Pileated Woodpecker Gunstock River

SteveA · 05-14-2010, 07:49 PM

We were sitting on the "back porch" late this afternoon and spotted this guy looking for dinner.

Amazing, 15-18" long. I used a long lens in rapid fire "sport" mode. Check out the parts of the tree flying just under his beak in the first two shots.

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fatlazyless · 05-15-2010, 06:19 AM

Very nice photos..... wonder if Woody the Woodpecker was a pileated woodpecker, too?

Newbiesaukee · 05-15-2010, 08:52 AM

Yeah, FLL, those thoughts keep me awake at night, too. The jury seems divided between the red headed woodpecker and the pileated. The red headed has the right colors, but the pileated has the right head.

These are great pictures and I love to see them in action. My favorite bird in the Lakes region.

NoBozo · 05-15-2010, 11:02 AM

A couple of years ago, in late September, we watched a Pair of these birds from our cabin porch entertain each other for about two hours on the side of a tall pine tree 30 feet away and maybe 6 feet off the ground.

One would work his way around to the other side of the tree..while the other one would always rotate in the opposite direction so they couldn't see each other...the tree always between them. Sometimes they would even be upside down.

We wondered why they seemed to be flirting with each other in Late September....or was it a territorial thing.

They seemed to be oblivious of our presence, as occasionally we would get up and go into the cabin, with it's noisy screen door that you couldn't go through without it banging shut.

NB

Airedale1 · 05-18-2010, 03:31 PM

Nice shots Steve. My son spotted this one yesterday at Lincoln Park in Gilford and I was able to get one quick shot. The Pileated has always been somewhat of a nemesis bird for me. I've never really gotten a great image of one.. This one will have to do till I get a better opportunity. They are very skittish birds.

SteveA · 05-18-2010, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airedale1

Nice shots Steve]

Blush... I got lucky

I would love to learn more about my camera, I used a Canon SXi with a long lens, how come your pictures are so much better!

(I keep meaning to take some lessons)

Airedale1 · 05-19-2010, 05:41 PM

Steve check out this site: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/ It is a forum that has the same format as this one, only it is dedicated to Canon users. It has sections of the forum dedicated to sharing know how and sections for showing your images and having more experienced photographers critique your work. It is a great way to learn about anything and everything related to Canon digital photography. It is free and the people there are very generous in sharing their time and expertise.

For example there is a section for just bird photos, post your images there and ask for a critique and you will learn lots. I know I did. BTW I shoot with a 40D and either a Canon 400 f/5.6L lens or a Canon 70-200 f/4.0L when I am shooting wildlife.

Whimsey · 05-26-2010, 04:30 PM

If I did this right, a picture should follow.

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Nagigator · 05-26-2010, 05:10 PM

Thats all I can say, ALL the photos are amazing. Every once in a while, I catch a glimpse of one of those amazing birds in my woods.

ApS · 05-27-2010, 06:33 AM

Even if their long-carrying call doesn't give them away, their method of drilling will. Listen for an occasional tapping sound. (Like a carpenter securing a screen with tacks).

While Piliated Woodpecks are drilling at wood, they do so with some "thought". Large chunks of wood will also fall to the ground as they actually pry weakened woodchips away with their bills. (Like a carpenter might, using a chisel).

Smaller woodpeckers use rapidly-repeated smaller strikes. (Like an air-powered chisel).

Sometimes you'll see a Piliated Woodpecker "hiding" from you behind the tree trunk. From left or right, he will alternately peek at you as you walk by. (Playing "peekaboo", as it were).

dragonfly03246 · 05-27-2010, 09:45 AM

He visited us here in the Weirs Tuesday night. Unfortunately I couldn't get to my camera in time to snap a picture but what a great sight it was to see him land on the railing of our deck. I couldn't believe my eyes that he was all of 10 feet away from me!

05-14-2010, 07:49 PM	#1
SteveA Deceased Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 2,311 Thanks: 1,070 Thanked 2,053 Times in 496 Posts	Pileated Woodpecker Gunstock River We were sitting on the "back porch" late this afternoon and spotted this guy looking for dinner. Amazing, 15-18" long. I used a long lens in rapid fire "sport" mode. Check out the parts of the tree flying just under his beak in the first two shots. __________________ "Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry he'll be a mile away and barefoot!" unknown

05-15-2010, 06:19 AM	#2
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,525 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 295 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	Very nice photos..... wonder if Woody the Woodpecker was a pileated woodpecker, too? __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

05-18-2010, 03:31 PM	#5
Airedale1 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Laconia Posts: 595 Thanks: 557 Thanked 1,569 Times in 274 Posts	Nice shots Steve. My son spotted this one yesterday at Lincoln Park in Gilford and I was able to get one quick shot. The Pileated has always been somewhat of a nemesis bird for me. I've never really gotten a great image of one.. This one will have to do till I get a better opportunity. They are very skittish birds. __________________ "The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit." Nelson Henderson (1865-1943)

05-19-2010, 05:41 PM	#7
Airedale1 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Laconia Posts: 595 Thanks: 557 Thanked 1,569 Times in 274 Posts	Steve check out this site: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/ It is a forum that has the same format as this one, only it is dedicated to Canon users. It has sections of the forum dedicated to sharing know how and sections for showing your images and having more experienced photographers critique your work. It is a great way to learn about anything and everything related to Canon digital photography. It is free and the people there are very generous in sharing their time and expertise. For example there is a section for just bird photos, post your images there and ask for a critique and you will learn lots. I know I did. BTW I shoot with a 40D and either a Canon 400 f/5.6L lens or a Canon 70-200 f/4.0L when I am shooting wildlife. __________________ "The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit." Nelson Henderson (1865-1943)

05-26-2010, 04:30 PM	#8
Whimsey Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Rum Point/West Alton Posts: 195 Thanks: 258 Thanked 37 Times in 24 Posts	Looks like he was visiting West Alton yesterday If I did this right, a picture should follow.

The Following 9 Users Say Thank You to SteveA For This Useful Post:
AC2717 (05-14-2010), DRH (05-15-2010), Jonas Pilot (05-14-2010), Just Sold (05-19-2010), Rattlesnake Gal (05-18-2010), Smitty1 (05-15-2010), Tallyho (05-14-2010), Winni P (05-15-2010), Yosemite Sam (05-14-2010)

05-15-2010, 08:52 AM	#3
Newbiesaukee Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Coral Gables, winter; Long Island, summer Posts: 1,349 Thanks: 922 Thanked 569 Times in 295 Posts	Yeah, FLL, those thoughts keep me awake at night, too. The jury seems divided between the red headed woodpecker and the pileated. The red headed has the right colors, but the pileated has the right head. These are great pictures and I love to see them in action. My favorite bird in the Lakes region.

05-15-2010, 11:02 AM	#4
NoBozo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Portsmouth. RI Posts: 2,231 Thanks: 400 Thanked 460 Times in 308 Posts	A couple of years ago, in late September, we watched a Pair of these birds from our cabin porch entertain each other for about two hours on the side of a tall pine tree 30 feet away and maybe 6 feet off the ground. One would work his way around to the other side of the tree..while the other one would always rotate in the opposite direction so they couldn't see each other...the tree always between them. Sometimes they would even be upside down. We wondered why they seemed to be flirting with each other in Late September....or was it a territorial thing. They seemed to be oblivious of our presence, as occasionally we would get up and go into the cabin, with it's noisy screen door that you couldn't go through without it banging shut. NB

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Airedale1 For This Useful Post:
secondcurve (05-26-2010), SteveA (05-18-2010)

The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to Whimsey For This Useful Post:
Airedale1 (03-27-2011), Jonas Pilot (05-27-2010), Pepper (05-26-2010), secondcurve (05-26-2010), SteveA (05-26-2010), trfour (05-27-2010)

05-26-2010, 05:10 PM	#9
Nagigator Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Central Ma. Posts: 290 Thanks: 268 Thanked 55 Times in 39 Posts	Wow! Thats all I can say, ALL the photos are amazing. Every once in a while, I catch a glimpse of one of those amazing birds in my woods.

05-27-2010, 06:33 AM	#10
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 5,788 Thanks: 2,084 Thanked 742 Times in 532 Posts	Picture of a PAIR to follow—when I find it... Even if their long-carrying call doesn't give them away, their method of drilling *will. Listen for an occasional tapping sound. (Like a carpenter securing a screen with tacks). While Piliated Woodpecks are drilling at wood, they do so with some "thought". Large chunks of wood will also fall to the ground as they actually pry* weakened woodchips away with their bills. (Like a carpenter might, using a chisel). Smaller woodpeckers use rapidly-repeated smaller strikes. (Like an air-powered chisel). Sometimes you'll see a Piliated Woodpecker "hiding" from you behind the tree trunk. From left or right, he will alternately peek at you as you walk by. (Playing "peekaboo", as it were).

05-27-2010, 09:45 AM	#11
dragonfly03246 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 83 Thanks: 7 Thanked 29 Times in 15 Posts	Such a beautiful bird He visited us here in the Weirs Tuesday night. Unfortunately I couldn't get to my camera in time to snap a picture but what a great sight it was to see him land on the railing of our deck. I couldn't believe my eyes that he was all of 10 feet away from me!