Surprise visitor

[Paphluvr]

I keep a feeder on my deck about 5' outside of my great room window, primarily to feed the local goldfinches. The other day a larger bird at the feeder caught my eye and I was surprised to see this woodpecker chowing down. It stuck around for almost 15 min. and wasn't to happy to share with the finches, either. I've seen him once since.

 

[Ray]

Yes...the unlikely named "red-bellied" woodpecker. We had those, as well as downy and hairy woodpeckers in PA, and a couple of years before we moved to NC, a pileated pair moved into the neighborhood.

Here in NC we have seen red-bellied and pileated woodpeckers.

 

[Happypaphy7]

Awesome!!
By the way, I thought they eat insects, but I guess they are more omnivores?

 

[Djthomp28]

We have those around our feeder a lot but they seem to prefer the suet.

 

[Paphluvr]

Awesome!!
By the way, I thought they eat insects, but I guess they are more omnivores?

Like you, I thought the same. That's why I labeled the thread "Surprise Visitor".

 

[Happypaphy7]

Like you, I thought the same. That's why I labeled the thread "Surprise Visitor".

I guess they'll have to eat just about anything to get through the winter. It would be so nice to have a garden to have wild life around and look out the window to see them in the winter. Thanks for sharing!

 

[eds]

Amazing. We have a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker visiting our feeders at times. They are more common at feeders in the UK though.

 

[abax]

Suet is the big deal with woodpeckers. I even have red headed at the feeders. Today I got to hold and help recover
a sharp-shinned hawk that flew into a window. He was GORGEOUS and actually rather unexcited when I picked
him up so the dogs wouldn't bother him until he recovered from the shock. I live in the deep woods and love the
opportunity to observe the local critters. Last summer we had a young black bear on the property...lots of deer
as well. We feed all the critters that come by our house.

 

[shariea]

They like raw peanuts and black oil sunflower as well

 

[Ozpaph]

you feed bears????!!!!

 

[abax]

If the little bear comes by the deer feeders stocked with corn, I assume the bear eats too...also raccoons. I do discriminate
against crows.

 

[Ozpaph]

is that a safety issue?
Sounds like feeding dingoes - ultimately a bad idea.

 

[abax]

The last time I saw the little bear he was running full tilt boogie from my nephew's dog...a Duck Toller. Haven't seen him/her
since. There's plenty to eat in the woods of KY for a bear. I also have four dogs that protect our property loudly.

 

[southernbelle]

The last time I saw the little bear he was running full tilt boogie from my nephew's dog...a Duck Toller. Haven't seen him/her
since. There's plenty to eat in the woods of KY for a bear. I also have four dogs that protect our property loudly.

I’ve seen a black bear rip open a German Shepherd’s belly with one swipe of his claw. He obviously didn’t think much of the dog barking protecting his property. Bears are not something to attract in any way.

 

[abax]

I appreciate your comment SB, but I've learned over the years to live with nature as it is, not as I wish it to be.