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Friday 24 March 2017

Woodpecker

We heard the quick tapping sound long before we saw the source. A woodpecker was busy nearby. We stopped and listened, hoping for a glimpse of the industrious avian.

Before long we saw it flying through the trees. After a few minutes, Woody perched in the tree in front of us. It was a treat to see this tiny driller.

 

The hairy and downy woodpecker with its black and white plumage, blends with the birch tree trunks, but his drilling gives him away. He doesn't stay long in any one spot, just long enough to stir up some memories for us.

 

We had a different encounter with woodpeckers years ago when our daughter was eighteen months  old. She'd had surgery and my husband and I were exhausted and relieved when she recovered, so we had a few days vacation while his parents looked after her. We spent a weekend at their cottage, our first time away from our daughter. We looked forward to sleeping in for the first time since her birth. 

At 6:00 a.m. the first morning there, we were startled awake by a loud drill-like vibration on the outside of our bedroom wall. It sounded as if a tap was followed by echo vibrations before the next tap. It continued for several minutes. While our daughter didn't rouse us out of bed early that morning, a woodpecker saw that we didn't sleep in. There were woodpeckers in the woods around the cottage that weekend. We swore we could hear them jeering us, just like the character in the old cartoon.

People of a certain age will remember Woody Woodpecker cartoons by Walter Lanz and Ben Hardaway. We grew up with those cartoons and Woody's distinctive "voice." 


Now, you can have Woody's greeting as a ringtone for your phone. 

While we enjoy watching woodpeckers today, we'll just say, "No, thank you," to that ringtone.

28 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Oh, I remember Woody Woodpecker. And that annoying laugh of his!

DJan said...

I heard woodpeckers on our hike yesterday. They can be very loud and annoying, but I like them in their place: the woods! Good pictures of your pretty hairy (or downy) guy. :-)

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Oh that's funny Marie, there's a conspiracy to stop parents from having sleep ins ☺ He's a lovely looking bird, I don't think we have woodpeckers here, of course I could be wrong 😀

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

One woodpecker near where I live discovered that it could make a great din by hammering on the little metal identification plates that the electricity company attach to their wooden poles. While they are attractive creatures, you have to wonder about a bird that bashes its head against a tree trunk to impress the ladies, and indeed the ladies who fall for it.

Joanne Noragon said...

Woodpeckers are beautiful. I had so many at the old house, and then there was my pileated, on the way to work. Your photos are lovely.

Tabor said...

We have a pair of these in our woods that visit the suet feeders in the winter. They are so small compared to our other woodpeckers.

Elephant's Child said...

Glorious photos of a bird I will probably never see (or hear) for myself. Thank you. Sleeping in can be an elusive treat can't it?

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

Haha, yes I remember Woody Wood Pecker. I've seen babies come to our deck with the parents to try out their tapping on the spindles of our railing but for the most part the family takes to the trees around our property.

Marie Smith said...

i hated that laugh, Debra.

Marie Smith said...

Jan, I wouldn't be able to walk on that hike, I'd be so slow just taking pictures!

Marie Smith said...

You have hose beautiful tropical birds in Australia, PDP. I'd love to see those.

Marie Smith said...

Lol, John. I've never seen or heard them drill on metal.

Marie Smith said...

They are amazing creatures, Joanne.

Marie Smith said...

These are tiny birds, Tabor.

Marie Smith said...

As a young parent we didn't appreciate the woodpeckers that weekend, EC. Now we can laugh about it.

Marie Smith said...

It is a good thing the spindles are so hard, Judith.

Anonymous said...

I definitely remember Woody! That's too bad about the woodpecker's drilling waking you on the one morning you could have slept in! These are such sweet photos you have shared. I hope you have a very nice Saturday.

Marie Smith said...

You know what they say about the best laid plans, Mildred. Well, sometimes a woodpecker spoils them.

Ginnie said...

Your pictures really show how that woodpecker blends in with the tree. Many years ago I had a neighbor who added a small addition to the back of his house using old barn siding. They had to tear it down because it was literally attacked by woodpeckers and the constant drilling near drove them crazy.

Marie Smith said...

Lol, I can relate to their dilemma, Ginnie!

Debbie said...

Awesome captures, they tap on my prefabricated fireplace top in Spring. It wakes me up most mornings!! Beautiful pictures!!

Marie Smith said...

Lol. They are better than alarm clocks, Debbie.

Tomoko said...

My husband hears woodpeckers, he says. I have never heard and seen them nearby playground. 
What a cute bird!
Have a good day!

Marilyn @ MountainTopSpice said...

Great pictures, and what a memory of a time when the woodpecker's noise was bothersome, lol! Oh my, such is life, isn't it! We have a lot of woodpeckers here too, and they can be quite noisy creatures, but thankfully they've never tried to drill our home, seeing as there are so many trees in our area, lol!

Marie Smith said...

When you hear them once, you will always recognize the sound, Tomoko.

Marie Smith said...

There were lots of trees around the cottage, SUI, but they preferred the exterior of the cottage for some peculiar reason.

The Furry Gnome said...

Several years ago we had woodpeckers drummimg on the walls of our log cabin here.

Marie Smith said...

Lol. They know a good thing when they see it, FG.