I am not sure if it is the cooler autumn weather or the impending winter, but all of the sudden the trees are alive with the sounds of woodpeckers. I can hear them pecking away and calling out to each other high in the trees. Unfortunately there are still a lot of leaves on the trees, making it hard to spot these busy birds.
On Friday at Huntley Meadows Park, I did manage to get a clear view of a beautiful little Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) feverishly foraging in a tree. Suddenly the woodpecker turned its head in my direction as though it wanted to proudly show me the bright red fruit that it had discovered. With the fruit firmly in its bill and a slight smile on its face, the woodpecker flew away, perhaps to cache its find for another day.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Great sequence, Mike. I love the in-flight shot.
Thanks, Dan. That was a bonus shot for me. I happened to be in burst mode when the woodpecker took off. The shot is not super sharp, but I like the way that the blurriness helps to convey a sense of motion.
I agree, I think the blur helps.
The woodpeckers seemed to be unusually plentiful and busy around the cabin a couple of weeks ago, too. I hope it’s not a sign of a harsh winter to come.
You bring a double pleasure…prose and photography. They balance so well..
Thanks, Bonnie. I initially started my blog to feature my photos, but quickly grew to enjoy the opportunity it provides me to express myself in words as well as in images.
Both are superb, Mike.
Nice shots Mike.
Thanks, David.