Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Woodpeckers for WBW, February 10-11, 2015

ABC Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, and Wild Bird Wednesday

ABC Wednesday
E is for Eagle's Nest?

February 2, 2015

I think this is an eagle's nest high atop this electric power structure.  I have not seen eagles in this area so I could be wrong.  The birds I usually see here are Gulls and Herons, but I've never seen their nests up so high.  This power structure is mounted on top of a dam, so is higher than it looks.


If it is not an eagle's nest, well then, E is for electric power!
NOTE:  Thanks to blogging friends helping with ID, I think this is actually an Osprey nest.

Outdoor Wednesday 


Rocks and driftwood alongside Pickwick Lake, Colbert county, Alabama, USA, February 7, 2015

Last Saturday was such a beautiful, sunny day we decided to drive over into Alabama to walk at  
Pickwick Lake (created by a dam across the Tennessee River). It is a very popular recreation area, especially in the Summer, but it is quiet and peaceful now in the Winter. This is looking north towards the main part of the river.
 
 
Looking south, waves created by the wind are more noticeable.
 
Wild Bird Wednesday
Female Red-Bellied Woodpecker, Prentiss county, Mississippi, USA, February 6, 2015

The year-around range of the Red-Bellied Woodpecker covers most of the eastern United States. When Winters are severe in the northern states, woodpeckers will migrate south. Since they cling to tree trunks and limbs, the small patch of reddish feathers low on their bellies is seldom seen.

female, Red-Bellied Woodpecker

The female came to my suet feeder first, ate as much as she wanted, and then moved aside for the male.
female, Red-Bellied Woodpecker
She perched above the feeder and watched him eat.  In the Spring she will lay 4 or 5 white eggs in a tree cavity.  Both parents incubate the eggs, taking turns on the nest.  Fledglings leave the nest 24-26 days after hatching.

Male Red-Bellied Woodpecker, Prentiss county, Mississippi, USA, February 6, 2015
Woodpeckers eat large numbers of tree-boring beetles as well as other insect pests. They also like acorns and wild fruit.  You can attract them in the Winter by hanging suet feeders.  The ones I buy have sunflower seeds, cracked corn, chopped peanuts, and raisins imbedded in the suet.

male, Red-Bellied Woodpecker

In case you are wondering why this bird is not named Red-Headed Woodpecker, there is another woodpecker whose red feathers completely cover its head, face, neck, and throat down to its shoulders. Hopefully, one day I'll get a photo of a Red-Headed Woodpecker.

Have a wonderful day!

For more photos featuring the letter E, visit ABC Wednesday: Click Here!

For more outdoor photos, visit A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday: Click Here!

For more wild bird photos, visit Stewart for Wild Bird Wednesday: Click Here!

Please visit My Life's Journey in Focus for Water World Wednesday:  Click Here!

 

24 comments:

  1. If it's not an eagle's nest, maybe it is an osprey nest. I love the pictures of the woodpeckers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. After looking up info on Ospreys, I think you are probably right. I am just as excited about seeing an Osprey nest as I was when I thought it might be an Eagle nest!
      Thanks for your help with ID
      Lea

      Delete
    2. You're welcome! I had seen a similar one down near the Gulf just south of where I live here in Tallahassee.

      Delete
  2. Interesting nest to say the least! Lois might be right. The eagles' nest we see is very deep as well as wide. Love the female red-bellied. You got some fantastic shots!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Enjoying your shots. The lake gives peaceful feeling.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Enjoyed seeing the woodpeckers so much!
    JM, Illinois

    ReplyDelete
  5. that's one ELECTRIFYING nest!

    ROG, ABCW

    ReplyDelete
  6. That Woodpecker is amazing. Great images.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love the woodpeckers! Great series of images, Lea! Have a happy day!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yep, I'd have to agree it's an osprey nest.

    LOVE the woodpecker images...extraordinary.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Winter is almost over I have no picture of any birds at all. What is wrong with me!!

    Thank you for joining Water World Wednesday
    Kim,USA

    ReplyDelete
  10. Winter is almost over I have no picture of any birds at all. What is wrong with me!!

    Thank you for joining Water World Wednesday
    Kim,USA

    ReplyDelete
  11. Lea, I think the woodpecker is underrated among the birding people...I love his red patch on the top of his head.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Woodpeckers are some of my favorite birds :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Beautiful series of images.
    I like the woodpecker.
    Best regards, Irma

    ReplyDelete
  14. Lovely photos. I really enjoyed the woodpeckers.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Nice nest and even better woodpecker!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

    ReplyDelete
  16. love the red bellied woodpecker, we saw one today but I wasn't fast enough to capture some good photos

    ReplyDelete
  17. our school children have a play equipment called eagle's nest.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Awesome nest location! I love the shots of the woodpecker also!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Wonderful bird shots. The nest is most impressive.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Great pics of the woodpecker and nest.

    ReplyDelete

I enjoy your comments!

Thank you for visiting!