Cottle Lake Red-Breasted Sapsucker
There were a few of these guys drumming near the bridge at Cottle Lake yesterday.
Coming Right at Me! (Pileated Woodpecker)
52933632119_f43bf6ef2b_h
Pileated Projectile (Pileated Woodpecker)
Another addition to the "Bullet Bird" album. Caught this guy in mid flight at Oliver Woods Marsh today.
Proud Parent (Red-Naped Sapsucker)
Managed to get a bit better background as well as one of the chicks with its head sticking out of the nest hole.
Beak Full of Bugs Tunkwa Style (Red-Naped Sapsucker)
Looks like this red-naped sapsucker has a real mouthful to give to the hungry chicks in the nest.
Neck Point Pileated Woodpeckers
Thought you might enjoy this one. I was looking through the archives and I don't think this was ever posted. Taken in 2010 before I had a membership to Facebook or Flickr. I forgot to mention that this shot was taken from about 150 feet away with a flash and a radio controlled shutter release. It didn't always work and the timing was challenging. The adults would not feed the chicks if we were near the nest so our equipment is much closer than we actually were. It took several tries over a period of a couple of days. This was probably the clearest shot that I could get with the equipment at that time.
Oliver Woods Pileated Woodpecker
Another in flight image from Oliver Woods Marsh.
Morning Star Harry Woodpecker
Photographed this guy down at the Morningstar Ponds in Parksville today. He was digging for bugs in an old dead stump. Please click twice for extra flavor and crispness.
Little Mountain Sapsucker (Red-Breasted Sapsucker)
Thanks Everyone! For over 4,000,000 views!
Sapsucker Portrait (Red Breasted Sapsucker)
This guy came really close!
Beak Full Of Bugs 2021 (Red Breasted Sap Sucker)
Went out owling today only to run into this guy. He came way too close for a full body shot sometimes. He certainly didn't lack for food to eat. Hope he doesn't miss that ant on his chin. Folks on Flickr left click for better detail.
Wings Up Version (Pileated Woodpecker)
For those who like the wings up pose.
Faster Than I Thought (Pileated Woodpecker)
These guys can really move. Took me a good part of the morning to get some decent images.
Feeding In The Grass (Pileated Woodpecker)
Not too often that you get one of these guys right down in the grass like this. Guess he found a rotten log all full of bugs just below the surface and was digging them out.
Unexpected Visitor (Pileated Woodpecker)
Sometimes you never know what you will get on the money tree. This nice male pileated woodpecker came by for a visit while I was waiting for the pygmy owl to show up this morning.
Bowen Park Pileated Woodpecker
A pileated woodpecker covers himself with sawdust as he excavates an old snag for insects.
Low Light Image (Pileated Woodpecker)
Went looking for redpolls at Neck Point on Friday night and ended up with a pileated woodpecker. Who knew?
Giving Me The Raspberry (Red-Breasted Sapsucker)
A red-breasted sapsucker sticks its tongue out at me in Linley Valley today.
Welcome Visitor (Pileated Woodpecker)
Tried calling in some western tanagers today and ended up with a pileated woodpecker. Who knew?
Just Hangin' Around (Red-Breasted Sapsucker)
I am just making an educated guess as to the species of this sapsucker. Guy Monty please chime in if I have mis-named it. They sure do have lovely colors and plumage.
Blowing Chunks (Red-Breasted Sapsucker)
A female Red-Breasted Sapsucker excavates her nest in preparation for this year's brood.
Estuary Downey Woodpecker
No owl or harrier action today. However, I did manage to get a quick image of this downey woodpecker on the old oak tree near the parking lot.
Northern Flicker (Red Shaft)
Not much to shoot this time of year. Northern flickers are always good value. This guy came to check me out on the viewing platform at Buttertubs Marsh yesterday.
Pileate In Training
Here is another image of the two male Pileated Woodpeckers during their training session for foraging for insects. The little one seemed to be catching on quite quickly.
Just Hanging Around
An immature male Pileated Woodpecker stretches its wings while feeding with the adult male on the side of a fur tree at Neck Point Park. Taken with the 100-400mm IS2. Some guy from either Australia or New Zealand that was there when I took this image asked what "Pileated" meant. Pileated: Etymologically means "capped," like a mushroom, but now refers to a bird with a crest on the top of the head from the bill to the nape.
One of the Twins
Ran into the male half of twin Pileated Woodpeckers that were produced a couple of years back at Neck Point Park. Not too concerned with me as he tore apart an old stump to feast on the bugs.
Amost Out of The Nest
Here a male Downey Woodpecker feeds a female chick. I returned to this nesting site two days later and all the chicks had fledged.
Beak Full of Bugs
A male downey woodpecker delivers a fresh batch of bugs for the chicks.
Red-Breasted Sapucker
The odd time you can catch these birds checking for bugs on an old snag at Cottle Lake.
Male Red Shafted Flicker
A male flicker sticks his head out of the nest into the sunlight today at Neck Point in Nanaimo.His bill is all covered with wood dust after excavating the nest cavity.
Neck Point Pileated Woodpecker
I decided to try a version with a bit more brightness and detail. Also removed the branch in the background. Seems a bit better overall. Should I delete the original or keep it and throw this one away?
