Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Red-Headed Acrobatics!


I've recently added several Red-Headed Woodpeckers to my regulars in my backyard. They were scarce during the winter except for one juvenile that stayed pretty high up in the trees and was only rarely seen.

One of the new visitors has taken a liking to the peanut feeder. He performs acrobatics to get to the peanuts in the feeder. He spins around and around at the bottom to peck at the peanuts.




We spent the weekend at Brush Mountain with my wife's brother and his wife. It was a great time of birding for me. I added three birds to my life list!

My brother-in-law and I spotted a Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher right off the bat the first day I was there. It was a lifer for the both of us! I got a few pictures of it but none turned out. Maybe next time!

On Saturday, we hiked up Pinnacle Mountain in West Little Rock. We saw another lifer five minutes into our hike. It was a Black & White Warbler. He was flitting about in the trees and was too quick to get any pictures.

I added one more to my list on Saturday evening which was a Bank Swallow. He was flying around a lake near the house. He was flying acrobatically and catching insects for dinner.

Good Birding and God Bless!

14 comments:

Shelley said...

Great photo of the red-headed. I still haven't seen one but at least I get to experience it on your blog!

J. Karl Clampit said...

They are my favorite bird, no question! There are at least two, maybe three now with a new one, in my yard every day. The new one acts a little different and is a little 'plumper' than the other two. It is funny how you get to know they by their behavior!

Thanks for visiting!

Craig said...

Very cool bird! Congrats on the lifers.

Craig

nina at Nature Remains. said...

I've only seen a red-headed woodpecker once here--many years ago.
I'm always very concerned when the sighting is so rare.
We must be on the "line".

They're lovely!

possumvalleygirl said...

Congrats on your life list sightings! I have a feeder like yours but I have sunflower seeds in it. I may have to get one and put peanuts in it, too. What kind of peanuts should you feed birds?
I see, and hear, BG gnatcatchers quite a bit during the spring but was unable to get a pic until this year. They don't sit still very often!

J. Karl Clampit said...

Craig, thanks for visiting!

Nina, they are abundant here in SE Arkansas. I've seen many here where I live. Hope you get visited soon!

Girl, I put in unsalted dry roasted peanuts. They seem to like them! Thanks for visiting.

Kathie Brown said...

I would love to get a red-heaeded woodpecker! What a great photo. Congrats on your bank swallow! And thanks for visiting my blog.

Aunt "B's" Backyard said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Aunt "B's" Backyard said...

Oops, Sorry!
Great shot of the 'Red-Head'!
I've never seen one in person even though I understand they were in my area years ago but extinct at this point partly due to the treatment of the telephone poles.
Isn't it so frustrating when you try to get a photo and just can't!

Larry said...

Congratulations on the lifers!I have a very high percentage of failed attmepts to get pictures of most of the warblers that I see.

J. Karl Clampit said...

Kathie, I hope that you get to see one, they are beautiful!

b, Maybe you will get to see one soon!

Larry, Warblers are quick! You have to be ready to snap the pic when you see them.

Moe said...

Ahhhhhhhhhh. Can't believe you get red-headed woodpeckers right in the backyard! I have to head out into the countryside to see them, and even then it is hit-or-miss. Never snapped a good photo, either.

J. Karl Clampit said...

Moe, I do belive I'm fortunate to had Red-Heads in my yard. They are fun to watch and are number one on my list of favs! Good luck on getting your pic, I've seen your work. It is just of matter of time!

Anonymous said...

I would love to get a red-heaeded woodpecker!


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