Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Woodpecker in a Palm Tree

The wild parrots of San Gabriel Valley are well known. And we certainly see our share of hawks. But a woodpecker in a palm tree is something new. Doesn't this image seem rather incongruous and genre-busting? Maybe woodpeckers regularly peck in palm trees and I've just never noticed. But I prefer to think of it as a wonderful example of nature doing some unconventional casting just to keep things interesting. For me, this is kind of like seeing a chipmunk at the beach.

When I heard that rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat sound, I grabbed my zoom. (I've got to hand it to this fellow for his high standards... this tree is about as tall as one of these!)

16 comments:

Mister Earl said...

This woodpecker is obviously a freak. He's probably gathering wood for the annual Burning Bird event in Upland.

Jane Hards Photography said...

Another creature we don't get on the island, although we get palms which still bemuses me. Whatever happened to Woody Woodpecker? He retired and moved to South Pasedna I see.

Anonymous said...

What a cute little bugger! (Woodpeckers follow the termites, I believe.)

Yakpate said...

THIS is why I love Southern California... at all times, we can expect the unexpected!

And, if we're lucky enough to live in SouthPas (or to be a reader of Laurie's blog), we can see the unexpected in vivid, living color... or atmospheric black and white!

Sharon said...

This is great Laurie. I have some woodpeckers that hang out in my backyard and I keep trying to get pictures but they are pretty skittish.

Virginia said...

I can top that- I think. I have this huge robin that sits outside my den window every morning and pecks on the window (LOUDLY) for about an hour and a half. Wakes me up! Can birds have mental problems??? If so your and mine are candidates for shock therapy.
V

barbra said...

I think you took that on my street! I see that guy often!

You can email me at btchabot at gmail dot com if you want to know what street I live on...

Anonymous said...

They poke holes into the bark and then stick acorns into each hole. Heres an example from a photo I took except it's in a power/telephone pole.

Tanya Breese said...

Seems like a So Cal version of A Partridge in a Pear Tree...We'd see lots of woodpeckers when we'd camp up in the Laguna's, pecking on pine, but can't say as I've seen one on a palm before! Cool and strange image!

Judy Williams said...

I just couldn't resist. This seemed fitting with Laurie's description of the incongruousness of him in a palm tree.

Woody Woodpecker starring in The Screwball

Mister Earl said...

AH: Everyone should follow the termites. They don't require any particular belief in God or anything, and they always have great parties.

Columbo said...

Great shot, Laurie. I haven't seen or heard to many woodpecker up here in Oregon.

San Diego Farmgirl said...

Wow, nice zoom! Neat shot!

Anonymous said...

Shoot, I wanted Judy's link but couldn't seem to grab it. My security system is working overtime. Wanted to hear --- ahahahahah, ahahahahah.

dbdubya said...

How much wood could a wooodpecker peck if a woodpecker could peck wood?

Or something like that.

Laurie Allee said...

Hey everyone,

Judy, if you come back here, repost your link! I'm with Altadenahiker -- I want to hear ahahahaha, ahahahaha!

Mister Earl, I'm cracking up at your Burning Bird reference. Nice one, my friend.

Barbra, I'll email you to find out...

Pasadena Adjacent, another telephone pole!!!

Thanks for being here, everyone. Until tomorrow...