by Holly G.
Member since:
December 18, 2006

The Owl and The Woodpecker!

March 09, 2008 10:42 PM EDT
views: 92 | comments: 49

About a month or so back, my son came running in and tols me to grab my camera. There were two little owls in out oak tree, but it was dark out, and the photos were only silouettes.

Today I was outside working on my new nbutterfly garden. We have an old dead palm tree, and I thought there was a squirrel hanging out of one of the holes, but upon closeure inspection, it was one of the little owls! I was super excited, and ran in to get my camera! I got some neat shots, which you will see...

But first...I decided to take a closer look at what I originally thought was just a squirrel, because the woodpecker that hangs out it that old dead palm tree, was in my oak tree, screaching and squaking, and looking at the dead palm. So I took a look to see what he was talking about, and saw that it was in fact an owl.  The woodpecker was too funny. He was making a lot of noise, and I interpreted it as "That's my tree buddy! Get out!" lol!! For the next hour the woodpecker would go back and forth from the oak tree to the palm, but never getting too close to the owl. Then when the owl went all the way inside the hole, the woodpecker went further up the tree. The owl came back out, and I got a picture of the two of them!!! Enjoy!

Oh yea, there were even three hawks flying around, but they never got close enough for me to get a decent photo...

All photos were taken by me, today, with my fugi finepix digital s5100 camera.
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Comments: 49

Angie K. Mar 9, 2008, 10:18pm EDT
WOW! Great pictures, that is a very unique situation!!
Sue M. Mar 9, 2008, 10:29pm EDT
Awesome, Holly! Thanks for posting to *My Bird Macro !
Terrific! That bottom picture, for some reason, reminds me of the way I felt when jackhammers in front of my house awoke me last week! Lord have mercy!
Vivian P. Mar 9, 2008, 10:44pm EDT
looks like the woodpecker lost a nesting hole poor thing well good news for the owl
Holly G. Mar 9, 2008, 10:47pm EDT
Yeah, I was thinking that I sure hope there aren't any babies, or eggs in there.
Jennifer K. Mar 9, 2008, 10:51pm EDT
OH, my gosh, these photos are STUNNING! Very nice work!!!!
I would love to see something like that! Great pics!
Jerri H. Mar 9, 2008, 11:09pm EDT
Fantastic shots Holly~
Pat S. Mar 9, 2008, 11:17pm EDT
Terrific shots Holly..........................thx for sharing..................... :O)
Suzi :Two sides to every story Mar 9, 2008, 11:29pm EDT
These are great shots, and what a wonderful story.
Ron (in complete sheeple overload) W. Mar 9, 2008, 11:57pm EDT
Great captures, Holly. I think ol' woody is gonna hang around and make sure the owl doesn't get any sleep, from the looks of those pictures, lol. Actually, owls aren't adverse to taking part in a little cannibalism, and a lot of birds will make a racket when one is around. Crows will hound a great horned right out of the county, I've watched them do it. We have these screech owls, and the great horned all around here. The three acre woods is pretty noisy some nights between them and the coyotes. The screech owls are the ones that are really scary sounding, but those great horned could carry my little Buddy off easily, I think, so I keep a good eye on him those noisy nights. Again, great pictures, a ten.
Visionaerie B. Mar 10, 2008, 12:01am EDT
These are awesome! We once had a sapsucker hopping around on us at a wooded area by the river -- I think it had hurt its wing somehow. I sure miss the owls we used to hear and see around here, and you've masterfully captured this one along with the woodpecker. We used to see hawk owls out where my oldest brother used to live. Thanks for sharing this fantastic wildlife slide show!
Nancy 67 Mar 10, 2008, 12:04am EDT
Poor little owl doesn't look any too happy about that woodpecker poking on his side door there! Great shots, Holly! I sure enjoyed these - so unusual! Have a great week ~ Nancy :-)
Teresa W. Mar 10, 2008, 12:26am EDT
Wow, the pictures are gorgeous! What a wonderful thing to be happening in your very own yard. I'm quite envious!!
Free Spirit or the guy next door ~. Mar 10, 2008, 12:33am EDT
Awesome shots---truly a once in a life time opportunity, thanks for sharing...
Tory H. Mar 10, 2008, 12:42am EDT
Such cute pictures! That's a wonderful sight to see. I love owls, though I feel a bit bad for the poor, disgruntled woodpecker!
Roy ☯ Hilbinger Mar 10, 2008, 12:44am EDT
This is so cool Holly! LOL!!! That last picture is priceless.
graham Lear Mar 10, 2008, 1:13am EDT
Those pictures are awesome to take a picture of an owl in daylight wow and the woodpecker two you have captured something special
CRYSTAL C. Mar 10, 2008, 1:14am EDT
Your garden just seems to me the place to be or you just have the luck to have the camera ready when theres a great photo to be had. These are awsome !! I hope they intertained you all afternoon in your wonderful garden! :o)
Curt L. Mar 10, 2008, 2:04am EDT
Awesome, Holly! Gotta be a 10! Thank you so much!
KC Klein Mar 10, 2008, 3:57am EDT
good stuff
hannah w. Mar 10, 2008, 8:58am EDT
Great photo essay! My son and I really enjoyed it! ^_^
James T. Mar 10, 2008, 9:07am EDT
Terrific story and pictures I really enjoyed them!!
Rose T. Mar 10, 2008, 9:32am EDT
WoW Holly! What great pics and a wonderful article! 10++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++!
Those are absolutely tremendous shots. I love the one with the owl peeking out of the tree. You and your son stumbled upon one of nature's treasures. Great job.
Jodie P. Mar 10, 2008, 12:36pm EDT
A very good photo essay. I can just see a story groing out of those photos.. Very great shot!
Holly G. Mar 10, 2008, 1:35pm EDT
Thanks so much everyone! I am so glad I got to share this with you all!!
Digital Diva S. Mar 10, 2008, 2:39pm EDT
What a great photo essay - Thank you for posting this to Best Original Photos, Art and Writing for 2008
Vickie P. Mar 10, 2008, 4:00pm EDT
wonderful!! that owl is so cute with its little head sticking out!! seems like he's telling the woodpecker to stop making so much darn noise!
Heather W. Mar 10, 2008, 5:23pm EDT
You got some wonderful shots.
Priscilla P. Mar 10, 2008, 5:36pm EDT
That is sooooo exciting. What wonderful shots!!!!!!!!
Jennifer M. Mar 10, 2008, 6:03pm EDT
Excellent photos! Way to have patience. Love the story to great visual effect with sound effects imposed by the dialogue.
Nanina Hawk Mar 10, 2008, 6:33pm EDT
Wow Holly, thank you so much for the link, great photos! I would have loved being there, but thankful I got to see this play out through your photos!
Sarah W. Mar 10, 2008, 8:44pm EDT
great camera work! what a great story.
Susan B. Mar 10, 2008, 8:59pm EDT
What a special tree :)
Mugg Muggles, "The Man With the Jive" Mar 11, 2008, 12:15am EDT
Wowie-Zowie! That was SOOOOOOO cool!
Thanks for the e-mail.
Kimber L. Mar 11, 2008, 3:48pm EDT
Great photos and great photo essay!!! You are so lucky to have such wonderful models for your photos! LOL Keep it up!
Ginger C. Mar 11, 2008, 6:09pm EDT
Great catch by your boy, and excellent pictures by you! Very cool!
Ann M. (Site Scryer) Mar 11, 2008, 7:10pm EDT
They always taught us in biology class that nesting holes are a scarce and valuable resource. You have the evidence!
Jan S. Mar 12, 2008, 10:48pm EDT
Wonderful photos. Thanks for posting them.
Sophiya S. Mar 12, 2008, 11:15pm EDT
lovely
Jurpe {awallflower} Mar 13, 2008, 8:11pm EDT
That is so cool and neat. Maybe make a video of them in action?
~*~Nina~*~ R. Mar 19, 2008, 1:19am EDT
Your photographs are absolutely fantastic! Great job!
Denise E. Mar 19, 2008, 5:57pm EDT
Super cool photo essay! You could add some very amusing subtext here!
Marilyn C. Apr 13, 2008, 8:37pm EDT
great pictures!!!
Tina Coruth Jul 3, 2008, 9:50pm EDT
This is awesome!!

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