Downy Woodpeckers

This past spring I found a Downy Woodpecker's nest and monitored it from the excavation to the young ones' departure.

On the evening before the little ones (there were at least two - one male and one female) left I managed to get this short video.

The poor parents, already run ragged by demanding babies were now being bullied by the hungry little ones. The parent leaps backwards when the baby lunges forward. I can't help but laugh.

The parents were fastidious in cleaning the nest after every feeding (which is what you will see at the end).

I hope you enjoy it.

It is posted at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0sKtOu2oyw

Photogenic birds

Although I mentioned in the last post that birds prove to be difficult photographic subjects, here are some that were quite cooperative. In fact the Black-and-White Warbler came so close I had to keep walking backwards to try to keep it in focus!

White-breasted Nuthatch peeking out of a tree cavity.

Black-and-White Warbler

Downy Woodpecker on a stalk of Mullein

Sidewalk café

I guess I must be an optimist because when I think of winter I think of crisp white snow, sunshine and cobalt blue skies. I forget all about the dirty slush or frigid temperatures. Well today lived up to my idealized winter day!

I headed out to Mount Royal this morning and spent hours wandering about looking for wildlife. There were lots of tracks in the snow (fox, raccoon, squirrel, crow) but not very many creatures were out and about. At least not where I could see them. However a Downy Woodpecker was very cooperative by posing in the sun on a nearby tree.

Here it is.

The most amazing part of the day came later though when I was on my way home. By then I was feeling a little hungry and thought that a coffee and muffin would have been perfect. But the cafés on Côte-des-Neiges are always crowded and getting a seat is very difficult.

However ... the Second Cup had an outside terrace that was ... not crowded! So there I was, on January 23rd in a Montreal sidewalk café in the late afternoon!! I had no hat, no gloves and it was absolutely wonderful.

Mon pays c'est l'hiver ... vive l'hiver!