Thursday, April 28, 2011

A RIVERBANK FIRST


I spent all of yesterday writing a couple of deadlined columns and keeping an eye on the storm situation. Except for a few 90-second trips onto the deck to check on the river level, I never went outside. Nevertheless, I managed to log, and even photograph, a new bird to the list of riverbank visitors.

Ohio has six year-around resident species of woodpeckers—pileated, red-headed, yellow-shafted flicker, red-bellied, downy, and hairy. (Arguably, you could also include the yellow-bellied sapsucker, though most of these birds simply pass through during migration to their breeding grounds in northern deciduous forests. Only a handful hang around for nesting, and almost never in this southwestern corner of the state—though a few might overwinter hereabouts. The state's Division of Wildlife lists the bird as "endangered.")

Of the half-dozen species, all but one, the red-headed, are common year-around visitors along the riverbank. In fact, I see the other five woodpeckers almost daily. However, until yesterday, since moving to this riverside cottage almost seven years ago, I'd never spotted a single red-headed woodpecker in the trees along the stream, or hanging around any of the seed or suet feeders—though they're not particularly uncommon throughout the rural farmlands a few miles to the west. So I was momentarily flabbergasted when I looked out my workroom window and saw this handsome red-headed woodpecker investigating the box elder near the front door. It was drizzling at the time, the light dim, and I had to shoot at an oblique angle through a glass that badly needs cleaning, hand-holding my 70-300mm zoom—so the photo isn't all that good. But a moment after I recorded this image, the bird flew off across the river to the island, and that was the end of my photo-op. I'm glad I got what I did.

That makes it a banner bird week here…first, my annual grosbeak showed up (here) for a good long look, and yesterday a red-headed woodpecker. Wow! 
———————

18 comments:

Gail said...

HI GRIZZ-

nature certainly does provide lovely gifts of rarity and beauty and delight. SOmetimes mother natures fury kicks up and we have to hang on but it is a balance for sure when such delights as you have shared come into view for us to savor.
I am a bit under the weather, my bad eg (right) is tight and weak and I am having a hard time lifting it - it is so unsettling and I get so frightened. I plan to do some stretches throughout the day and also massages and elevation - I hope it releases and strengthens naturally - I don't want to have to take a round of IV steroids which consists of 1000 mg/day - for three to five days and then oral steroids to ween off the large doses of IV solumedrol(sp) it really packs a punch at such large doses, ya know? I am whining like a baby, I know....sigh.... anywho - enjoy your river and all it has to offer you -
Love Gail
peace.....

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

Nature, and life (not that there's much separation) hands us all sorts of gifts and blessing…and sometimes, situations and trials that aren't so much fun. I know it can be discouraging. Please don't let it get you down. This is only a hiccup, a slice out of time, and not at all your life or who you are. You will come though this…hopefully without having to resort to the steroids. You ARE NOT "whining like a baby." You are being open and honest, and are in some discomfort and dreading what you might have to endure to get to the other side.

None of us are immune from being human. It takes courage to live life "in the face" with a serious illness or medical issue. Yet you do that all the time, because you're brave and know you can either give up and give in, or get on with things as best you can on a given day. I admire you very much for that; few of us could do the same with such grace and dignity and joyful an attitude. You are special.

Take care. You will be in my prayers.

Kelly said...

Oh my gosh...you lucky duck, you! I've not seen one along the Little Miami down here...and I've been walking it since 1990! That's a really good sign. I hope he keeps coming back. I heard there is a sizable population near the Spring Valley Wildlife Area, but other than that, I haven't heard of much in our area. Yeah!!

Carolyn H said...

Griz:

What a great photo. These birds are pretty uncommon here, too. I can go a couple of years without seeing one. I have yet to get a photo even an eighth as good as yours!

Carolyn H.

Grizz………… said...

Kelly…

I've been poking around on the Internet some this afternoon (that's me—post first, research later) and I guess I was luckier than I thought to have had a red-headed woodpecker in my dooryard. They're apparently getting to be quite uncommon hereabouts.

Yet, there's seldom a time when I drive the backroads of Darke or Preble counties that I don't see one or more along the edge of the woodlots. And I almost always see one when I visit Rush Run Wildlife Area or Germantown Reserve. I can't remember seeing one the last time I was at Spring Valley, but I've certainly seen them there in the past.

Still, I'm guess I'm not seeing them as often as I used to, which I simply attributed to the fact I'm not spending the 250-300 days in the field each year as I once did.

Most often I tend to see red-heads out in more open situations than you might expect—working a lone oak in a field, or on the side of a telephone pole near the road. Sometimes I see a bird back in the deep, mature woods, but less often than along the edges.

For sheer beauty, I think a red-headed woodpecker is hard to beat. It is a neat and lovely bird.

Grizz………… said...

Carolyn…

I was really lucky. I don't know how long that red-head was in the box elder—but I looked up from my desk, spotted it, grabbed my camera…and made three or four exposures, trying to will myself to slow down and hold steady. This was the only one that wasn't a blurry throw-away. And a second after this shot, the bird was off across the river.

I hope this one comes back around.

The Solitary Walker said...

A handsome fellow indeed, Grizz. To Gail: hang on in there ...

Gail said...

Grizz- your wise and kind words moved me to tears - good, cleansing tears. "Thank you" for knowing what to say (write) and for "seeing" what sometimes I forget to see - you are so wonderful - and I SO appreciate your support and friendship.
Loving you
Gail;
peace.....

Robin said...

Wow! He's beautiful!

Bernie said...

Love the woodpecker, you are blessed being surrounded by nature and all its beauty (sometime it rages) Hope the river doesn't flood but you don't sound too worried about it. Sending big hugs my friend......:-)

Grizz………… said...

Solitary…

I always think red-heads are a very natty looking woodpecker. Quite handsome.

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

I meant every word, you know. It takes good mettle to face life sometimes—and you got it, gal. Your friendship is an honor. Hang in there.

Best, always…

Grizz………… said...

Robin…

He or she, is beautiful. A fine lookin' woodpecker!

Grizz………… said...

Bernie…

I know I'm blessed, and so grateful. And the water is high, but we'll be fine. I just felt that somehow before this latest round of rains began, and never doubted. I'll take that hug, and appreciate it…and return one your way. Thank you.

Tramp said...

Thanks for pointing out the need to be grateful for what we catch sight of and not to be frustrated by what we miss. I needed reminding.
...Tramp

Grizz………… said...

Tramp…

Hey, I do, too…regularly.

In fact, not more than half an hour after I'd made this woodpecker photo, I glanced out the window and saw a great blue heron walking along the bank IN MY YARD! The big bird was no more than twenty feet from the front door—close enough for a spectacular shot. So I snatched my camera off the desk, hustled down the hall to the great room…and managed to scare the bird into hasty flight before I got anywhere near to getting a shot.

I was really hacked off at myself and the fact I'd messed up what could have been a wonderful image. And then I thought…hey, you've just taken a usable shot of that rather uncommon red-headed woodpecker—a first-time bird for your riverbank list. Be grateful for what you have instead of upset at what you missed.

giggles said...

Wow!!! Banner spring! Maybe these sighting bode well for some healing of Mother Earth?

Grizz………… said...

Giggles…

A plethora of feathered riches! And I hope you're right on the healing…at least a good drying out. Right now, the frogs and catfish are growing mold.