatonic state – much like your Red-headed seems to be doing. My first thought is always that a Hawk must be close by, but then I see that all of the other birds are continuing their usual activities. You’ve sparked me to read my book on Woodpeckers and see if this is mentioned. Thank you for sharing a great group of pictures. Red-headed Woodpeckers are scarce here in northern NY – I’m happy that they are thriving in your area.
- on March 15, 2016 at 5:15 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks for the info about the other woodpeckers, Ginny. There is so much about bird behavior that I don’t understand. We are fortunate to have a number of Red-headed Woodpeckers in the marshland park where I do so much of my shooting. They are rare enough in the area that people will visit the park sometimes just to see them.
on March 15, 2016 at 5:07 pm | Reply Sue

Super shots, Mike. Red-headed WPs are a rare find for us. Glad to see they are doing well in VA.
- on March 16, 2016 at 3:55 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Sue. I think that Red-headed Woodpeckers are relatively uncommon here in Virginia too, though we are lucky to have them in my favorite park.