I started this day before sunrise, meeting a birder near Clinton Reservoir who was feeding a pileated woodpecker at his suet feeders. Though I’ve photographed and videoed most Kansas wildlife over 30 years, I’ve yet to get a good photo of this giant, colorful woodpecker – even though I grew up in prime pileated country. In the famous Bent Bird Series, pileateds are described as “furtive as a bear.” I haven’t been around that many bears, but if they’re like this woodpecker, I get the picture.
The bird I sought usually appeared at 9:00 a.m., but today, wouldn’t you know it? It arrived in gray light as I stood inside the house visiting with the landowners. It was there for just a few moments, and didn’t feed on the suet as usual. So I hustled outside, set up my tent blind, and waited most of the morning. It never came back.
Oh well. I had a good showing of many other bird species, including chickadees, titmice, hairy, downy, and red-bellied woodpeckers, male and female cardinals, nuthatches, and goldfinches. I got good video on them before heading to my next assignment. Someday, I’m gonna get that shot…
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