Sighted: November 25, 2014
A nice fall day at the local bog garden. Plenty of cardinals and "little brown birds" that I have yet to learn their identities. This is one of two woodpeckers I saw on my first day of birding. (second official bird I checked off the list). It is a red-bellied woodpecker. I've walked this bog trail many times with my dog and I've never noticed them before. I also saw a downy woodpecker was unable to get a good photograph.
This handsome fellow did not come to the bird feeder like the other birds but flitted about in the tree tops. I know they will feed at feeders, so perhaps my son and I scared him off. My field guide said to look for this bird at middle height and along main branches and trunks of trees.
HERE is a link to this woodpecker's calls, drums, kwirr call, fledglings begging for food and the cha call sounds. I've heard this call in my own back yard - I never knew it was a woodpecker.
Below is a photo from the following day (Nov 26). A gentleman walked by spreading sunflower seeds (I think that's what it is) and low and behold - another Red Bellied Woodpecker! Not the sharpest image as they seemingly like to dine and dash. But two sightings in two days - just goes to show you how unobservant I have been in the past.
