Downy Woodpecker, evening snack

Just because I was outside, he was there and I think he's cute!

Downy Woodpecker, the movie!

Ann, you specifically said, no more bird pictures! You never mentioned movies... ha!
(He's hard to see actually, I need a real video camera, not just a digital that takes short movies. I just posted this to bug Ann! hehe)

The idyllic scene, prior to the squirrel incident

Wendy Woodpecker and Cardinal

Wobert Woodpecker. finally!

Convocation of Cardinals and a Jay

Woman in tree.

Not that I'm catering to the woodpeckers at all eh? It was about -22 degrees and windy. The neighbours had so kindly bought me two more suets, one a special woodpecker blend so I had to go get another cage and hang it in Doug, the Pumpkin Ash tree!

It is a success and well worth the trouble. Wendy woodpecker has been there every day. I have yet to see "Wobert," (gotta love his name,) the male up close but I have, as of this morning, from a distance. He was pecking at the big tree behind my house.

ps... the same kind neighbours who bought me the suet reported the sighting of an "old crow" in my back yard and were kind enough to email the pic! whatever! :þ

pps... yes I'm on a ladder, no I didn't fall off!

A banner morning at the feeder

Introducing... Wendy Woodpecker!

Michelle & I have not yet seen the male. According to Mich, he cannot be named until we see him as we don't know the name that would suit him. Remember this is the girl that named her fish "Fluffy", her cat "Zapato," (Spanish for shoe,) and her hamster "Alphabet, ABC for short."

Downy Woodpecker, (from Google)

So I couldn't wait, here's what she would look like if I ever get a good pic.

I should mention that last weekend I was on the computer and out of the corner of my left eye saw something flash across the yard at an incredible rate of speed. Then I saw a cat, um... well no nice way to put it, tearing something apart. Michelle feels like an accomplice to murder as she is luring birds to their doom. It is really, just nature taking it's course. At Bob's sisters house, on New Years' Day, I saw a huge hawk land on a branch of the tree holding the bird feeder. Apparently he visits, shops, eats and leaves! I say "smart hawk." Mich says "lazy hawk." At my house, no hawks... yet, just a grey and white cat.

I love all our birds, well, I tolerate the pigeons as there are only 4 of them. I saw the cardinals and the jays today. I heard the woodpeckers. The dark eyed junco, nuthatch and mourning doves are all accounted for. Sparrows we're having a sale on!

Now back to the cat. I hope, by sheer numbers if he comes back, bird shopping, he gets a sparrow. I know that's mean but hey remember "God has his eye upon the sparrow," the woodpeckers only have me and I haven't even set my eyes upon them!

We have woodpeckers!

The other day Bob saw a bird at the feed and described it to Michelle. She thought it sounded like a downy woodpecker and went and got her guide book to show him a pic. Yep, he said that's what it was, a male. Today both of them saw the female, so we have a pair! I've yet to see either of them. *EDIT* I googled the downy woodpecker and it turns out I have heard them. Every morning, for about a week, I've been getting up from my computer chair and looking out the window as I've heard a bird song I've not heard before! Turns out it's the woodpeckers. Not the "pick, pick, pick," noise but the song. Google it, it's pretty cool.

This is not the greatest pic but it's the female enjoying the new berry suet. I will try to get better pics.