For those who follow me on Twitter, you may have seen my tweets referring to the “Blueberry Bandit” and the corresponding photos posted on TwitPic. This juvenile Pileated Woodpecker has been visiting our four blueberry bushes for two weeks now. The adult male and female visits too, but are so jumpy that I have been unable to photograph them.
The juvenile squawks loudly when it flies from tree to tree and then finally to the blueberries. This has been very convenient as I can hear it coming from a quarter of a mile away and have plenty of time to get my camera rig ready. I have tried sitting in my blind, patiently waiting for the woodpecker’s arrival, but the bird is not on any kind of schedule and the wait can get boring. Two days in a row I sat in the blind for 3 hours with no luck. But as soon as I come back to the house, here it comes!
My blind of choice, when I hear the woodpecker coming, is to lower the upper part of my bedroom window and photograph it from there. Not as close as I would like to be, but it works. The photo of the woodpecker perched on the side of a tree was a stroke of pure luck. I heard the bird coming and saw it land on a blueberry bush. I grabbed my camera and went to the window. I looked at every blueberry bush but could not find the bird. About to give up, I saw movement in my periphery and turned to see the woodpecker not 6 feet away on a maple tree. Too close for my lens, I waited until the bird moved further up the tree and then took photographs.
Enjoy these photos of the bird that I lovingly call the “Blueberry Bandit.”
Note: Some of the photos are “tall”. Hitting the f11 key before viewing full-sized photos will open your browser to its fullest top to bottom size.
Pileated Woodpecker - The Blueberry Bandit - Click thumbnail for larger view
Pileated Woodpecker - The Blueberry Bandit - Click thumbnail for larger view
Pileated Woodpecker - The Blueberry Bandit - Click thumbnail for larger view
Pileated Woodpecker - The Blueberry Bandit - Click thumbnail for larger view
Happy birding!
{ 19 comments }
Awesome photos! I didn’t know Pileated Woodpeckers liked blueberries. What a treat!
.-= Dee´s last blog ..Identify Hawks overhead =-.
very nice
Lovely shots of the Woodpecker tucking into those blueberries, great stuff!
.-= Paul´s last blog ..The Return Of The Birds =-.
These are amazing photos!
.-= Lynne at Hasty Brook´s last blog ..Turkey Chuckles =-.
Excellent John…
I love this species. I’ve seen it on several blogs and it is a gorgeous one. I love your shots in the blueberry, they are wonderful!
.-= Chris´s last blog ..Antlion and scarce swallowtail =-.
I want a blueberry bandit like this!! Fabulous captures!!
.-= Kerri´s last blog ..Tuesday Trio =-.
Magnificent photos, John! Yowza! Yesterday, I saw a Pileated lope skyward from a Botany Place yard in Brunswick. I could not see exactly where it had come from, but it was in low and in decorative shrubbery. I bet that it was eating high bush blueberries there!
.-= Robin´s last blog .."Don’t Blink, It’s Another MINK!" =-.
I was once surprised to see a pileated woodpecker picking poison ivy berries. They seem like they would be too small to satisfy such a large bird.
.-= John´s last blog ..EPA Planning to Declare CO2 a Pollutant, But Not Yet =-.
Your blind story rings so true. I have finally come to the conclusion that I must wait at least thirty minutes beyond my original scheduled time in the blind. Things always happen just when you have given up.
On the “too close for my lens” remark, no sympathy from me
Your captures of the Pileated Woodpecker juvie are superb. I hope to go on a Pileated search and capture trip with a friend soon. I would love to get shots this good. Thanks for sharing!
.-= Larry Jordan´s last blog ..Comment on The Burrowing Owl, A Species Of Special Concern In California by Larry =-.
I didn’t realize these birds ate blueberries. Love the pictures!
.-= Vern´s last blog .."3 Things" in the News =-.
Thanks for taking such lovely photos and sharing with us! I have Pileated Woodpeckers at my house (I live in mostly pines, but they seem to like my telephone poles??!!!) and I also have wild blueberries that I never get to taste! I see my bushes half full one day and when I go out to pick the next day they are gone… I never would have suspected the Pileated, but seeing these photos makes me wonder! LOL
Btw, my wild blueberries seem to be very black compared to yours and others I’ve seen. They are definitely a type of blueberry. They taste like blueberries and the shrub and leaves look the same, although they are rather tall bushes… but the berries are small, firm, and very dark, almost black and don’t get that white sheen on them that other blueberries get. Have you ever seen this type?
Also, thanks for the hint about “F11″… I could not open the pictures until I hit F11. good to know… and great pics!
I so miss seeing pileated woodpeckers! These shots are gorgeous! I’d grow blueberries just to lure these beauties in! That first shot is spectacular!
.-= Kathiesbirds´s last blog ..My World: Gilbert Water Ranch =-.
I can appreciate how hard it is to photograph these shy & jumpy birds! These photos are outstanding! And I love your nickname – the blueberry bandit!
.-= Shelley´s last blog ..My Loon baby has grown up! =-.
Howdee John..
finally catching up with your blog after over two weeks with out internet!
Nice to be connected again!
I love your blueberry bandit!
I planted eight blue berry bushes in my yard this year. Pileated Woodpeckers visiting would really excite me. Unfortunately I am not in an area where the frequent. I have so enjoyed viewing the pictures you shared of your experience with this adorable juvenile in your yard. Love your pictures.
Shocking John. Woodpeckers should peck wood. Still 15 minutes left of your birthday, so HAPPY HAPPY…
No blueberry cake….though, huh?
.-= Gunnar Engblom´s last blog ..Interview with GrrlScientist. Official Manu community blogger 1. =-.
BTW. That comment-luv plugin is great. I am getting one of those immediately. Just a fantastic idea, that. I am sure it both generates more comments on the blog as well as some hits for those that comment.
Thanks everyone for stopping by and commenting, it’s greatly appreciated!
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