Peek-a-boo!

  Every now and again, a critter is just downright adorable.  Take, for instance, the baby Red-bellied Woodpecker that visited me earlier this afternoon.  We had just been pounded with a gully-washer of a storm that left things a bit soggy.  Once the rain stopped for a few moments, I hurried down the board path to check on the old skiff.  On the way back up the hill, a small woodpecker decided to play a bit of hide and seek with me.  The bird was not one bit afraid of me nor did it seem to have any agitated parent birds anywhere near.  So, we played.  The bird first landed at the base of the old oak tree just a few feet from me.  It proceeded to peck away at some unseen critter inside the roots of the tree.  It would stop periodically to look at me then hammer away again. I talked with the bird.  After a bit, the little tyke moved up to about my eye level and then sort of skittered around the back of the tree.  It would peek around the side of the tree at me then disappear again.  A few seconds later, I would spy the little head looking around the other side of the tree.  This kept up for a good ten minutes even through the misting rain that had started once again.

  Growing weary of being in the same place, I eased around the other side of the tree.  At first, the little bird just froze.  I suppose it was terrified that I was too near but then instead of flying, the tyke hippity hopped up to the first limb.  This limb was just a short piece of a dead limb and was covered with lichens.  Oh, happy day!  The bird rummaged around in the lichens all the while keeping an eye on me,  Still, the little one was not frightened. It was within arm's reach at any given time and never once flew.  

  By this time, the clothes were getting a tad soaked and the camera (even though hidden under a towel) might not like the moisture.  A few photographs later, I bid the bird good day and continued up the hill.  The bird followed!  I was surprised when the little rascal landed on the feeder right in front of me!  Ok, Bird!  I really need to get out of this rain and you need to learn to a bit more skittish!  Some folks may not take kindly to you wanting to play and there are two cats ready to pounce at you if you dare venture any further!  I did make a discovery!  It is really hard to photograph a busy little bird while trying to keep a camera dry!