Duck And The Three Woodpeckers

Today I went out for a shoot to Elk Creek. There is a 6.5 mile hiking trail there and I wanted to do part of that hike. I brought my trusty R6 markII and the 150-600mm lens along just for fun. I arrived a little after 5am as I wanted to get there early enough that I might see some wildlife before it got hot and people showed up. There are Black Bears here and I would love to get a few shots of one. About half a mile into the hike I relised I forgot my Bear spray. (this will come into play later.) I hadn't seen or heard much for the first mile, but I knew it wouldn't be long before that would change, and I was right. I heard this PEEP then a pause the PEEP. I stopped and waited.... Then a Spotted Towhee jumped onto a branch just a few feet from me. Totally out of character for them. It then begain to PEEP for me. It didn't seem upset, just wanted to chat with me. I pulled the Camera up to my eye and started shooting.

I tossed in the video only because it wasn't to shaky. that camera setup is heavy, about 7 pounds and holding it still without a Tripod at the age of 65 isn't easy. But it didn't look to bad so there ya go. I once again started out on my hike and I only made it about two hundred yards when I heard wings flaping, it was something bigger than a Robin for sure. So I headed for the sound. I couldn't see anything, the trees were pretty thick there so I just stood there nice and quite. Then I heard it Thump,thimp,thump. A woodpecker. So then I started to make my way up the side of the hill making sure to stay away from the poison oak and trying not to make to much noise. And as I got as far up as I could without standing in poison oak there it was. The Pileated Woodpecker. I have been after this bird since I moved down here. I had seen Two before but couldn't get a photo that was worth looking at. (there was no head in the photos just the body) But here I was able to get a few good shots through the branches.

So that is Woodpecker #1. I kept walking up the trail until I hit mile marker two without seeing much and Two miles was as far as I wanted to go, my foot was starting to hurt and I still had to get back to the car. So I turned around and headed back. I seen a few birds and took a few shots. Heres one of a Steller Jay that I like.

As I was walking I heard a growl from up the bank. I stopped and listened... and heard it again. I looked all up and down and side to side I couldn't see anything. I took a few steps and heard it again. It wasn't a Bear I knew that but I was wishing I had my Bear spray with me. It growled a few more times then went silent and I didn't hear it again. My guess was a momma Bobcat with cubs. A cougar would of either atacked me or I wouldn't of ever known it was there, thats how they roll. I wasn't afraid, but I wont be forgetting my Bear spary next time (Tomorrow I'm walking up the other way on the trail.) So I continued on my way to the car when I again heard something, I didn't know what it was but I was sure it was a bird of some sort and since I didn't know what kind it was it must be one I need a picture of. So I turned around and started walking to where I heard the sound. Then I heard the Thump,thump,thump once again. and yep there was another Pileated Woodpecker. This time it was slightly backlit at the top of a dead snag.

Not the best photos but now that I have gotten some shots of them it hopfully will be like the Moose, I'll see them on every tree. I'll get better shots. So, pleased with my Adventure I picked up my pace for the car. I hadn't gotten but a few steps and a small bird flew past me and landed in a small Oak tree. The bird is kind of hidden by the branches, I'll post one of the shots from today and then another from the other day that is a much better shot so you can see what they look like. It was a Downy Woodpecker. They look almost exactly like the Hairy Woodpecker but these guys are tiny and their beak is shorter as well. The third picture will be of a Hairy Woodpecker so you can compare them.

And that was Woodpecker species #2. I met a guy on my way back that lives and hunts up where I was at. (No hunting does not bother me) We talked awhile, hunters are a wealth of info when they know your not going to be hunting down the same critters they want to hunt. He told me where I could go to get some other great shots. So there are more trips to be planed. I finally made it to my car and headed for home. As I pulled into the driveway I seen in the back,back yard a Acorn Woodpecker. (They are almost always there) So I thought why not get the trifecta! So I pulled out the camera and snapped a shot of it in the tree.

So I got photos not only of all Three Woodpecker species in the area, but when I looked it up I got the smallest and the largest Woodpecker species in the USA. The largest being the Pileated and the smalest being the Downy Woodpecker. Not a bad day I'd say. Well this should do it for today. I'll see you in the next post.