Woodpeckers

The day began gray, turned wet, then cleared for a warm, sunny afternoon.   Turtles and mallards enjoyed the sun on the logs in the lake.  Pelicans fished up and down the creek.  The sun made the pool cover steam.  The great blue heron kept a watchful eye on its stretch of creek. 

Back on the patio, orioles were frustrated by starlings.  I counted four females and two male orioles.  A mockingbird was disappointed in the lack of barkbutter balls. A pine warbler watched other birds gobble up suet.  Bluebirds mostly watched as well but they got a few bites.  K took credit for persuading them to pose.  

White throated sparrows foraged as usual, joined by a Carolina wren and a yellow rumped warbler.  I took a quick walk outside and found a yellow jacket clinging to the pavement.  It looked like a queen and I suspect it regretted emerging in February. 

And the suet attracted woodpeckers - downy, red bellied male, and pileated female.  The pileated woodpecker inspected the trees first but did not seem to find any grubs.  Then she did backbends to reach the suet from the post.