Wednesday, April 22, 2009

All dressed up and no where to go...

I know, for me, capturing a decent picture of the Northern Flicker in my lens is quite a challenge, always flitting, always on the move, always out of range. Today, however, I was looking for the Great Horned owl and her owlets but with no success when those yellow tail feathers of the flicker caught my eye. I have tried before to capture this guy as he swooped through the sky flying as if he had the hiccups. Flapping and then gliding....and as you would expect... always going AWAY from me.
...but this time, he landed not too far from where I was quietly standing...in a thicket of trees and pines. I don't think he noticed I was there, as he started to preen himself...shaking and ruffling all those colorful feathers... as if he was getting himself ready to go out and find that special someone!! hmmm.. tis, that time of year!!
..it's not easy reaching all those areas that need attention...
and just when I thought he had it all together..feathers fluffed, clean and pretty, that suave look upon his face...
...he went to sleep! Lol, I only stayed another ten minutes or so but when I left he was still perched on that branch... all dressed up but with no where to go. Shhhhh.

would like to hear your thoughts..