A few early winter birds

[jbird]

The avian attraction has been seriously lacking lately. I think this is kind of the dead time between the fall migration and the winter residents.

Heres a warbler from a month ago...



red headed woodpecker??



little male downey woodpecker. These guys are pretty abundant.



...so are these guys...



This Pileated woodpecker is huge. Sound like a lumberjack in the forest...



Chasing birds in the tree tops, I nearly stumbled ov er these two big girls...

[k.hanley]

"Atta Boy" Jay. I really enjoyed these shots. I like your use of Bokeh (it's the out-of-focus elements in an image for those of you who may not know the term). The composition sets it all up. Great colors.

Cheers, Ken

[jbird]

Thanks Ken! I dont have a fast enough lens to get good bokeh consistantly, but every now and then, the stars align and I get one like this first shot It helps to have a background of good color thats a long ways in the distance.

[Larry S]

jbird:
Great job, as always. Thanks! Stay warm.
Best,
Larry S

[jbird]

After checking the BOOK, the second photo is a female red bellied woodpecker. A species I never saw out west.

[k.hanley]

After seeing the pics I had to look up the bird in question as well. I too believe it's "Melanerpes carolinus" (the Red-bellied Woodpecker). They sure appear to range well into your area Jay. Very cool stuff.
Cheers, Ken

[Scott V]

I love woodpeckers, one of my all time favorites.

[Morgan]

Awesome photo's! Gotta love the woodpeckers. I believe at one time the piliated woodpecker was endangered.

[jbird]

Thanks gangster. its true, the pileated was considered rare in the early 20th century. but theyre making a big come back and can be found in a huge range from the yukon to florida.

I have seen many more here than I ever saw in oregon. Theres a pair that roam our downtown park that I was lucky enough to get close to this summer...

[Ed Wahl]

C'mon Jay ole buddy, get some pics of a real Red Headed Woodpecker. I haven't seen one since I was twelve living in northern Illinois.
You'll not mistake them for anything else.

I too love the Pileated. I used to see one regularly on my way into my favorite canyon. Size of a crow and they peck at wook as though they're swinging a sledge hammer.

Great pics as usual Jay.

Ed