Pileated Woodpecker

While at work today, in a quick, impromptu discussion about a work item, I heard a call outside the window and thought “pileated”. Then it flew past the window. One of the other participants waited for a break in the discussion and looked over at me and asked “What was the bird?” I replied that it was a pileated woodpecker and I had been trying in vain to get a picture of it for a few weeks. I had heard to calling and I had seen it flying in the distance, but until today, I had not had a really close encounter.

The discussion concluded a few minutes later and I looked out the window and saw it about 200 meters away on a telephone pole directly above my car. I muttered “It’s right above my camera.” My co-worker asked if I had a camera set up and I said no- the camera is in the car and the woodpecker is above the car. At this point, I asked to be excused so that I could go get the camera. I walked out the door and all was well until I was about 30 meters away. At that point, the pileated took off.

Usually, I see it fly deep into the marshy area at the edge of my workplace’s property. But today, it flew over to a dead pine tree, landed on the trunk, and started pounding – and calling. I was able to get two image that would be ok for making a positive ID, but the bird was on a tree that I could get to pretty easily for a change. 

I made my way over the base of the tree and was able to get about 30 shots – I do love bird mode on the Nikon P950! The angle was not great and neither was the light, but it seemed like at lease a couple of the shots would probably be ok. In the end, that’s what a I got two decent images of a female pileated. She was calling and pounding on the tree, she wouldn’t look down towards me, so the shots are not great, but I’m really happy with how this story ended today.

I’m also really happy with my co-workers. They know me well!