The "Laughing Bird"

   The thunder rolled and the rain poured...literally.  It poured.  It was one of those times that you throw open the door and stand in awe of the power of the weather and its ability to stop things in their tracks.  For over an hour water washed down the hillside in a two inch deep sheet.  I was ever so thankful for that hill and the drainage it provides because the whole place would have been flooded.  Even with those torrential rains, an hour later and no puddles.

  After the rain subsided somewhat, I grabbed the camera and headed down to check the little skiff.  That much rain meant the boat would be straining on the tie ropes.  Heading down the board path, I heard high-pitched "laughter" and the strong flutter of wings which meant only one thing.  I had startled a pileated woodpecker.  These extra large woodpeckers sound just like some strange banshee laughing!  Sure enough, the bird was right overhead and flying west.  It landed about halfway up an old black gum tree.  Ok, so the skiff would have to wait for a few minutes longer.  Anyone interested in photography can tell you that when an opportunity occurs it supersedes everything else!  At least, it comes before those things that CAN wait a bit.  I followed the bird.

  Our friendly woodpecker started making its way up the trunk of the tree as it searched for any evidence of a likely grub hole.  One hop at a time, it went round and round the trunk.  Occasionally, it would stop to flick out a few chunks of bark before starting again.  This continued until the bird made its way to the tiptop of the tree.  Then, it stopped.  The bird stared out over the Bay as if that was the goal of its whole climb.  For a good five minutes, the bird stared.  Then, as before, the laughter and flight to yet another tree.  The bird was gone and I headed back to my chore of emptying the boat of its load of water.  Never a dull moment if you look at things from my point of view.