Hairy Woodpecker: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, November 2025 — I am still trying to get a bit of practice with the new-to-me Tamron 150-500 every day. Less than a month before I am supposed to be in Ecuador. I need support with it…either a tripod or a monopod, and yesterday’s session on the back deck was with the monopod…testing both a ball head and my bean-bag head innovation. I want to have all this stuff worked out before I actually need to use it on what migth be once-in-a-lifetime birds and wildlife. 🙂 This Hairy Woodpecker (certainly not once-in-a-lifetime, but interesting nonetheless) made a rare visit to the mealworm feeder, only about 12 feet from me where I was standing inside the kitchen with the deck door open. These are essentially full frame shots…in the rain, so not with the best light. Sony a7CR. Tamron 150-500 at 500mm equivalent. Processed in Photomator.