• Tuesday-What'sUP October 27 - 04:03 pm

When Bob Gilreath spotted this woodpecker on his feeder in Hubbell, he wasn't sure what kind it was, so he checked with a birding friend, who identified it as a Red-bellied Woodpecker. Looking at a range map for this bird, it normally doesn't reside this far north, so that explains why Bob was unfamiliar with it. It's somewhat similar to the Hairy Woodpecker, in size especially, but the red head gives them away.

The bottom two photos were snapped at Deer Lake in the Ishpeming area, by Laurie Bashaw. She said she thinks this is a mating pair of Trumpeter Swans with their cygnets and I tend to agree with her on that, since four of them seem to be grayer colored than the other two, indicating young or immature birds. I'm not certain how long the young ones stay in the company of their parents, but it looks like this group is still learning the ropes with Mom and Dad.

FOOTNOTE: Yesterday's shots from Brenda Leigh had some beautiful colors from the eastern U.P. If you missed them, just click here: Monday, October 26th, to take a look at them!

I just love any kind of bird pictures. Thanks!!

When those Woodpeckers come to my feeders the other birds take off. They must be bullies. The swans are so peaceful swimming about.

That sounds like it could be an insult...... "you red-bellied woodpecker!" :P

We have a lot of those around here in SE TX, usually in an epic battle with the squirrels over who gets to forage in the trees. I have also heard that these birds are very beneficial in areas that have been hit hard by the emerald ash borer as the larvae is one of their favourite treats.

I've known a few feisty redheads.

Alex & Capt...I can't stop laughing!!!!

I've seen those woodpeckers in Baraga...they are a
beautiful bird! The swans are gorgeous...NICE pics!

I like the woodpeckers plumage. Looks real good.
I didn't realize there were swans making a home at Deer Lake. Thank you Laurie for letting us know. I will have to take a ride out there and see if I can spot them.

The woodpecker pics are so awesome and interesting.
The swan pics are peaceful. Swans are so graceful
looking.

Nice pics...as for Swans...I stay away from them...was fishing a lake 1 year ago...got out on shore didn't know/see a Swan nesting in the brush with young...this thing stood up hissing, wings stretched out...was 4 feet away...only time a bird scared me

Don't know this to be absolute truth but when we lived in Charlevoix there were 2 swans that hung around Round Lake, and the manager of the condos said all the swans in Michigan descended from a pair that a wealthy MI woman brought over from England many, many years ago.
Love the red-bellied woodpecker but I always thought they were misnamed. Funny place for a 'belly'. ;>

Yeah, the red is on the head not the belly. Beautiful woodpecker - love the pattern of the plumage!
Thanks for the laugh Capt. Paul & Alex!! :)

Shirley,

Since Mute swans are a non-native species, that could be the case in Michigan. The Trumpeters are the native species which are being re-introduced; obviously this pair is doing their part! Mary, i think that's right..... this is a family group with the 4 cygnets being grayer than the parents.

Yeah, Jbuck, we saw lots of Trumpeter swans in WY.

Lovely bird pictures.

LOL!! Janie, I just saw your profile pic.:-D

JT...plain or peanut, or just plain nuts? :-)
You must be in charge of escort duty this Halloween...I've pulled a few of those myself with nieces & nephews, godson...you name it. The things I wouldn't do for a mini-Snickers.

Red-bellied Woodpeckers are so named because there
was already a Red-headed Woodpecker, and there
truly is a wash of red on the Red-bellied
Woodpecker's belly. It's sometimes seen when they
visit feeders -- it's behind the sunflower seeds
in the second picture.

If she's carrying plain, I'll take a dozen bags ~ I love M&Ms!;9

More like the Almond Joy/Mounds jingle, "sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't"