Downy Woodpecker, back deck feeding station, Kennebunk Maine

Yesterday’s Day Poem was about a mixed feeding flock that came to the back deck feeding station at noon. 

The Red-bellied Woodpecker at the back
deck feeder sent me scurrying for my
camera. We don’t see them often, though
they are obviously around. Of course
it was just flying off when I got back, 
but still, it was the harbinger of a large 
mixed feeding flock, and I stood, propped 
up in the open back door, and shot birds 
for 15 minutes as they came and went.

Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, Chick-
adees and Titmice, a Nuthatch, and several 
Jays (who would not come close while I 
stood there). Even a lone and lonely Junco, 
apparently desperate for feathered company.

I stood until I heard the furnace kick in,
and noticed my ears were getting cold.

By then it was mostly Chickadees and
Titmice anyway…and I never did see
that Red-bellied Woodpecker again.

This is one of the Downy Woodpeckers and one of the resulting images 🙂 It is this kind of image that I was hoping for when I built and rebuilt the feeding station. 

Sony RX10iii at 600mm equivalent field of view. Program Mode. 1/250th @ ISO 125 @ f4. Processed in Snapseed on my Android tablet.