A Pileated evening in Bragg Creek
About a month ago, I was looking for one of the Great gray owls I sometimes find along the backroads in Bragg Creek. The owl was nowhere to be found, but I did find a shock of red amidst the autumn yellows turned gold in the late afternoon.
Descending from the trees, he landed in a long abandoned pile of cut wood and set to pecking and probing for insects.
After a few minutes, he moved to a stump that was disintegrating into sawdust. Snow was hidden from the sun in the depression he was hammering and a few crystals stuck to his beak.
Whether it was a full belly, boredom or the evening’s fast approach, he jumped up on to a tree and circled the trunk while moving upwards. He pecked here and there but soon took flight through the forest and out of sight.
Christopher Martin Photography 
These birds are in my neighborhood here in south Florida. They act like they own the place!
November 28, 2016 at 6:55 am
gorgeous views of such a beautiful bird
November 28, 2016 at 5:42 am
Wonderful pictures!
November 27, 2016 at 7:15 pm
A fabulous creature in a wonderful setting.
November 27, 2016 at 8:33 am
I always snap these brilliant guys when I find them albeit not with your skill of course! But I’m always delighted when I stumble upon one 🙂
November 27, 2016 at 7:25 am
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Pileated woodpeckers are fantastic! We have them in northern Minnesota and their tap, tap, tap has awakened me when camping more than once.
November 26, 2016 at 11:03 pm
These are grand pics. The shot of the bird among the tall trees is a real eye-catcher.
We don’t have them over here and it is entrancing to see what you’ve caught with your lens.
Cheers,
Frank
November 26, 2016 at 9:39 pm
Reblogged this on clawingmywayin.
November 26, 2016 at 8:13 pm
Great photographs!
November 26, 2016 at 7:34 pm
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