I originally thought a flicker with some sort of vocal impediment was making
a raid, but the noisy bloke then revealed himself to be a fine male Pileated
Woodpecker, a bird I have seen in our yard only once before as best I can
recall. This guy had a voracious appetite for suet (perhaps to counteract a
mouthful of folic acid or something?), hanging awkwardly upside down for at
least several minutes.

A delightfully distinctive critter - hope we don't have to wait years for
next sighting!

Coupled with several Steller's Jays who finally got up the courage to savage
the peanut feeder hanging only a few feet from LR window while we were in
the room, it has been a great week for big, bold, and flashy.

Paul Johanson
North Beach (N. Ballard)



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