07 May 2012

Pileated Woodpecker

This afternoon I saw my first Pileated Woodpecker.  I have been a casual birdwatcher since the early 1990s.  I can probably identify more birds than the average non-birdwatcher; I have a battered, well-used bird guide, and last year I acquired binoculars that are mostly for the birds (gotta love the double entendre, or not).  Bird watching is more entertainment than obsession for me.  But I have a life list (scribbled with no rhyme nor reason on random sheets of paper) and if motivated I could count how many I've listed but I'm not motivated so suffice to say there are a lot.  So for me, adding a new bird to my list is a big deal.  And adding such a spectacular bird as this is really exciting.  He gave me quite a show and I wished I had my camera.  Only now do I realize that I did have my phone and my phone has a camera and I've actually learned to use it.  Sadly I am still too low tech to make the connection between wanting to take a picture and thinking of my phone.  Ah well.  No picture required to make it to the life list.  In lieu of the real thing, here is a picture, and some info on the Pileated Woodpecker.

           

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