Woody Woodpecker is so shy!
He sits on the roof and watches the wild birds on the feeders but will never eat, so I have bought a special woodpecker nut mix in hopes of drawing him in. For now though, he just watches from afar.
Beep-Beep spends much of his days snooping at us through windows. Here he is watching me at my desk as I blog. This was shot through the window so there is some distortion. He was about a foot from my face.
The baby house finches are still caging meals from their parents.
Grosbeaks are new Holler residents.
Hawks always watch over everything, and have never yet gone after any of the birds.
Although they certainly like to watch them closely!
Cheers to you from The Holler’s Audubon garden.
Awesome pictures, as always! The Hawks are magnificent! But my love goes to Beep-Beep. He probably wants to learn how to blog ๐
I think he would be good at it! He reminds me of a small dinosaur with feathers!
I just watched a TED talk yesterday how dinos didn’t really go extinct they evolved and spread all over the continent as birds. Interesting for the dino features to be so prominent in your beep beep.
So beautiful. You are blessed to have such wonderful views of so many birds!
Yes, since I love birds, it is quite a gift~
Terrific! All interesting but the roadrunner especially. It has a strange looking head
I swear they are little feathered dinosaurs! Snoopy dinos! ๐
Do they follow you when you go outside?
Oh yes they do. And they love to play cat & mouse. They are such unusual birds, in the cuckoo family…..
Do they make a cuckoo sound?
Laughing, no they make this whirring sound that is exactly what it used to sound like if you ever stuck playing cards in your bicycle spokes with clothespins and rode around.
So eagleeeey cool. Where have you been? Resting I bet:)
Resting is always a critical part of everyone’s day! ๐
Those eyes on the hawk, wow! ๐
Aren’t they gorgeous creatures and their eyesight is phenomonal!
That it certainly is and I am so in envy of that ๐
That plus their flying ability makes me envious too!
Yeah, don’t you love how birds observe us with as much curiosity as we observe them? Amazing that Beep-Beep came up so close to your window! What a beauty!
Adorable picture of the baby finch being fed and stunning close-up of the hawk. I just love that I can see the sheen on the feathers in such great detail. Thanks again Cindy for bringing us such amazing sights! <3 ~Lynn
We love the birds don’t we Lynn. I always look forward to hearing from you my friend. Cheers & thanks too!
All the birdies are wonderful, but beep-beep steals my heart away!
He is just ridiculous. He loves to lead me on merry chases just like the cartoons. I am Wiley E. to his beep-beep!
Perhaps, the woodpecker needs to eat from vertical position ๐
I have seen him with a snake hanging halfway out of his beak. Apparently it stays like that until he can digest the rest! I have also seen him in hot pursuit of a 6 foot rat snake. The snake was flying away in terror with Beep-Beep in hot pursuit. I guess he might be able to kill even such a huge snake. He is a feathered velociraptor!
Wow, so beautiful! I especially love the hawks! Is that a Golden Eagle on the bottom photo? Sure looks like it.Peace.
Yes it is. We have had Golden Eagles here too now which is a thrill for me but the hawks don’t seem too thrilled!
Amazing! Thanks for sharing this. Loved it.
<3
Good to have a few feathered friends around. I think that they know you are going to feed them. Take care Cindy and hope it is not too hot out there.
Wally
Wonderful to hear from you Wally. How are things with you? Actually it has been a mild summer so far, but of course we are still in major drought which is a serious problem.
Hi Cindy, Things are OK. I have made a decision with ‘placing’ my sweetheart.
Hope all is well with you.
Wally
Awwesome shots, Cindy! Beep-Beep wants to know if we are talking about him ๐ Great captures of the two Hawks.
Who knows what the beeping one is thinking. My son says he is our pet. He certainly seems to be just that! ๐
๐
Such strong faces, and I love the fact that you have a bird watching you so closely. Beautiful photos Cindy! <3
Yep. He’s and avid people watcher! I bet they have a club and discuss sightings…..
So beautiful! It took us a while to work out the one in the first and last photos, but we think it’s a dark morph Ferruginous Hawk. Are we right?
I answered this quickly and then thought about it, and removed my comment. The last hawk is a melanistic red tail. He is a red tail with extra melanin making him dark, but you really got me thinking about hawk number two. I thought he was a red tail. Is he a ferruginous possibly? His coloring is different, so light. I am so impressed you guys picked this up. I did struggle over the lighter one a bit, making sure he wasn’t a red shoulder and fussing about the coloration. I am impressed with you guys. You would be so fun to go bird watching with!
My older son and hubby are much better birders than I am. I can only tell a Red-tailed if I see the red in the tail in flight. :} My son can spot the different morphs. We did pull out the Kaufman bird guide and compared the shape of the beak and the color of the eyes and didn’t think that very red one was a red-tailed due to the upturn at the edge of the gape. ๐
The woodpeckers adore peanuts, and a cylindrical raw peanut feeder will get them every time. Well, at least they’ve worked for me. And, since only the clinging birds can get at them, the peanuts last longer. They’re all gorgeous!
Hmmmm, the cylindrical feeder sounds like a great idea and I have one I’m not using. I will try this! I would like to stay year round. They are good bug eaters!
Woody woodpecker looks like the pope with the red ‘beanie’ (เธโก.โก)เธ
He is either a Catholic or Jewish bird I’m guessing…….I thought it looked like a very nice and colorful yarmulke!
I just looked it up and you are definitely right. It is clearly a Catholic Zucchetto. I hope he didn’t steal it from the pope. But the new pope is such a cool person, I don’t think he’ll mind……
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zucchetto
Interesting! Now I know it’s called a Zucchetto. (ยฌโฟยฌ)โ
Hawks are such majestic creatures. What a privilege to see them in full flight like that. Beautiful photos as always.
Thanks Carrie. Raptors in flight never cease to thrill me. There is something majestic about them. So glad you feel the same.
Some remarkable photos here, Cindy. My fave is the third one. Really beautiful.
That is the cheeky roadrunner, he works for the NSA, he’s always spying on us! ๐ ๐
Cindy, thank you for these beautiful pictures. Hope by now, that the woodpecker has overcome his shyness. Hugs! Veraiconica
Not yet, but I am going to work on it! I love them and they should have some exotic nuts! <3
Oh this is a wonderful collection of photos! The beep-beep shot, and the finches – wow!
Alison
All creatures great & small! I love ’em all!
Me too! <3
I know you do.
Seriously Cindyโฆyour photographs are incredible. So beautiful and detailed. I just love them and look forward to seeing them. Thank you.
Ohhhhh, I am so honored to have you as a friend. <3 <3
Oh, I am so happy to see the hawks again, and Beep beep is too funny. Perhaps you should invite him in. He may like to blog.
I love you for being happy to see the hawks again! I just cannot get enough of the hawks and hummers and since you’ve known me for more than three years, you know this very well. Thank you for liking them. And I do think you are right, I should help the beeper reach his potential as a blogger, he must have such an interesting and unusual perspective on the people he watches!
I am completely sure he does. He would probably have us howling with laughter if he could tell all.
I wish he could…..except what might he say about me? Laughing, I would love to hear it.
I like very much your taste in photography โบ great that “picchio” (that’s italian for woodkeep) .
Buona giornata be happy.
Oh un bel commento del genere! <3 I like that you like the birds. They speak an international language, and are citizens of the world. If only we could learn from them.
Mi piace che ti piace gli uccelli parlano un linguaggio internazionale, e sono cittadini del mondo. Se solo potessimo imparare da loro . <3 <3
Great I have from my childhood a book (printed in the ’50) where birds are painted in such a manner that I were delighted to copy by crayons … and I am just a little good painter (as many other people) … In my bookshelf I have this book … my fav bird is anyway the raven … when were in mountains I were charmed by the beauty black feathers and raucous voice … Thanks a lot for your great beautiful pictures โบ . Fraternity by Rinaldo.
Ravens are very smart and of course highly adaptive which is why populations are so dense in so many places. They have excellent memories and remember people’s faces. They are hard for me to photograph in flight though because they are monochrome. Your book sounds delightful!
http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lGY71HJzowM/UKHj9koCpSI/AAAAAAAAeSY/TFQW3lqpbOA/s1600/salvapantallas-LoBocAs2000%25255B7%25255D.gif
Hello,
Congratulatiionsโฆ I nominated you as The Creative Blogger Award, pls visit my post http://garasi82.com/2015/07/29/the-creative-blogger-award-2/
Thank you
Love – Risty
Awwww, so kind Risty and so very appreciated! Thank you my friend~ <3
<3 <3 <3
I always enjoy your beautiful photo’s, Cindy ๐ Thank you
Aww..Beep is so adorable. Looks like it is offering its cheek for a peck.
If the window had been open, as it often is for photographs, I wonder if he would have hopped in! A robin did this a few days ago. He landed on the top of my laptop screen!
OMG! That could be dangerous. But on the other hand isnt it awesome and so exciting that you live in such a beautiful place.
Oh my, they’re some funny looking things ๐
Love their coloration!
ยกPรกjaro loco! Parece el nombre adecuado por su mirada hipnotizada. Seguramente se deberรก a su timidez. ๐
La escena de la alimentaciรณn del pinzรณn, es entraรฑable. ยกQuรฉ bonitas vistas se ven desde tu ventana!
Tengo mi propio reino salvaje por la ventana, que me encanta ser parte de! Gracias a mi amiga y vรญtores para usted~ <3
The hawks are very clever, you never know when they’ll swoop down to catch their prey.Your shots of the wood pecker is awesome. ๐
Yes, I have lived here for seven years and keep waiting for them to make this move. So far they haven’t!
Cindy, almost all of your recent posts are about animals and birds. It looks you are zoologist in your soul or at least huge lover of these creatures.
Yes, I love watching, learning about, and interacting with wild animals and have since I was a child. Thank you for noticing & cheers too!
Have a nice day!
๐
I think I lost track of your site in the Reader. Thanks to Robin’s link today, I have found your site again and now subscribed via email. Beautiful photos ๐
Welcome Back & thank you! Yes, the reader unfollows me from people too which is quite frustrating~
Does your woodpecker call like woody? The pileated woodpeckers we have sound just like him. They are also tricksters. They fly just far enough in front of you or sneak around the back of trees so as to make a photoshoot quite a test of patience.
Yes! They do seem to be the most photo averse birds I know of. I hope I am successful in drawing them to the feeder. I would love to have them here year round and hope they become more comfortable around us.
I hope it works. I look forward to my photos.
Fingers crossed! <3
The woodpecker at the top looks like he’s got the Jewish cap the Kippah on! That’s so cute. And the hawk is amazingly handsome and regal in the last photo. Gorgeous photos as always, my friend!
That was exactly what I thought about the woodpecker! But than another blogger pointed out that he seemed to be wearing the pope’s hat. So now I am not sure what his religion is! ๐ ๐
Why is she pecking that long slab thing ? Why not a tree like any sensible bird. ๐
Laughing, the feeder was right below her. She wanted to go for it, was thinking about it, but was too shy!
Poor woodpeckers, they all suffer from chronic concussion. :-).
I found your blog through Patty B as she reblogged your giraffes. I love your blog and your photos! So happy we’ve connected! โฅ
Lovely to meet you & welcome! Patty rocks~
….oh how very wonderful! It is so great seeing the birds from different regions.
I absolutely love this aspect of blogging too. The world of birds is a fascinating place!
These are wonderful pics!
Cindy, your photography is amazing! I can’t believe the detail you’ve captured in these birds — their feathers, their expressions, etc. Why, one can almost hear them “talking”!
Awwww, so kind and so appreciated Debbie. I too like to hear them speak. They all have their own distinct calls. The orioles are hard to understand though, since they all talk at once! ๐ ๐
beautiful-I admire what you do Powerful!!! Calming…Thank you
Your comment makes me happy! Thank you~
I have never felt so close to birds as through your phenomenal photographs!
Oh, what a lovely comment! Thank you Dor~
Beautiful!! ๐
Mil grazi!
Much love ๐
You have quite the variety of wildlife there. We had a woodpecker here who would peck at a metal street sign every morning for several months last spring. I have no idea if he just liked the sound or if he could get bugs out from behind the sign that way or something. At a different house we had one who pecked a metal downspout frequently so this one wasn’t the only metalpecker out there.
Cracking up! I had no idea. I do know they will hide acorns in really odd places like automobile engines…..
I am definitely a hawk fan – due both to living in Seattle with the Seahawks, but mostly to my time in Eastern Oregon where hawks gliding, soaring and diving over the fields were a sight to enjoy. Your photos do them great justice, a fantastic series…and such a fun read. beep-beep…
T hanks much! The raptors are magic aren’t they! I can’t get enough of them. Such dignified creatures.
Wow, your Beep-beep photo is amazing!
I will have to post more of the beeping one! He is such a crack-up!
Holler envy. ๐
If you like birds and empty spaces you might like it. If you love towns, crowds, cities, and urban excitement you definitely would not like it. It suits me though.
That, of course, is one of the things I love most about this day and age: mobility. The opportunity to live in one place and explore any number of quite different ones, or to live in a variety of places whenever the urge suits. ๐ I think you do that marvelously, and don’t think I’m not taking notes as I follow your adventures!!! xoxo
It is great fun isn’t it? Sharing our virtual lives. It forms connections between people all over the world. I don’t see the internet/technology as alienating. In fact I see it in an opposite way, as an incredible tool to form friendships between people with common interests all over the world.
Beautiful to see your birds. Ours still elude me in the woodland but have seen glimpses of the different families born this year. And the beeeaters are now resting on high wires! Your birds seem so different except for the hawk!
One of the things I do so love about blogging is seeing the different places people live, different climates, countries, plants, animals and especially birds. I am fascinated by the birds. When I travel and post bird photos, people will often mention how common this bird is where they live, magpies and myna birds for example. For me these are exotics! Don’t even get me going on Australian birds. Australia is bird paradise!
Your American ones are quite different from our European ones too but often similar species. Yes, it is an amazingly biodiversity blogging world too!
Love it!
Amazing birds you have there Cindy, they are really beautiful ๐
Thank you Irene. They are such a joy to live with everyday!
How do it feel to be watched while you blog? Do you think beep-beep can read what you wrote? LOL great post, brightened my day.
I think beep-beep is all knowing and all seeing. To be frank I think he works for the NSA, which is why he monitors us all the time!
I love these birds with personality, happy to have any number of posts about them.
Oh good, because I love posting them! <3
Love the last photo! So much detail – made me want to reach out and touch the feathers. Your hollow is something! Cheers back!
The Holler is definitely not for most people, but for me it is pretty close to perfect. I think wild things make the very best neighbors!
Beautiful feathered friends ๐ Love the wood peckers!
Aren’t they handsome in their caps!
They bowl you over! Awesome!
Wonderful shots, Cindy! I can’t believe Beep Beep looks in your window like that. ๐ A few times, I’ve seen a woodpecker come to our feeder, but not very often. I like to watch them pecking away on the trees–and on our garage the other day. Love the hawk photos, too!
We have a lot of French doors. They are the perfect height for him to observe us. I think he thinks we are his pets, and he keeps us in this glass box, to watch for his entertainment!
Wunderschรถne Fotos eine groรe Umarmung Gislinde
Danke Schoen Gislinde mein Freund! Froliche Wochenede. Grube Cindy
Tag der Freundschaft,alles Gute fรผr dich Klaus
Froliche Wochenede mein Freund Klaus!
vielen Dank
Love your bird shots, Cindy! Wow. I do miss raptors, here in Hawaii where we only have the I’o (Hawaiian Hawk) and the Pu’eo (Hawaiian Owl). And for sure I miss the woodpecker. Aloha.
Yes, I am a big raptor admirer too. Canada is just full of eagles. People are casual about them, “Oh yeah, the bald eagles, they’re everywhere….” I am glued outdoors with my camera! Laughing…..
Exactly! I know the seagull of Alaska is the Bald Eagle. But I’d be there with my camera as well! xo
Wonderful bird shots. Cindy…your skill amazes me always… ๐
Awwwww, honored. Thank you!
You do take such wonderful nature shots! I love the intensity of the bird of prey’s stare in particular.
Aren’t they gorgeous creatures and the eyes are mesmerizing. So pleased you enjoyed & Happy Weekend~
your love for life and beauty of nature that you capture is commendable, amazing ๐ God bless you dear kindhearted friend <3
And to you my friend, all good wishes! <3
Magnificent shots of your feathered friends, Cindy!
Awwww, thank you and pleased you like them~
wunderschรถn, alles Gute fรผr dich, Klaus
Danke Klaus und Froliche Wochenende!
danke sehr
Oh the baby eating is my favorite, Cindy. Nice.
Such loving bonds between the birds, very pleased you noticed!
I didn’t know there was a bird food for Woodpeckers…I always think they look so lonely watching the others eat….
Incredible photos Cindy, a most enjoyable walk throught them, Thank you ๐
Take Care…You Matter…
)0(
maryrose
Thank you and you take good care too my friend~
Your photos are wonderful, Cindy. Beep-beep watching you watch him through the screen is funny. Who won the staring contest? ๐
He wins every contest. I am as hapless as Wiley E! ๐
Wonderful pics Cindy – and I like the clear e.g. of why a grosbeak is called that! RH
Boy, I have no idea. Bird names can be quite puzzling sometimes!
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Wonderful photography by Cindy Knoke..
You are so kind my friend and so appreciated! Thank you and Happy Weekend~
You too Cindy.. hugs
<3 <3
The eyes are so vivid Cindy.
Sharp eyed birdies need their vision to survive. Pleased you noticed & cheers~
How beautiful and you must have hours of enjoyment watching them and Ty of sharing these sweet feathered creatures.
It is rather bird central here in Hollerdom. We have hundreds living here and I love them all! I just saw the mama roadrunner with her baby this morning for the first time! So glad you enjoyed the feathered ones my friend.
I love the “red cap” – looks like the Pope!
He does indeed! ๐
I really enjoyed meeting your garden residents, Cindy. How funny to have the roadrunner so close (maybe looking at his reflection in the window?) — and how absolutely wonderful to have the newly arrived grosbeaks. Great post.
The roadrunner is very curious about us. He perceives us as occupying his territory. He follows us around when we garden, making sure we don’t break any of his rules! ๐
Those are great photos Cindy. There’s two hawks living in a tree above me, but I rarely see them.
Do they have a nest there? Hawks mate for life unless something happens and return each year to the same nest. I know the trees where the Holler hawks nest but they are too far for good photos. It would be incredible to get a good vantage point on a nest.
Yes, they do have a nest there.
Can you find a vantage point where you can observe, but not disturb?
Have a happy saturday โบ .
Visa versa 2 U X 2!
tolle Aufnahme, schรถnen Samstag wรผnsche ich
Haben Sie eine wunderbare Sonntag mein Freund und ich danke Ihnen!
Wonderful … after the first few, I thought you were gives us a cartoon set. ๐
I wish!!!
I imagine you have enough wildlife pics that it could be done!
You are probably right! ๐
I only have one feeder and I only put in black oil sunflower seeds. I have been just amazed at the variety I get. I think I have a mocking bird now…I don’t remember seeing them before. I think I’ve seen the red capped wood pecker! Could be a Sapsucker though.
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-bellied_Woodpecker/id
I also am amazed at the variety of birds and the complexity of some identification. I do love it when I get a new species though. So far no luck drawing the woodpeckers to their nuts, the other birds are eating them! ๐
Exquisite shots of the birds! I love the big ones – is the last one an eagle?
So glad you like them Leya! The last one is a mellanistic red tailed hawk (darker than normal).
OK! It looks big – and like our biggest eagle here in Scandinavia. Most birds of prey are very beautiful.
I would LOVE to see Scandinavia’s biggest eagle! I am off to google image it now……
Beep beep certainly has his beady eye on you Cindy. I’m surprised the hawks never attack the smaller birds. A few years ago, during the drought times, crows moved into our area and now unfortunately they have chased all the rosellas, lorikeets, king parrots and small birds away, and they have found it is good living round here so have settled in to stay…
Yes, crow and raven populations are out of balance in many places including The Holler. In Northern California, they are killing off endangered bird species. The more we mess up the natural order, the more out of order things get. The rosellas, and lorikeets are such wonderful birds and practically tame in Australia. I had a king parrot eat off my foot when I spilled some seed. What a thrill!
Dozens of crows took up residence in a large gum tree 3 doors away. They are so raucous and aggressive That tree used to be home to a flock of lorikeets. They are noisy too but I can forgive them as they are so colourful
I know exactly how you must be feeling. The raven population at The Holler is too large. They continuously harass the hawks. This is what we get for messing with the natural order of things. So sad……I emphathize.
I always love The Holler birds and especially your description of them!
Awwwww, honored and pleased! <3
Cannot blame your son for loving the roadrunners! ๐
I agree! <3
Beep-Beep is quite a nosy parker! What a vibrant sanctuary you have. I bet the birds miss you when you travel. Especially when they feel peckish. ๐
We always keep the feeders full. No peckishness at The Holler for humans or birdies! ๐
PS- Reminds me of Amy Shumer being told by some Hollywood dork that she needs to lose weight. They gave her a diet plan. Her response. “Impossible. I would be hungry!”
Laughing……..
Now that is a true bird-lover. ๐
<3
They’re beautiful photos. Woody used to visit our feeder regularly – it was lovely to watch him.
I hear him every morning, but he’s yet to try the feeder!
Great shots!!! I never realized how adorable Road Runner are! I’d probably be a Magpie!
I love magpies and they have a bad rep. I think they are smart, pretty and they bring me gifts. What more could I ask for? ๐
Beautiful! All the photo’s are great. But the birdpictures… Super! ๐
Awwww honored & most appreciative. Thank you~
Great post ๐ I wonder if are ever going to take the time and visit Haiti. It’s a really nice place when you get to know it is not really as bad as the media portraits it to be. You would need need to get a guide but after seeing the south side of the country, The beauty there will make it all worth it ๐
I have been to Haiti and I loved it. I like it more than the glitzy, developed caribbean isles. I prefer the more natural ones, like Tortola and Haiti. I would like to go back. It has been a long time!
i am glad you enjoyed it. I can’t wait to see your pictures when you come back ๐
Do you know the cartoons with Woody Woodpecker? When I was little my father use to show me those wonderful cartoons. Your photos reminded me of those days with pleasure ๐ Thanks, Cindy!
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