An Elusive Downy Woodpecker... Finally!

Date: August 11, 2007
Time: 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Location: The front yard of our home in the upstate New York city of Rochester.

Bird Species/Markings/Features: One female Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens). We could tell it was a female due to the black plumage n the back, rather than red which would signify it's being a male.

Sights/Sounds/Activities: While my wife, stepson and I were grooming Gracie on the front porch (actually, Anne was doing most of the work!) I noticed a "whinny" that I have come to recognize as the sound of the Downy Woodpecker.

Notes: Although I have been negligent about posting regarding our birding activities here on this blog, Anne and I have been busy this summer watching the bird life unfold in our backyard. It is with great excitement that we have, with more frequency, observed the arrival and regular presence of a Downy Woodpecker, to our backyard.

Unfortunately, given the combination of my clumsiness and our "not-ready-quite-ready-for-Discovery Channel" digital camera, I have been unable to capture a picture of the lass at work/play in our yard... until now (see pic above)! For some reason having the chance to photograph, and even cooler... have a few minutes to watch it crawl up the tree at a reasonably close proximity, was one of the most exciting moments I've experienced this summer.