Blurry Photos of Pileated Woodpeckers

Missing Suet Cake Basket

A week or so ago, I attached a small hook on the other side of this post and, using a red ribbon, I tied a suet cake basket to it. I placed a homemade cake of peanut butter and birdseed in the basket, and it attracted quite a number of interesting birds, including a red-headed woodpecker, for the entertainment of Mark Twain, who enjoyed looking at the winged diners through the living room windows. Well, that entertainment lasted only a few days. Honestly, I am surprised it lasted that long, because the basket and red ribbon disappeared one night without a trace. Since the black bears should be in hibernation already, I suspect that perhaps it could have been a dog. I would have guessed a raccoon to be the culprit, but there is not even the hint of a scratch on the wood, so I believe the animal must have jumped up to take down the basket. Maybe I shall try hanging pine cones covered in peanut butter and birdseed next time.

A Cat, a Woodpecker, and a Bear

What do a feral cat, a pileated woodpecker, and a black bear have in common? Their paths momentarily intersected in my yard this evening. All three were on separate missions to find food. The feral cat became a guest at Zorro's bowl, while the pileated woodpecker dined on ants inside one of my trees. As for the black bear, he merely walked through my yard without stopping. I should think about putting a bear crossing sign at the top of my driveway. Anyway, once again, I missed a black bear photo opportunity, because the bear had disappeared into the woods by the time I found my camera. I suppose I can console myself that, even if I'd been holding the camera in my hands at the time of the bear sighting, the bear would have turned out looking like a distant, small dark spot in my photo. Still, it would have been a bear photo. I am determined to get a photo of the black bear one of these days, months, years....