Saturday, November 18, 2017

The Opposite Of Being Seen And Not Heard

This has been the best bird sighting I've had in my yard this year.  A Gila Woodpecker.  I think it's my favorite bird so far. 

It was hard to get a picture because he didn't stay around for long - this is the male, you can tell by the small red cap on the top of his head.  The head and body are a tan color, and I swear I saw a flash of yellow on his underbelly, close to his feet.  His tail feathers are black with white bars and they're beautiful when you get to glimpse them from behind.  The female has similar coloring, with the exception of the red cap on the head. 

The Gila Woodpecker makes their homes in the saguaro cactus - they make holes in the saguaro and build their nests inside.  I've seen the holes all over our cactus, and I've heard them many times hammering away at the tree in our yard (and occasionally the metal flashing on the roof), but I
 don't always see the birds.  

Sneaky little buggers.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: 
El Ed Rides El Tour

2015: Not Everything Is Lost
2014: Hairspray Is Gross
2013: Breathing Retro Life Into The West End Of A Miracle Mile
2012: A Little Bit Of Wyoming
2011: A Franchophile’s Paradise

2010: 10 Things I Learned On My Vacation In Italy
2009: A Beautiful Deep Fried Pocket Of Cornmeal Dough. Or, My Mom.
2008: A Foxy Furry Little Friend
2007: The One That Got Away
2006: Don’t We All?
2005: Miss Singular

No comments: