I hope that things are looking up for you as you begin 2017. I photographed this male Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) in the morning of the last day of 2016 at Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria, Virginia.
I’ve always admired the intense focus of these little woodpeckers. Perhaps I can look to them for inspiration as I consider my goals for this new year.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
That’s a great shot, Mike. I guess the message is “stay focused” – he certainly is an ambassador for that. When you commented about my getting out early, I was going to say “you do that every day!”
I’ll try to stay focused, at least this week 🙂
I am pretty much a morning person. My radio comes on at 4:30 in the morning and usually I get up then. I’m still working three days a week, but look forward to being able to go out shooting in the early hours even more frequently.
I am up around 5:00 during the week, but still working full time. I stop 2-3 days a week on the way into work (I’m an hour early) at the park by the river. Occasionally there’s something interesting going on. Before I retire, I have to find a place closer to home. I love being out early.