I finally was able to get a photo of a pileated woodpecker after all these years birding.
I went out for leaf colors in the morning and heard a slightly different call compared to the usual red bellied and downy woodpecker calls. Then I heard the loud knocking and decided to try and follow the sound for a shot.
Then there it was posing nicely in the y of a tree. I think it was looking for larvae hopefully ridding us of some invasive wood borers.
Here's the windup, look at all that speed and force.
Pow it hits the tree, gotta close your eyes otherwise they will fly out of your head hitting a tree this hard.
Now it has to inspect the hole for any larvae. I wonder if they can sense them under their feed inside the wood and know where to knock to get the grubs?
I got a bit too close and off he went. Now I have to return to leaf colors.
The only other critter I saw was this crazy squirrel marking its territory. Should make for an interesting #squirrelsunday
That's all for now, thanks for looking :-)