It's been either freezing rain or lightly snowing for a while now and the seeds keep getting covered up. This male Hairy Woodpecker found it easy to dig them out of the layers of ice and snow. He doesn't eat them all when he gets them rather stuffs them away either in the bark of a tree or more likely, in a knot hole on the railing supports of the deck.
Lovely shot with the snow coming down. Nice composition too. I can never get tired of watching the birds, but this year I have none when I usually have 12-14 different species at the feeder. We think a lot were killed in the storms we had in August and October. Either that or someone else has tastier food at their feeders!
@falcon11 thanks allison. that's too bad about your feeder. i know we'd really miss them if they didn't show up. black oil sunflower seeds will attract birds if they're in the area. i hope they show up at your feeder eventually.
I love this! He looks so sweet in the snow! Wonderful details, Anne! I don't think we're going to get a decent snow this year. Our winter has been fairly mild.
Pretty smart...I discovered this week that birds are smarter than I am as I tried to capture a pair of cardinals living in my yard. Couldn't get a clear shot, which is why I'm enjoying yours so much!
This is a fav for me also. I don't feed birds because I have cats to catch the rats but I love watching them in the trees Around the fields here. Don't want to have the catsturn birders so I am really enjoying your feeder
Well, now I know why they're called "hairy" woodpecker! Thanks to you, Anne, I'm getting a little educated on birds this winter. Beautiful photo of him . . great pov. Interesting how they "save" their food for another day or later!
This is absolutely one of my faves of your recent bird shots, and that's saying alot. I love the woodpecker, the snow and the story. I've been meaning to tell you that I put a row of bird seed along my deck railing but so far I've only captured chickadees. When my husband noticed the bird seed on the railing, he finally hung up my bird feeder (not that that will stop me from leaving seed on the railing) and bought a hook to hang the suet feeder I bought to attract woodpeckers. He also bought a bird bath warmer! All on the day my feeding winter birds story was in the Cape Cod Times. Maybe he read my story?
Or - Wintertainment? Wonderful catch of this downy guy, and the red is the perfect contrast to the white of the snow and the perfect background. Bravo!
Anne what a wonderful shot.
hope he's not too cold bbbrrrrr