2/18/08 Observations

- Partly cloudy and colder this morning on the mountain...and a cool, breezy day has followed.

- Rain yesterday, just over an inch, and very warm and windy.

- Driving to the cabin Friday night, 14 deer greeted me near the Stone Creek gate...eight in one group and six in another. Quite a welcome home!

- Met some great families over the weekend that came to tour the properties...from Florida and Alabama...and they, too, got to see some wildlife and beautiful southeast Tennessee mountain scenery.

- Attached are recent photos of birds at my feeders. Even a Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) got in on the act.

- The Common Flicker (often called the Yellow Shafted Flicker....Colaptes auratus), which is one of the many species of woodpeckers currently coming to the feeders, is one of my favorites. Attached is a photo of one that had been eating suet, but seemingly had a moment of meditation as it was photographed. These striking birds have many fields marks for identification....the red triangle behind the head, yellow wing flashes during flight, and the white rump that is visible only when the bird is in flight. They often hop awkwardly on the ground beneath feeders.

- The Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) is also shown. Note the long bill, red patch on the head, and white back. The long bill and larger size (usually 2"-3" longer) distinguish this species from the similarly marked Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens), which was also photographed on this day, on the same suet feeder.