Richard’s Notes

Warren, Connecticut. After splitting and stacking firewood all day I decided to “take my beer” on the bridge with beach chair and camera on tripod. The bridge (which crosses our stream) is situated close to two feeders, this tube and a wooden feeder with suet. My goal was woodpeckers and my plan was to stick it out until I got a few, or the bugs got me, whichever came first.

Of course, the more beer you drink, the less you care about bugs and even woodpeckers. I figured I was safe as long as camera rig and I didn’t fall into the stream.

The woodpeckers came while I was dozing off but this little bugger made a big fuss and woke me up.

Anne and I have a hard time differentiating downy and hairy woodpeckers. Both are on the small side (downies are smallest) and both males have a red dot on the back of their heads. I’m pretty sure this is a downy but if someone tells me he’s a hairy, I’ll be happy to change what I’ve written.

A female landed on the maple tree behind this feeder and eyed the suet (fat cake) and then me as I sucked on my beer.

She decided I was a bit too out of it to do her any harm and so jumped over to the feeder and looked down at the suet. She made a huge fuss as I snapped away, then she ignored me and started sucking down the fat.