Taken in the Bitterroot valley of western Montana (USA) near Bear Creek. This is January 6, look at how bright the day is! The woodpecker is taking advantage of the nice weather. The big cottonwood trees are important parts of the habitat for woodpeckers and so many other animals.
Canon EOS 7D, 1/100s, f/5.6, ISO:200, 300mm Cannon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM
A wonderful capture of this grand woodpecker, Merle. Oft heard, rarely seen. Even with all the leaves down, they’re still pretty hard to spot up this way. We were having similar weather, too, until today. Winter arrived with a heavy fist about mid morning.
Thank you Mike. We are so fortunate to see them pretty often. We also have flickers, Lewis’s, downy and hairy woodpeckers and some black-backed and three-toed. And Red-naped and Williamson’s sapsuckers. What a joy.
Comments
Thank you!
– amontanaview
Lively capture Merle !!
Thank you. They are another of my favorite species…I have so many favorites.
– amontanaview
1 Image per 24hrs 2012/01/08
Thank you!
– amontanaview
Very nice capture Merle! Love seeing these majestic woodpeckers!
Me too! Love them. We have quite a few as our property borders Bear Creek and I love hearing them as they fly and call to one another.
– amontanaview
A wonderful capture of this grand woodpecker, Merle. Oft heard, rarely seen. Even with all the leaves down, they’re still pretty hard to spot up this way. We were having similar weather, too, until today. Winter arrived with a heavy fist about mid morning.
Thank you Mike. We are so fortunate to see them pretty often. We also have flickers, Lewis’s, downy and hairy woodpeckers and some black-backed and three-toed. And Red-naped and Williamson’s sapsuckers. What a joy.
– amontanaview