When I saw the temperature at -21 degrees this morning, I wondered if the car would start. It did and I arrived at Lambton Woods at dawn.
A hardy group of walkers appeared for the 8 am walk.
In the middle of the woods, as if on cue, a Pileated Woodpecker landed just in front of us accompanied by its characteristic ringing and staccato call.
These 16 – 20 inch in length birds were named because of a certain resemblance to the pileus cap worn in ancient Greece and into the Roman Empire:
Other birds:
MYSTERY BIRD
I recently received this photo. The bird is about starling size. Can you identify it? I will give the answer in Monday’s post.
NATURE POETRY
But pleasures are like poppies spread,
You seize the flow’r, its bloom is shed;
Or like the snow falls in the river,
A moment white—then melts forever. – Robert Burns (1759–96)
Miles Hearn
Well, it’s unlikely to be a Warbler–
Would have loved to put this frigid day to the test. The pooch wouldn’t go very far–not that I blame him! Great challenge. Love to see the dawn, too!.
Thank you for the beautiful photos of woodpeckers, especially the pileated female woodpecker (my favourite bird).
American Redstart? I thought of it, then looked it up–some had yellow heads…imagine, I remembered the name of that bird, even if I don’t have it right!
beautiful post,once a long time ago I saw a pileated woodpecker on my walk.beautiful post,thanks Miles