Leanne Wildermuth : Artist by Nature »Archive

Northern Flicker

April

2006

This is a Northern Flicker – he’s been making quite the ruckus around our trees lately.

I really paid attention to him the other day while I was out washing my car. I heard this monkey like call in the trees and stopped to try to find the source. I couldn’t, obviously he blends in pretty well with the tree bark and they stay pretty well hidden. I heard him again later and he was loud. I caught a glimpse of him on the tree in my neighbors yard, and then tried to identify him by his chirping and what little I saw of him before he flew off.

He’s got a mate, they call back and forth to one another. This morning he was really loud again so I knew he was nearby, and I snuck outside barefoot in my pajamas and got a couple of pics before he saw me. I applied a couple of filters to make him stand out a bit more. He’s a big bird – I’d say he’s about 12 inches.

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Filed under: The Great Outdoors, The Photog in Me

{6 Comments}

Ed Bremson said,

cool photos/artwork

4.22.2006 @ 9:31 am

Shelli said,

He is beautiful and looks so soft. I tried to do a little nature photography this morning. I was trying to photo this robin that was sitting so nicely in the tree, squawking away at something. It was really cool, but when I came back out with my camera, she flew away.

Oh man! I get so frustrated when that happens!! I’ve learned – when going near a window, keep camera in hand. I’m such an addict now. We couldn’t even take a walk around the block without the thing around my neck!

4.22.2006 @ 11:30 am

Jane said,

I saw one of these in my yard last year and had no idea what it was. I had never seen one before. I got online and found a website where I could describe it and someone told me what it was. I wondered what a ‘Northern Flicker’ was doing in Georgia. I thought maybe he was on vacation!!! :giggle: :giggle:

I bet he was on vacation! I am having a hard time believing they’re living in my backyard. I mean, we’ve never seen them around here before – and I know we would remember their call. Noisy buggers, they are!!

4.22.2006 @ 12:19 pm

Tommi said,

WOW! What a beautiful bird. You got a really nice shot of him.
Maybe the next time I see you I’ll get to see him too!!! :friends:

Yeah! When you comin’ over again?

4.22.2006 @ 1:54 pm

D said,

incredible Leanne! I wish I knew more about birds, I’d sure be checking out the ones in my yard – If I could just figure out the one that sounds exactly like my dog whining I’d be glad! It calls starting around daylight every morning and I always think it’s my dog whining to go out and I get up only to realize the dog is sound asleep and snoring. :rant: