Downy Woodpecker - (enlarge)

During one of the hotter days of August, always eager to practice my

handholding skills, I decided to venture down to our Greenup

Ecology Park. Such a wonderful place where during the summer

there are classes to teach the young ones about gardening,

composting, animals, birds and insects in their habitats and usually

there would be signs saying what one might expect to see on that

days visit. While hunting for butterflies and bees I head a familiar

sound, turned and saw this lovely Downy Woodpecker. I do not know

the plant it was on, about 10 ft. tall, shaped similar to a big desert

cactus, but was definitely a plant with yellow flowers. The little dots

you see on the far right resulted from the 'pecking' of the bird. (visits

welcome, many thanks in advance, :)Gail)

Gail,

Wow!  What a great shot.  I like the composition with three vertical plants and your woodpecker on one of them.  Great colors and it is tack-sharp.  Very good hand-held effort.  Wish my hands were that steady.  Best Regards, bb

I was not sure if I would get decent shots or not Bill. The Bird was well over my head on this plant, the sun beaming very brightly from the left. I had tried on a previous day but the bird was on the other side of the plant and the sun reflected badly on it's face. Thanks so much for your comments, I admire your many bird captures!

Wonderfully sharp photo. We have Downy Woodpeckers around here and they a beautiful birds. They sometimes wake me up hammering on hardwood trees but that's what this old man gets for daring to falling asleep in the middle of the day!! Oh well. Very nice work Gail.

Beautiful capture of the bird. Excellent focus and great details. Subject is well separated from the background. Congrats.

Hi Gail,

  Beautiful capture with amazing clarity, colors & details.  Take care, Patsy

Very well framed and great choice of dof!

Great capture Gail!    AJ

Sincere thanks Warren for your visit. I recall at one of the homes we lived in, a very hard working Woodpecker that didn't give us much peace. I never got a very good look at him, but didn't try to utter curses too frequently as he was such a beautiful bird:)

It seems that lot of seeds there are on this plant and good for this bird.I have me too in my area same one with red head patch as here and can be heard often knock knock  sound she did.

A really beautiful result with very nice lighting and details, Gail!

 

Excellent focusing and composition leading to a crystal clear and extra sharp image. A lovely, full of life, joyful and stress-relieving portrait of this little buddy. Thank you for making my day Gail!

Although there are some species of woodpecker in Perú, I've never seen one. You're lucky to have these beautiful birds around you.  It is a good specimen, and you've captured it very well, nice sharpness and good DOF which allows a neutral background.  It is interesting too, the detail of small dots.  :)

Nice picture!

Kind Regards,

Rosario.

Hi Gail,

I really like the placement of the bird a third in from the right frame. The pose is good also as is the birds eye. It all is pulled together nicely with the three stalks and the blurred lighting in the background. Always a pleasure commenting on your images Gail. Especially those of artistic images of birds. Warm regards, Rob

Thank you so much for dropping by - I admire your bird images so much. I did want to say that the 'bokeh' in the background was NOT added. The sun was shining very brightly from the left in this image. The background was so lovely I did not want to crop much out of it, but it would have been too much. One day I hope to do as good as you. I think if I was using a better lens, I could have gotten more detail in the Woodpecker, but took a chance with my Macro lens.

...

Many thanks for your visit! I think I could 'trade' your sunsets in Peru for 'Woodpeckers' :) I imagine you must have some very interesting birds there ( I did notice the Pelican in your last sunset grouping) I enjoy taking images of Pelicans, but did not see many in Florida last year!

Well, if this image made your day brighter, that is good enough for me, so good to see you stop by. I have many of your images to catch up on Yannis!

I appreciate very much each of you stopping by and sharing your thoughts on this image. I did not see many song birds this year, so the Woodpecker had my constant attention!

Lovely, Gail!!

Cheers

Many thanks for your visit Alberto. You have smiled upon this image, I do not imagine you without your smile!!!

Lovely bird, lovely image my dear friend. I have seen this beauty and ave capture it, but I'm not pretty satisfied with them, I would have the moment for it :) You did great here, this creatures are fast and they don't like humans around.

Warmest regards,

LuDa

 

You did very well capturing this little chap! They can be very elusive, I often hear woodpeckers but very seldom see them!   Lovely detail and sharpness, your hand holding practice is really paying dividends! 

Very well done Gail! 

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

I am so short, and he was so engrossed in his task, that he barely paid me no mind. I saw him on another day, but I could only get captures of him in the shade. He was making quite a mess as he pecked away. But what a feast it much of been for him!!! The sun was so nice and warm on his back, I imagine it was just like a 'spa' day for a bird!

I have not had that much trouble being near them in the past, just didn't have a camera handy all the time. I seem to have more trouble with Golden Finches. I love their song, but they are so tiny and never stay in one spot very long!!! I heard them all over the park that day, but never got a glimpse, glad you liked this one Luisa!