Digging a nest.

This pair of Northern Flickers, part of the woodpecker family, are taking turns digging a hole in the trunk of a birch tree in my back yard. The female is on the left, the male on the right with the red patch. You can see the hole behind the males head. Apparently they dig them about 12 inches deep. I’ll be keeping an eye on the nest to see if I can get a shot of the chicks but it might be hidden when the leaves start to grow.

[PhylM-S]

Fabulous! These guys are super skittish here! Nicely done!

[Diana]

They are gorgeous, lucky to have them in your back yard.

[Kat]

Great captures of both, lucky you!

[KoalaGardens🐨]

oh nice pair

[Casablanca]

Beautiful creatures. Love woodpeckers

[Kitty Hawke]

How very lovely to have them in your garden.

[Esther Rosenberg]

Beautiful captures. Nice you can see them unclose in your own yard.

[Mags]

Awesome captures!

[Yoland]

Fantastic capture, its looks like by the second photo they are making good progress.

[LManning (Laura)]

Terrific side-by-side. How fun for you to watch the progress!

[Milanie]

Interesting to see the difference

[Lin]

Great collage!

[The Dog Lady]

Wonderful shot

[bkb in the city]

Great capture

[Kathy]

Well spotted! A woodpecker started building a nest last year at Christmas in a dead tree at a friend of mine's home. She never got to see whether there were babies because, like you said, the leaves of the other trees got in the way.