But where is the female he drums for? Where?
Jane Hirshfield - The Woodpecker Keeps Returning
Just a hint of its red belly!
And that's what this gorgeous male Red-Bellied Woodpecker was doing throughout the morning. It was interesting to observe that his drumming locations were not the tree with the cavity he was defending. Instead, he would hammer his bill into a nearby tree which seemed to assure a more suitable volume.
Climbing!
However, his efforts kept tempting a competing male. The two would chase each other around the woods for a considerable distance, but eventually the red-bellied returned to maintain his claim. The victorious woodpecker perched atop the tree with the cavity and resumed his vocal invitations, occasionally flying over to his special drumming tree.
Later on this morning Bill Grimm spotted our first Yellow-rumped Warbler of spring migration. Five birders gathered and watched it with considerable enthusiasm. Ah! The first warbler is always exciting and special, but soon there will be so many "butter-butts" that they're relegated by birders to something of a second-class status as far as warblers go. I think their plumage is actually quite spectacular and their appreciation, or rather lack thereof, seems largely due to the fact that they're so successful as a species!
Warbler #1 for 2010!
Pheasant Branch Conservancy – 3/28/2010
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Red-tailed Hawk
Killdeer
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
All images © 2010 Mike McDowell