Downy Woodpecker and seed pod

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Downy Woodpecker and seed pod

February 4, 2018 by Mike Powell

I am always struck by the amazing energy and tenacity of Downy Woodpeckers (Picoides pubescens), like this male that I spotted on Friday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge as he pecked away at a seed pod. I was worried that his weight would pull down the seed pod, but I guess that he is pretty light and the pod seemed to be firmly attached to the tree,

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Canon 50D, Downy Woodpecker, male Downy Woodpecker, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Picoides pubescens, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA | 9 Comments

9 Responses

on February 4, 2018 at 6:26 am | Reply Dan Antion

That’s an amazing shot, Mike!
on February 4, 2018 at 7:01 am | Reply Rida Yumn Ahmed

Loved the clicks❤❤
- on February 5, 2018 at 7:55 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks.
on February 4, 2018 at 9:43 am | Reply DC Gilbert

Does look like a rather precarious perch!
on February 4, 2018 at 5:11 pm | Reply New Hampshire Garden Solutions

That looks like a catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) seed pod. When I was a boy we called them string bean trees.
- on February 4, 2018 at 5:36 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Allen. I had no idea where to start in trying to identify the tree.
on February 4, 2018 at 5:39 pm | Reply Robert Kirkendall

Great shot! That’s quite an angle.
- on February 4, 2018 at 10:24 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. You have a good eye and can tell I was shooting upwards at a pretty sharp angle. This was a case when I think it helped a lot that I was using a monopod to steady my long telephoto zoom lens.
  - on February 5, 2018 at 1:59 am Robert Kirkendall
    
    Angles make a big difference in photography and film making. I recently got into video making at the local Community TV station so I’m learning about those things.