Always a welcome visitor

[Peggy2296]

I love seeing this rare and shy Pileated woodpecker visit my property. This is the first time I was able to get a pic:

[Heidi S]

I love them too! We had one hammering on the post holding up the laundry line the other day - what a dope - it's pressure treated! We had so many of them around during the height of the mountain pine beetle epidemic, but I assume they have followed the bugs to the east, as we see much fewer in the last couple of years. Our beetle killed wood is now over 5 years old, and the bugs were in the Rockies and beyond, last I heard.

[earwig]

What a great photo.
I have them here but have yet to get a good photo. It seems they go higher or to the opposite side of the tree of where I am trying to focus.
They won't come to my feeders either although both the Downeys and Hairys are quite approachable.

[Peggy2296]

It seems they go higher or to the opposite side of the tree of where I am trying to focus.

I had to take that pic from inside the house through a closed window, as these shy guys do exactly as you say. I"m glad I have some big and old trees to attract them!