look who's moved into the neighborhood....
it's a female hairy woodpecker!
"wait, wait," you say, "this looks like just another tapsalot sister/aunt/niece!" and to that i'd say you're right, but in one way - their size.
see how much larger she is that the ms. tapsalot perched above her?
she's very similar in size to the gentleman caller of ms. dottie nutterbeak (who i've taken to calling mr. bingley).
i can't tell you how excited i was to look up this morning and see new woodpecker friends!! the female has come back a number of times today but the male was only by once this morning and i wasn't able to get his picture. but i'm hoping he'll be back because he was a handsome devil and i'm sure you'd like to see him.
i love this last picture, she's totally saying, "i hate waiting." (i've noticed that woodpeckers are terrible sharers.)
now all we have to do is come up with a name for the new couple. please leave a comment with your suggestions!!
isn't this just too too exciting?!?!
-melissa
Oh my gosh! What fabulous photographs! We occasionally get woodpeckers around here but I've never got that close!
Posted by: Karen | February 22, 2010 at 04:14 PM
The birding in your backyard will just keep getting better and better as spring starts to arrive. It's fun to get to know your neighbors :)
Posted by: melinda | February 22, 2010 at 04:53 PM
Beautiful! I love woodpeckers - wish we got some here.
Posted by: Melissa G | February 22, 2010 at 05:44 PM
my goodness, just when you think it can't get any more exciting....
MORE?! it's like woodpecker wonderland over there! do they stay year round?
Posted by: cmv | February 22, 2010 at 07:47 PM
What a lovely new couple! I'm excited to see pictures of the male.
How about Ms. Emmaline and the mysterious Oliver?
Posted by: Lindsey | February 22, 2010 at 09:02 PM
Oh gosh, I love her. She makes me think of a bossy aunty or big sister :)
I'll come back with name ideas after I think on it!
Posted by: kate | February 22, 2010 at 11:55 PM
Nice to meet your new neighbors! And gorgeous neighbors indeed! The obvious name, 'Woody', is already taken, so I'm with Kate, let me think on it a bit & I'll get back to you. Aren't we females so very very patient? :)
Posted by: Kim | February 23, 2010 at 10:51 PM
Aunt Petunia or Aunt Gardenia.
Mrs. Topfeathers
Mrs. Bossaround
Mrs. Flapsabout
There may be more....
Posted by: kate | February 24, 2010 at 10:16 AM
hilarious! That "I hate waiting" photo is the funniest!
Posted by: Rebekah | February 24, 2010 at 02:23 PM
Oh I LOVE woodpeckers - we had such a variety when I was growing up in Michigan. And now that I've been in one place for a while I have spent two years trying to get them to visit my place here in Kansas. Finally this year I have a small one visiting my suet - a downey, I think. Its hard to see him but sheesh, you'd think I've paid my dues. I'm green with envy over your woodpecker friends. :)
Posted by: Laura | March 01, 2010 at 11:33 PM
The family is growing! Thanks for sharing Melissa...like others I especially love the I hate waiting picture...typical female! :)
Posted by: Rachel | March 11, 2010 at 12:50 PM