Great photos! I went looking for a Pileated that was sighted recently in a local wood. I heard lots of drumming but I think it was a Downy or a Flicker. I saw the Flicker and some songbirds. It's a beautiful wood, so I'll be back whether I see the big pecker or not.
Thanks Thomas! I was not expecting to this Pileated on my hike. At first I thought it might have been a Hairy Woodpecker, but was pleasantly surprised to see this Pileated.
Coincidentally, I went looking in hopes of spotting a returning Eastern Screech Owl yesterday that had moved into a Pileated Woodpecker cavity last year at a local reserve. The Owl has not returned (yet), but I too saw a Pileated on my walk :D
Thanks Scot and quite the coincidence as well! The Pileated Woodpeckers certainly make it easier for the Eastern-Screech Owls to find homes. Sort of hand-me-down housing in a way.
I think the Pileated Woodpeckers in this conservation area eat pretty well. This is the area I regularly hike and where I take most of my photos: Britannia Conservation Area https://maps.app.goo.gl/aeCuokoy5gGaMzq86
FanTAStic photos and videos of one of my favorite birds. Wow, Neil! How far away were you? We have a mated pair of pileateds that live on our land. I hear them year-round. Such a blessing!
Hello JT and that's right! Thanks and much appreciated!
Beautiful shots Neil! Sounds like a great birding outing. Thanks for sharing
Thanks James - this bird outing was a nice surprise!
Beautiful photos of a very handsome woodpecker!
Thank you Juliet - this woodpecker was quite striking!
Beautiful photography. Your Sijo was quite apt also. 🧡 What is the sound of beauty? The color of spirit? Knock! Knock!
Thank you Michael and much appreciated. I do like your questions!
Wonderful post, Neil. The sijo is outstanding and really sets the stage for this incredible Pileated Woodpecker series.
Thanks Heidi and much appreciated. This was a really fortunate encounter and unexpected!
I still haven’t seen a PIleated, so I’m very pleased to see that you have. Thanks for sharing!
Great photos! I went looking for a Pileated that was sighted recently in a local wood. I heard lots of drumming but I think it was a Downy or a Flicker. I saw the Flicker and some songbirds. It's a beautiful wood, so I'll be back whether I see the big pecker or not.
Thanks Thomas! I was not expecting to this Pileated on my hike. At first I thought it might have been a Hairy Woodpecker, but was pleasantly surprised to see this Pileated.
Coincidentally, I went looking in hopes of spotting a returning Eastern Screech Owl yesterday that had moved into a Pileated Woodpecker cavity last year at a local reserve. The Owl has not returned (yet), but I too saw a Pileated on my walk :D
Thanks Scot and quite the coincidence as well! The Pileated Woodpeckers certainly make it easier for the Eastern-Screech Owls to find homes. Sort of hand-me-down housing in a way.
So spacious too! I will let you know if anything moves in.
Lovely, Neil. There is something about the knocking of a woodpecker that always pulls me away from whatever I was doing prior.
I wrote a poem on the subject with the same Knock Knock (+1 extra knock… ha!) title that The Dewdrop published awhile back if you care to check it out! https://thedewdrop.org/2023/03/05/mike-christie-knock-knock-knock/amp/
Thanks Mike and thank you for sharing your poem as well! I like the description in your poem about each knock yielding vibrations. Thanks for sharing.
I love this poem and your beautiful photos accompanying it, Neil. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks Kelly and much appreciated! This was a nice surprise bird sighting!
Your woodpeckers look much better than ours! :)
I think the Pileated Woodpeckers in this conservation area eat pretty well. This is the area I regularly hike and where I take most of my photos: Britannia Conservation Area https://maps.app.goo.gl/aeCuokoy5gGaMzq86
Love those photos... they are amazing creatures!
Thanks John and agreed! They're a treat to see!
Stunning photos Neil. The red pops incredibly so. I love, as usual, your final line of the sijo. That what is revealed is the spirit itself. Lovely.
Thank you Emma and much appreciated. This was such a happy coincidence seeing this Pileated Woodpecker.
You’ve captured a beautiful bird!
Thank you Victoria and they certainly are beautiful!
FanTAStic photos and videos of one of my favorite birds. Wow, Neil! How far away were you? We have a mated pair of pileateds that live on our land. I hear them year-round. Such a blessing!
Thanks Jeanne! I was probably about 10-15 yards away. This was a nice surprise sighting!
Wow what a striking bird; I’ve never heard of a Pileated Woodpecker. Wonderful photography from you Neil !
Thanks Beverley and they are certainly striking! I often forget how large they are well - about the size of an American Crow.
Oh wow, I don’t think we have woodpeckers as big as that in uk
such exquisite photos of this majestic bird. thank you. Enjoy your walks
Thanks Nettie and much appreciated. I'll be doing some long walks and hikes this coming weekend. Hopefully see some more Pileated Woodpeckers.
there are a bunch of them in Frick Park near the top of Clayton hill.. I forget where u live.. IF near pittsburg Frick is your place to be.