Sunday, May 3, 2009

A Pileated Woodpecker and a toad . . .

The most exciting thing I saw while working outside yesterday was a pileated woodpecker. It was pretty tame too. My digital SLR doesn't have a long enough lens so I grabbed my point and shoot with the 10x zoom. This giant Woody Woodpecker never fails to thrill me. He is huge and almost prehistoric looking. His call is pretty crazy too. He was attacking an old tree stump on the ground.


Pileated Woodpecker


I finally have a resident for my ceramic toad house.


Group of Jack in the Pulpits.


Chives about to bloom.


A very large antique cement herb marker for Rosemary.

I haven't been to the garden center to buy any plants yet this year. Still weeding, spreading wood chips, getting out pots, hooking up hoses, putting out chairs, etc. It is nice to be outside again after the long winter. I seem to be doing most of my photography at the end of the day too.

That's about it. Enjoy your Sunday. Thanks for stopping by. ♥Rosemary



Content in a Cottage

10 comments:

Laura said...

I love the plant marker. It is so beautiful! I too am enjoying being outside working in the gardens, but I have bought a lot of plants. Most are in the ground, but I'm still making room for some. Enjoy your day!
Blessings
~*~

Stacey Snacks said...

I haven't seen a Pileated Woodpecker in years. How lucky to have a visit from Woody and the toad!

Pam said...

Rosemary your photography is incredible - the woodpecker is beautiful, but my favorite is the toad. He is quite handsome.

Tracy Watier said...

Beautiful photos, Rosemary. Loved he rainy day ones too.
I discovered two springs ago that we have woodpeckers here in our neighborhood. They come in pairs, in Feb and March, hop around on the lawn, visit the bird bath and make quite a racket. Then they're off to parts unknown for the rest of the year. I'm always happy to see them.

Mary said...

I need a bird book ....I have many woodpeckers - but don't know one from another - Fab photos.
Happy Sunday

Cynthia L. H. said...

Lovely! Thank you!
:^)
Cynthia

Sue said...

When I first moved to Michigan, we would see some trees with HUGE PILES of woodchips beneath...we found out that Pileated's had done that. Wow! We now have our own resident one. You've certainly taken a wonderful photo. Ours is too "spooked" to get near.

Gal Friday said...

Wow! You have some amazing visitors to your yard--I am so happy you were able to capture the woodpecker with a shot like that with your camera. I have not noticed a toad, yet, in my garden...hope to soon.

Neither have I bought any plants from the garden center yet this season--still waiting for the high school's student plant sale and the farmer's market to get some "fill in" plants.

teaorwine said...

I see these pileated woodpeckers in the woods behind my home, mostly during the spring months. I am amazed at how large they are! Truly takes me back to watching episodes of Woody Woodpecker as a child. Great photos.

Sabina said...

Wow Rosemary - wonderful photos!! I want that herb marker!!

Have a great day.

:)