Another Fun Pileated Woodpecker Visit

It wasn't a call this time that caught my attention. I just decided to have my coffee outside this morning to see what was happening around the yard.
I heard a sharp chirp that I thought was a Red-bellied woodpecker, but instead, this is who I found, a female Pileated woodpecker out for her morning dine.

In the photo below if you look closely, you can see her using her tongue to lift insects from under the bark. Otherwise, she is not such a dainty eater, sending chunks of bark and debris flying off the trunks most of the time. You don't want to be right under one of these gals while they're forgaging.

I followed her from tree to tree for as long as I could keep up. Below, one of the delights of our visit. She stopped to rest for a while and preened! What fun and what beauty!

I haven't been through all the images yet, so will have more to show you soon.

Linked to Bird Photography Weekly #40 at Birdfreak.com to promote the conservation of our world's birds.