Red-Bellied Woodpecker

 

 

Female cardinal getting her share

“Red-bellied” is a bit of a misnomer. Is that a smile or is it checking out my Sony A-6000.

Red cap for sure and gorgeous stripes on back and wings

Profile with sunflower seed

Taking a bow

After a 20 cm (8 “) snowfall yesterday I glimpsed the red-bellied woodpecker at the feeder today.

We regularly get cardinals, chickadees, juncos, house sparrows, winter-faded American goldfinches, rose-breasted and white-breasted nuthatches, downy and hairy woodpeckers. A few blue jays this year have been around and the “red-bellied” seems to appear after snowstorms mainly.

I didn’t dare open the patio door (that scared it last time) or run for a bigger lens and patiently waited, while others like the female cardinal took turns. for less than ten minutes for it to come back while smaller birds had their turn.

I had the A-6000 and used the old 18-55 zoom from my old NEX-5N set on continuous shooting (mid speed) and captured the last two as it flew away:

 

Time to go!

Out of focus, but pretty dramatic…

All photos were taken at f/8, ISO 100 and 1/125.

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