Woodpeckers!

So the squirrels were chattering big-time in the yard today. And when I looked out to see why, I saw two large Pileated Woodpeckers on the trees, scaring the squirrels away from the bird feeder.


You get an idea how big these guys are when you see one on the bird feeder, picking at the suet.

They're about a foot tall.

The squirrel is still pissed, even though there's plenty of corn on the ground for him.
Since I started putting suet in the feeder, I've been seeing these guys and their smaller females around, This was the first time that I had a camera ready, though.

Animal Day at the Lair

And it's not just black German Shepherds this time.

First of all, I had three yearling bucks come down to eat the corn in the back yard. But before I could photograph them, this adult doe charged in and chased them away, claiming the corn for herself.

So I watched her for a while, and then I went to go sit on the front deck and eat some peanuts.

But alas! The peanuts were almost gone. And this was a new bag, just purchased the other day. Where'd they all go?

Then I thought about it. Nicki had left the bag outside on the deck--open of course. Who, other than us, would have eaten them? Suddenly I had my answer as a Blue Jay swooped down and snagged another peanut out of the bag and flew off. Whoa! Those Jays had just cleaned me out of two pounds of peanuts in a couple of days.

Here's one of the culprits snatching another one out of the bag. They're bold enough that they don't even care that I'm standing right there.

Guess I've got to train someone to not leave open bags of peanuts out on the deck.