The Felling of a Mighty Oak Tree

   Back between the original greenhouse and the shed, there stands the remnants of a tall oak tree.  The tree stood strong through hundreds of storms only to fall to a tiny bug.  Insects can do more damage than the raging hurricane sometimes.  A couple of years back, Son noticed that a lot of our living oak trees were infested with termites.  Yep....living trees.  This was a bit disturbing, to say the least.  He set to work trying to save the trees by using the same spray that we have had to resort to for the house, shed and any other outbuildings around here.  As much as I hate to use chemicals around the place, there comes a time when it is absolutely necessary if we want to save the place.  So, he mixed his concoction and set to work.  Well, that was a lot of work as we have a lot of trees.  Some, like the aforementioned one, were too far gone to try to save.  He still sprayed thinking maybe he could contain the infestations. Hopefully.

 Needless to say, the tree died and was soon infested not only with the termites but with black carpenter ants that were eating the termites.  We quit spraying to allow the ants to do their job.  They worked tirelessly in the dead tree but were, at the same time, preyed upon by the woodpeckers.  The entire tree soon became riddled with the drillings of the birds.  The food chain was at work.  Soon, the tree started falling bit by bit. Now, a new form of life has come to the old tree.  On one of the upper parts of the tree, there is a large hole that appears to be the nesting site of either the pileated woodpecker or a family of squirrels.  Down below among the roots, lizards, snails and beetles are enjoying life hidden under the palmettoes and shards of tree bark.

  While out back, I noticed that bracket or shelf mushrooms are rapidly taking down the tree.  The entire southern side of the tree is literally a ladder of orange mushrooms.  These mushrooms are doing the final takedown of the old oak tree.  The fungi will rot the tree as it, itself, thrives.  Soon, the old oak will come tumbling down and that will be the end of it.  However, in the meantime, the tree, even in death, is providing for the life of others.  

Just Doing His Job

   The other morning, I was busy cutting out some of the smilax vines that had taken over a clump of palmettoes.  This is some chore since the tubers can be massive and, if you leave one tiny bit, the vines will soon come back with a vengeance.  It is a losing battle on this hill.  Then again, perhaps I should leave the vines and chop out everything else.  Those huge tuber clumps do a fine job of keeping the hillside from washing down into the Bayou during hurricanes!  Maybe I need to rethink my landscaping here.  Anyway, as I was whacking at the vines, a familiar whapping could be heard just behind me.  Looking up, I found the guy that was smacking a tree with all his might.  Ahh, you are a good fellow, Mr. Pileated Woodpecker. You keep working on that tree!  I need it down.

  The woodpecker was hammering away on a dead white oak tree that had succumbed to a termite infestation.  Yep, most of our live trees are being eaten from the inside out and there is not much that can be done.  We have been treating the trees but there is no way possible to get to "the root of the problem"...so the termites flourish and the trees die.  It is sad. Still, the woodpecker is doing his job.  As he hammers away on the tree, he is probably getting rid of more termites, wood beetles and carpenter ants than we will ever be able to tackle.  

  I watched and smiled as the bird bore hole after hole into the dead tree.  Since this particular tree is far from anything it can damage by falling, I am leaving it for Mother Nature to take down.  So many critters can inhabit or forage in a dead tree.  The pileated is only one type of woodpecker that visits the tree on a daily basis.  The birds are doing a fine job of literally "chopping" down the tree.  By midwinter, the tree should come crashing down then the termite nest beneath can be accessed and the varmints killed.  Until then...the carpenter ants can feast upon the termites and, in turn, the birds can feast upon the ants.  Win/win situation for those of us who hate termites!  Good job, Mr. Pileated Woodpecker!  Good job.

Dead Tree? Brick Wall?

   I am tired, folks.  It seems that as I age, the workload increases.  Of course, a lot of that workload is nothing more than decluttering but it is taking a toll on me.  For some reason, my greenhouse became a dumping ground for anything that would not fit in Mark's shed or the storeroom.  With the coming (hopefully) of cooler weather, the greenhouse came to my attention.  I need a place for all of these potted plants. When I opened the door, egad!...I could not even step inside!  Everything from old windows to lumber had been stacked inside.  There was absolutely NO place for plants.  Yep, guess who got to clear out all of that junk...me.  For the past few days, I have been lugging stuff outdoors.  Now the yard has a mountain of stuff discarded from the greenhouse.  Personally, it could all make a complete disappearance to the dump but, the menfolk have other thoughts.  Everything hauled outside was met with "That is still good."  I am thinking that THEY need to find somewhere to put it...not me.  As long as it is not in my greenhouse, I do not care.  I am over it.

  Sometimes, folks, even in the midst of chores, you just have to take a few minutes to find a bit of enjoyment.  That happened early this morning.  I had been in the greenhouse since before daylight and was fully growling by the time the sun peaked over the pines.  Sad to say but exhaustion had already set in after only two hours of work.  It was then that I heard a familiar "laugh".  With that, it was time to grab the camera and have a bit of fun.  My friend the Pileated Woodpecker had come for breakfast.

  It is rather weird that termites have killed several of the large oak trees near the pier.  The woodpecker was treating himself to a hearty breakfast of those dratted critters.  Yes, this is a male.  An easy way to tell is to look at the face of the bird.  While both birds have a red crown, the male's extends all the way to the beak.  The female's stops about midway.  Also, the male has a bright red cheek stripe which the female lacks.  

  I love the Pileated Woodpeckers and the fact that we leave enough woods intact so they have a place to nest.  My chores were put on hold for a good half hour while I watched the one bird.  He stayed nearby for most of the morning and brought a much needed smile to my face.  It almost made me giggle aloud to think of how he rapped his head against the tree...sort of like me beating my head against a brick wall to get this place cleaned.  

Tree Talons

   While out photographing the wildlife around the Bayou, it sometimes takes a good imagination to see the "perfect picture".  Most folks look at what is in the photo without letting the imagination fly free.  When seeing what is NOT there, you can actually see more of what is there.  Make sense?  No?  Then you just need to let the kid in you loose for a bit.  That is one good thing about being isolated here.  There is no one to see you acting a bit goofy at times.

  A pileated woodpecker came to visit during the early morning.  I just happened to be taking a few minutes break from gardening when I heard his laughing call.  Ok, bird.  Where are you?  He laughed again giving me the head's up...literally.  The bird was right above me in a tall oak tree.  As I photographed the woodpecker, I noticed what appeared to be large talons stretching down to grab the bird.  Nope, there was not a larger bird looming above but a weird branch that arched over its head and splayed out like a huge hand or foot with long talons.  Cool!  Now, I had my imagination-worthy shot!  Like I said...there is no one else here to see me as I drift off into a make-believe world called photography.  

The Right Place To Be

   Photography is a lot like life, in general.  You pretty much have to be in the right spot at the right time to make anything work.  Lighting also helps...in both cases.  I figure I must be in the right spot, here on the Bayou.  Things are working out well and I am at peace here so it has to be "right".

  This morning, the photography skills got a workout.  As soon as I stepped out the door, I heard a pileated woodpecker pounding on the oak tree just to my right.  Getting a good shot without scaring the huge bird took some doing!  I managed to ease my way into position but, since the sun was not cooperating, the lighting was all wrong.  Well, let me just ease a bit more.  I did. I got the shot.  All was well. 

  Then, the garden blooms caught my eye. Wow!  That rising sun was putting a spotlight right on the Althea bush!  The bird was soon forgotten and I turned to photograph the flowers.  Just imagine, I was not even ten feet from my front door and already had taken over 30 photographs.  It was a picturesque sort of day!  

  The Althea bush is one that my granddad gave to me over 40 years ago.  It has been scorched by a house fire (our first home), ravaged by horrific winds of Hurricane Katrina and, also, completely submerged in Katrina's floods.  After that storm, I potted the little scrap of tattered bush and left it.  Each year, it blooms profusely.  Today, I decided that I really need to take cuttings of the bush and start rooting more.  It brings such happy memories along with those purple blooms! I really must be in the right place...at the right time.  

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.

Bringing The Kids Back To Visit!

  As long as I have lived either on the farm (across the road from where I am now) or on the Bayou, spotting an old friend never ceases to thrill me.  If that old friend happens to bring along its young, then I am even happier.  Yes, I am talking about another critter friend, which should not surprise you at all.  On the early morning hike with the old dog, I heard a familiar cackling "laugh" high in the treetops.  The Pileated Woodpeckers were introducing their young to the grand prizes that could be found in the old dead pine trees.  There are three trees that were struck by lightning in the years past and now beetles, ants and grub worms are plentiful.  The woodpeckers were teaching two youngsters the fine art of finding breakfast.   Two juvenile woodpeckers literally hopped from limb to limb on the dead pines before "Dear Old Dad" called them to the Black Gum Tree in the yard.  There, the pickin's must have been good because the foursome stayed for a good while.  Then, the live pine in the yard brought the birds even closer!

  The Pileated Woodpeckers are always welcome on the Bayou. This year, the adults nested in an oak tree far down in the creek bed where I could not get a glimpse of the little ones until today.  Now, those "little"ones are as large as their parents!  It is good to know that these birds are staying around the place with all of the clear-cutting going on in the area.  What humans deem as progress is not kind to those of the critter world.  Many of my critter friends have had to leave the area and, sad to say, may others perished due to lack of suitable habitat.  It saddens me but, at least, I can do my best to leave our acreage as a refuge for any that wish to stay here.  Carry on, my bird friends, carry on!  You are always welcome on the Bayou! 

The Unintentional Helper

  At least the seeds of the popcorn tree (also known as the tallow tree) are good for something other than making a billion new trees.  The invasive tree is notorious for filling up woods with seedlings that sap the nutrients from the soil and soon push out all other trees.  The same thing happens with the tree around the Bayou.  It is one of those plants that does not mind having its feet in the brackish waters so it will grow just about anywhere.  One has sprouted near the pier and has grown to be quite a good size.  I am told that I should pick the billion seeds so the tree does not spread like wildfire but that is literally impossible.  Now, however, a local resident has decided to do the job for me...and without pay!  This resident is happy with just harvesting the seeds.

  Early this morning, I heard the call of a pileated woodpecker echoing through the woods.  I was on the pier and could tell that the bird was coming my way so I sat waiting for it.  Its first stop was a tall pine at the end of the pier but it did not take long before the bird found the tallow tree seeds.  For a good ten minutes, I watched as the bird plucked seed after seed from the branches.  All I could think was, "You go, Bird!!!  Keep eating those seeds!"  Hopefully, the woodpecker will be back tomorrow and bring its entire family!

  Pileated woodpeckers are rather interesting birds.  Even though the bird can cause major damage to a tree, it is usually one that has already been compromised by insects, The woodpecker seeks out the insects by pecking rectangular holes in the tree's bark.  The holes can be so deep that the tree may topple if it was already weakened by the bugs.  When nesting, the bird makes sure to have plenty escape tunnels so predators have a hard time catching the baby birds.   Pileated woodpeckers will go so far as to choose a live tree and peck the bark around the entrance holes so sap will ooze around the opening.  This deters predators especially snakes.  Pileated woodpeckers...not only smart, they are helpful!

 

Those Amazing Birds

  The Bayou is evidently a safe haven for woodpeckers of all kinds. Perhaps the many Longleaf Pine Trees and Black Gum Trees have something to do with their staying around here.  These trees provide them with many good places to call home.  The Black Gum Trees are especially favorable as once damaged, the tree dies from the top downward.  For years to come, a dead Black Gum Tree will stand strong against the winds.  The top of one of these dying trees is usually riddled with large holes that the woodpeckers drill with their steady pounding. Even if the holes are not used by the woodpecker, other critters or birds will lay claim to the easy nesting site.

It is easy to see how the tail feathers are used as a prop.

  While out and about, I found another feather from one of my friendly Pileated Woodpeckers.  This time of year is molting season so the yard is littered with all sorts of castoff feathers.  The most recent one that caught my attention was a tail feather from a woodpecker.  The feather was easy to identify as from what bird and what type of feather.  All woodpeckers have specialized tail feathers that allow them to "hold" on to trees as they hammer out a hole either looking for bugs or building a nest.  The birds use their tail as a sort of prop.  The tail feathers have very sharp, stiff points that actually can "dig" into tree bark.  These feathers along with their unique toes allow the bird to easily climb up trees.  Their toes are different than other birds.  While most perching birds have three toes forward and one back, woodpeckers have two forward and two back...but it is those tail feathers that caught my eye.

  While examining the feather, I ran my finger across the tip.  The tip was divided into two spikes and was coated with some stuff that almost resembled resin.  I pondered if this was normal or if the bird's tail actually "collected" the sap from the pine trees.  This is something that I will have to research!  

  Finding this feather made me even more aware of how amazingly unique birds are.  They are all given special features that allow them to survive.  The tail feathers and toe placement allow the a woodpecker to scale even the tallest of trees.  Its strong bill and super long tongue allow it to drill holes and "fish" out beetles and grubs that are far under the tree bark.  Amazing!

Someone's knocking

  Is it springtime?  While I realize that I am pushing the envelope on this, today sure was doing a great imitation of a spring day.  The sun was shining, the weather was warm, the birds were singing....and I headed outside to the garden.  Son and I planted pear trees and fig trees!  Then I refurbished some of the planter boxes and transplanted a few of the never-dying Bell Pepper plants.  While the cool weather burned back some of the leaves, the stalks and root systems are still healthy.  By not waiting on seeds to sprout, I can have peppers far earlier this spring. The boxes for tomatoes and squash sit ready for seeding and this task will be completed early this coming week.  Yep, it sure feels like spring.....and yep, I sure am hurrying things.  That "Easter freeze" that was a stern warning from Mom to Pop when he rushed things is bound to nip my ideas in the bud.  

  While we were out in the garden, I heard someone else that was pushing for spring.  Off to the north near the creekbed, a familiar knocking came resonating up the hillside.  The Pileated Woodpecker was rapping on the side of a tall dead pine tree.  "Drumming" is more the proper term to the action of the bird.  Why do woodpeckers drum, you may ask?  Well, early in the spring, this could possibly be two things. One, the bird is claiming territory.  When a woodpecker can drum a strong, repetitive pattern and tempo, other birds hunting a nest site might reconsider.  Also, the drumming is a way of attracting a mate. Each type of woodpecker has an unique pattern to their drumming. Other birds hear the drumming, distinguish the species and may consider the drummer as a potential mate.  A strong drumming is only produced by a healthy, vibrant bird or, in other words, a good mate.

  This early morning drumming by the Pileated Woodpecker gave me hope that the birds will nest nearby again this spring.  The bird doing the drumming seemed to be a young bird (by the coloring).  If a stronger, more dominant male claims the territory, this bird will go deeper into the creek area to find a possible nest site and mate.  As with most in nature, the stronger critters lay claim to the best sites and the best food areas. The youngsters have to mature into their dominance stature before rousting some of the older folks.

  So...with someone knocking and hurrying the season, I figure spring must be drawing nigh.  Perhaps the garden will be fine.

Proof of Residence!

  The other day, I went out to gather hickory nuts for the fireplace.  The nuts burn slow and produce a great amount of heat.  Since the nuts are too hard to crack to be of any other use, I figure I might as well make use of them somehow.  Once a fire is started in the old woodstove and has burned down to a good pile of hot coals, I can pour a gallon bucket of nuts into the firebox and they will do a slow burn for hours.  Keep in mind that this is a woodstove that can be completely closed so I do not have to worry about any sparks or nutshell pieces popping out on the hardwood floors.  Once the hotplate is placed back on the top of the stove, I just let it burn.  It sure feels fine!

  On my way back from gathering the nuts, I spied two large bird feathers on the ground.  Hmmm....some bird must be molting!  The feathers were a striking black and white with the black at the tip.  Each feather was nigh on seven inches in length and judging from the shape, one was from each wing...left and right.  From the size of the feathers and from the color arrangement, I knew right away that these were from the Pileated Woodpecker that visited the yard.  I have had a pair hanging around for quite some time now and last year, they raised two little ones to adulthood.  When the parent birds brought the youngsters to the yard, I was simply elated.  It is nice to see that the birds are thriving here on the Bayou.

  Pileated Woodpeckers are the largest of all woodpeckers that inhabit the area.  At one time, the Ivory-billed Woodpeckers held that reign but since their near extinction, they are not known to be around here any more.  Now the Pileated reigns as king woodpecker this far south.  The bird is normally quite shy around humans and prefers to stay deep in the woods.  I know for a fact that their nest is in a dead tree far down in the creek bed.  Still, they visit the yard often which brings a smile.  I like the birds and their unusual look.  The birds are mostly black and white but have a striking flame-red, triangular-shaped crest.  Males have a red stripe on each cheek.  

A family of Pileated Woodpeckers that visited the yard last year.

  The woodpeckers use their beaks and strong neck muscles to drum on dead trees as a method of claiming territory.  Their heavy drumming can be heard echoing through the creek bed in the late afternoon.  They also use the large beak to drill rectangular holes in dead trees as they search for ants and beetles.  A much deeper hole will be drilled to use as a nesting site.  In the tree chosen for a nest, the Pileated Woodpecker will drill up to sixteen holes that are all connected to the nest cavity. These tunnels and holes are "doorways" that allow for easy escape if a predator enters the nesting cavity.  The female lays up to five eggs in the cavity but usually only two chicks ever survive.  

  Finding the two feathers means that my woodpeckers are doing well and will soon be nesting once again.  Perhaps I will have more visitors to the yard come springtime.

Choose your battles well.

  It is good advice to choose your battles well.  Sometimes things that you think are easily won are the most difficult to obtain.  This became quite obvious early this afternoon.  I was in the living room crafting while Ms. Ez sat staring out the door.  There are still fleas in the yard so she has to be satisfied with quick runs to do her business. There will be no stalking squirrels for a while yet.  Just outside the doorway, I could hear the rap-tap-tapping of a woodpecker on the old Black Gum Tree.  A large Pileated Woodpecker was working on the very bottom of the tree.  This tree had died some time ago but since it houses a number of birds and flying squirrels, I have not pressed Mark to cut it.  It stands defiantly against the odds as it is filled with holes.  The woodpecker was having a grand old time hammering that thing.

  Suddenly, Ms. Ez started barking and I heard a great ruckus in the vicinity of the Black Gum Tree!  What was that woodpecker doing?  I leapt from my chair just in time to see Nycto, the (new) cat, shoot out of the jasmine vine.  Obviously, she had chosen to attack the woodpecker!  This was one of those times when it would have been prudent for her to choose her battles.  Anyone who has ever seen a Pileated Woodpecker can tell you that they are rather large!  The birds are extremely strong and, as with any woodpecker, have a long bill. Nycto should have never tackled this bird!

  The bird was not harmed in the least by Nycto's attack.  As matter of fact, after flying to a nearby oak tree, it fussed at her for about ten minutes.  It then went back to work on the Black Gum Tree.  I assume that there are some mighty tasty grubs in that rotten wood!  As for Nycto, I checked on her and she seemed to be well enough.  Other than some ruffled fur and a case of nerves, I think she fared pretty well.  Now if she learned her lesson, everything will be fine.  Nycto still has a lot to learn about being a Bayou Cat!

Four of a Kind!

  Occasionally, something on the Bayou triggers a moment of awe that compares to no other.  Of course, what I find fascinating might be quite boring to others but that is beside the point.  Still, I have to wonder how many people actually take notice of Mother Nature's realm.  Perhaps if folks took the time to really see things, they would be astounded as well.  For instance, today, I saw four woodpeckers! Granted a woodpecker is not the rarest of birds but the timing was perfect plus these woodpeckers make a point of staying deep in the woods.  I am talking of the Pileated Woodpecker! Mark and I had just finished our nice hike when I heard an unusual sound outside of my window.  I knew it was a bird and thought I recognized the call as that of the Pileated.  Ok!  Slip back into the shoes and grab the camera! Something told me that this was to be interesting!  

  Sure enough, the moment I stepped outside the door, I felt the flutter of excitement!  Two Pileateds were in the tall pine about forty feet away! Wow!  I usually only see a single Pileated.  I slipped a bit closer. Double wow!  Three Pileated Woodpeckers in the same tree was not something that I have ever seen! Then another bird flew into the tree.  Four!  Four Pileated Woodpeckers were in the pine.  I was right near ecstatic at this point!  I called to Mark.  He had to see this!   

  Having four woodpeckers in the same tree might not seem like a great deal to others but it made my day.  The exhilaration of seeing that fourth bird fly into the tree was a bit surreal in my mundane life. You see, I find my enjoyment out in nature. When something a bit unusual occurs, it interests me.  Since Pileated Woodpeckers are monogamous, the sighting of four together was rare indeed.  These are highly territorial birds so having them all converge on one tree is a bit of an oddity.  To have this happen right outside my front door even made it better!  I just wish I could have gotten all four in the photograph.  One seemed to be a bit camera shy and kept skittering around to the other side of the tree.  

A Day (or at least five minutes) In the Life of a Bug!

As I sat at the table today, I was pleasantly surprised at a visit from the Pileated Woodpecker.  The young bird flew into the dead Black Gum Tree that sits not ten feet from the window.  These are normally rather shy birds that keep to themselves.  They would rather be far down in the woods near the creekbed which made me ponder why he was visiting so close to the house.

I watched as the bird cocked his head from side to side as he held onto the rotting wood.  Then he rapidly plunged his beak into an existing hole.  I was not surprised that the woodpecker had his prize with just one try..this tree was full of all sorts of bugs!  Several more attempts and he, obviously, had his fill.  I marveled at the ease the wings were spread and he left my view.

As soon as the bird left, a bug scurried out of a hole in the tree. Hmm?  How had the woodpecker missed this one?  This was an Eyed Click Beetle and a rather large one at that!  Curiosity caught me so I headed out to watch the insect.  I wondered where in the world this critter was heading so fast!  Down and around the tree the beetle raced.  Once he hit the ground, his journey continued.  He sped as fast as his little bug legs could carry him on to the next tree.

There he climbed until I almost lost sight of him only to return within seconds.  Down and around this tree he raced until he was almost to the bottom.  Then he turned sharply and headed to a small hole right at the ground level.  Was this his whole intention from the start?  Had he left the dangerous hole at the top of one tree to the safety of a home on the lower level?  Would he be welcome in this hole or was there some large spider waiting to devour him as he entered?  These questions would never be answered as I never saw the bug again.  I waited but he never returned!

As far as a hole is concerned, I must admit this was a delightful one!  It did seem to be a welcoming abode for some critter.  There was a cluster of mushrooms growing above the entrance and a few small plants that waved happily in the wind on either side of the "door".  Not to mention..Santa (rescued from a past hurricane) stood watch over the area..guarding all creatures..large and small.  Especially, Click Beetles running from Pileated Woodpeckers!

Rapping, rapping......

Today was a sort of drippy day outside forcing me to spend most of my day cooped up within the walls of the Little Bayou House. This was ok for a while as we need the rain but I started getting a mite stir crazy about mid afternoon. Even with the drizzling rain, I escaped the confines of the house for a few minutes just to stroll around the gardens a bit. Things were just as I had left them the day before but I still felt the need to breathe a little fresh air. While out and about, I heard something "gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door". No..actually it was not so gently rapping and was definitely not at my chamber door! It was more like someone was taking a hammer to some hunk of wood. After following the sound, I found the source of the hammering..a Pileated Woodpecker.

At first glance, I thought perhaps this bird was ill as it did not quite look as sleek as those I have been photographing around the place. It appeared to be missing quite a number of its feathers. I watched as the bird did his thing. He hammered almost incessantly without any regard to my presence. This gave me a wonderful view of him! Down the tree he came ..pecking away at any soft spot in the Black Gum Tree. When he got to the bottom of the tree, I realized that he was not ill but just a very young bird that had not gotten all of his adult feathers yet. This woodpecker must have come from a late hatching as he should have been well developed by this late in the season. His head and neck feathers were sparse and he looked more gangly than elegant like his parents. Poor bird, he would be cold this evening! The weather was in for a change and his nigh bald head was going to be chilly if he did not snuggle down in the nest cavity.

It then occurred to me that I was getting a mite chilly as well! The wind had picked up a tad and being damp from the mist, I was literally shivering! Time to head back inside! I was wondering about the bird as the sun was setting. Had he returned to the nest where it was safe and warm or was he shivering away on some limb..his head and neck tucked under his wing? Sometimes, I think I worry too much about the critters on this Bayou!

Critter Time!

Ok, so this is getting a mite ridiculous! My pond invasion of tree frogs has gotten a little out of hand. Never before have I seen so many tree frogs in one place..they are everywhere! I was out turning off the sprinkler in pea patch when I noticed a cute little frog under the waterlily. "Now that is cute!" I thought to myself as I snapped a picture. Then..I noticed the ones on the stem of the lilypad..and the ones on the leaf of the arrowplant and the ones on the stem of the hyacinths..and the ones..well..you get the picture. There were so many tree frogs that every plant was literally covered with them. Then a thought..if these all mature and stick around my yard, nighttime might be a tad noisy in a few months! Their chirping will most likely fill the air especially when it ever starts to rain again! Oh..what fun it is to live on a Bayou with all the critters!

Another critter caught my eye today. Actually, Hubby spied it first as we were out walking this evening. On or rather "in" (as inside) an oak tree, the Pileated Woodpecker was working. He was so busy pecking that at first I do not believe he even saw us! The Pileated Woodpecker pounded away..tearing at the rotten wood on the inside of a damaged oak. At one point, he was so far inside the tree that it was hard to see him except when his red crest would flash like a flag! Both Hubby and I were pondering the fact of whether this tree was its home. I learned several interesting facts about the Pileated Woodpecker from my birding book. They will drill up to 16 holes in the tree in which they nest. These escape routes allow them to evade any predators that might make their way into the nesting tree. The Pileated Woodpecker will also peck small holes around the entrance hole to allow the sap of the tree to run. This gooey sap deters intruders such as snakes from entering the nest. And lastly..they sometimes peck so many deep holes in small trees that the tree will actually break in half. Now that is some serious pecking!

I will have to investigate the oak tree a bit further in better light to see if this is a nesting tree! No use in meandering around in bad lighting, I might just find a moccasin instead of a bird's nest!

One other point of interest on the Bayou..the Liatris are blooming! These tall spikes of purple feather blooms are incredibly beautiful. My Sweet Daughter-in-law gave me these bulbs several months ago. I planted them in the corner by the then cabbage patch which has been replanted to being the bean garden! The Liatris is a very beneficial plant to have in the garden as it seems to lure bees. This is great for any garden..pollinators! I have been told that Liatris is one of those foolproof garden plants. One that makes even the novice gardener look like a pro! I am all for that type of plant! Supposedly only two things can be done to ruin the Liatris..one..planting the corms upside down. If you do this, the plant will not grow. Well..I guess I planted mine all the right way since every last one of them came up and are flourishing! And two..have soggy ground. That one is easy for me! I live on top of a hill..of sand! Our yard seems to be nothing but sand so it drains extremely well..perhaps too well at times. Still, the Liatris seem to be doing well in spite of the drought and heat. Thank you, Sweet Daughter-in-law!

My Noisy Neighbor!

Woody Woodpecker lives in the pine tree behind my house! Deep in the woods where the bayou meets the creek, a dead pine tree houses a nest in a ragged hole. It is true, Woody Woodpecker resides there..actually, a Pileated Woodpecker lives there. It is a little known fact that the fun cartoon character was inspired by the Pileated Woodpecker. It is a rather large bird with almost "prehistoric" appearance. Mainly black with white under the wings, this feathered friend sports a bright red crest. Once viewed it is highly unlikely that you will ever forget a Pileated. If you do ever get a chance to sit and watch the real-life version you would easily recognize traits that were drawn into Woody. You would also be amused by the many crazy antics of this bird..crazy seeming to us but survival to it. Another little known fact about this bird is that the mainstay of its diet is ants. Carpenter ants..the ones that burrow inside of dead or damaged trees. When you see this woodpecker pounding its beak against a tree stump, you can be assured that it is searching for its favorite food. He pounds and pounds and literally rips large shards of bark and wood from the stump hunting for ants and other bugs. (The pounding called "drumming" can be up to 15 times a second!) Once he finds his fill of this prey, he will fly off to another tree all the while yelling his unique laugh-like call. The holes he leaves behind, now devoid of ants will soon become homes to other critters. If low to the ground, field mice, lizards and beetles lay claim, if higher up, wrens, flying squirrels and grey squirrels will find homes.

My Woodies hatched and raised only one baby this year. The young one visited the feeder today with Mom and Dad. They carefully showed it how to hang on the suet feeder and peck out the goodies. Then off to tree stumps and dead trees to find tastier treats. I look forward to seeing my fine feathered friends as they come to call in the garden knowing that they eat tons of bugs.

It was rainy again today so I spent it indoors making more tomato sauce. Thirteen more jars were added to the shelf, all waiting to become a winter day's meal. No art projects were completed today so I have added a picture of an earlier creation. My youngest son and I make board games to use as gifts and also sell. This is a Chinese Checker set that we made this past December with wooden game pieces and hand-painted dragons. They were big hits as gifts for Christmas!