Birds Woodpeckers

A year ago, I had a nesting pair of Downy(?) woodpeckers carve out a hole in one of my trees - it was wonderful to finally see their fledglings making their way into the world:



Over the winter, I've had several Yellow-Bellied Sap Suckers working on enlarging that hole. I think they got a little enthusiastic. Here it is today:





I watched this one for about ten minutes until he wedged him?self into a crease at the top of a neighbor's tree - where he proceeded to nap for the next 45 minutes. Brilliant camouflage, not a feather ruffled, virtually invisible to any passing hawk.




Amazing creatures!

Spring has Sprung in Virginia! I was so happy to spend some quality time on my deck yesterday. And even happier to see the return of my downy woodpeckers. Both male & female made an appearance at my birdfeeder!

I'm wondering where they have their nest, as last year's residence has been turned 'open concept' by the YBSSs (see above post).

Love the detail and composition.

My pair of Downies were quite busy yesterday, working on their new condo and discovering my suet cage.

New condo:


Still needs to be bigger.


Their old hole was above and on the other side. This new one should be a bit more protected.



Yummy suet:



Looking out for the neighborhood hawks...

My Downy WPs have succeeded in making a viable hole in the trunk! Yea!

They are now doing final renovations - carving out the bits and pieces to make it 'just right' and spitting out the debris:



(Sorry, I shot this with my A1II and not my R5II - Please don't vote me off the island!)