Showing posts with label Ramsey Canyon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ramsey Canyon. Show all posts

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Arizona Woodpecker in Ramsey Canyon

 MORE SOUTHWEST WOODPECKERS
Arizona Woodpecker, Ramsey Canyon, Sierra Vista, AZ, 4/9/2012.
As I entered the road leading to the Nature Conservatory at Ramsey Canyon, before I even reached the parking lot, I saw a good-sized bird fly across the road in front of me and land on the trunk of a tree to the right side of the road. By the way it was clinging to side of the trunk of the tree, I knew it was a woodpecker, but its coloring was a bit different than the usual woodpeckers I am used to in the Midwest. As I slowed the car down and pulled over, The woodpecker flew to the next tree trunk up the road. So I stealthily gathered my camera, opened the car door, and used the car as sort of a blind and focused over the roof of the car at the woodpecker. Once I trained my focus on the woodpecker and it appeared in my viewfinder, I realized it was an Arizona Woodpecker, my first sighting ever, which always makes me happy. It stayed put long enough for me to snap off a few photos (Above and Below).
The same Arizona Woodpecker, Ramsey Canyon, Sierra Vista, AZ, 4/9/2012.
It was awesome to be greeted by an Arizona Woodpecker, before I even reached the actual Conservatory. I remember the only other time I visited the Ramsey Canyon Nature Conservatory, the first bird I saw as I got out of my car was a Painted Redstart, also a first. I love Ramsey Canyon!