This identification is suspect; could be a male sapsucker or a downy woodpecker

The hardworking pileated woodpecker in our previous post moved on to this aging stump and pounded methodically for a half hour. He then visited another tree before departing.

Sometimes what you wish for just happens. After watching a pileated woodpecker fly out of the back yard one evening last week, I was going to set up to see him the next evening.

Then, around noontime, he stopped by our front door.

For whatever reasons, we have not seen a robin in our yard this year until last week.

As my brother would say: an LBT, little brown thing. I first thought was a sparrow and maybe a pine siskin, specifically. Interestingly, a photo in a local newspaper showed up and I think this is a hermit thrush. The bird was quite loud, another feature of this species of thrush.

Taken with a 600mm telephoto lens steadied on a deck railing near sunset pointing perhaps 20 yards into the tree tops. An amount of software post processing with exposure was also required.

We hear mourning doves more often than seeing them.

The nuthatches have been busy around the yard this past week. This is probably a white-breasted nuthatch.