Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Monday, July 9, 2018

Woodpeckers make me HAPPY!!!!!

A Pileated Woodpecker gives us all some advice!!!
Good Morning,  Friends...  Hope you had a good week and enjoyed the 4th of July with lots of friends and family...  I had family here --and we had a wonderful day today celebrating  AMERICA.   The crazy thing  (coming from someone who always takes lots of pictures) is that I must have been having WAY too much fun since I didn't take one single picture... ha ha   (BUT--we had a wonderful day!!!)

Today I'm sharing some of the BIRDS which make me happy...  Of course,  as I often say,  depending upon my attitude ---everything in life has meaning and makes me happy.   Even through the tough times and sad times,  I can find joy and happiness... Life is truly all about ATTITUDE!!!

I read an interesting quote today,  talking about whether we are EXISTING in this life,  or are we really  LIVING...  Hmmm---there have been times when I was probably just existing --but today,  I choose to LIVE.  What about you?

Sit back,  get another cuppa,  and enjoy my post today!  All of my bird pictures in the collage were taken in June, 2018.


Four of my favorite Woodpeckers visiting  my Bird Kitchen
Top Row (left to right):   Red Headed Woody;   Upside down Northern Flicker  (eating the rest of the suet, and telling me that I need to put out some more)
Middle Row:  Pileated  Woodpecker;  Northern Flicker  (eating the new suet and saying THANKS);  Red Headed Woodpecker
Bottom Row:  Pileated Woodpecker;  Daddy Downy Woodpecker and his baby  (who is as big as he is);   Downy Woodpecker now feeding his Baby!!

Of these four ---the prettiest one is the Red Headed.  BUT--they are all amazing!!

Now --I have a question for you...  which of those 4 woodpeckers is the 'real'  Woody Woodpecker????????????
Can you see it now??????   Well---depending upon where you live,  there are 4 different answers.... Some people say Red Headed Woodpecker;  some say Acorn Woodpecker;  others say Ivory Billed Woodpecker;   but right here in TN ---we think that the Pileated Woodpecker is the REAL Woody Woodpecker!!!!  What do you think?????


This is a drawing of a Pileated Woodpecker!!!!!   He's an amazing bird ---and comes to our feeders sometimes twice a day... He is LOUD and makes his presence known when he visits....




More Advice for US from a Pileated Woodpecker!!!  We should learn from the BIRDS!

Well---enough for today....Besides---  I need to get outside and sit on the deck on our new swing  (now that it's not raining and not as HOT),  and watch for more BIRDS as they come back and forth to the feeders...  What a LIFE!!!!!

Blessings,  and remember to be nice to our Birds!!!!!
Hugs,

31 comments:

Jo said...

Hello dear Betsy. Yes, we have to decide whether to exist or live. I LIVE and love life! Re: Woody Woodpecker; in a post you did years ago (shows how long we've been blogger friends) you suggested that the Pileated Woodpecker is Woody Woodpecker. Since then I've always believed it. Have a great day. Jo

Ann said...

I think too often I tend to just exist instead of really living. That's something I need to work on.
I would say the real Woody Woodpecker is the pileated

eileeninmd said...

Hello, I try to enjoy life as much as I can. I love your woodpeckers, great collection of photos. Enjoy your day, have a great week!

linda m said...

I love all your woodpecker pictures. Other than the hummingbirds they are some of the most frequent visitors to my feeders. Now sit outside and enjoy those birds.

Big Dude said...

I enjoy the woodpeckers as well but have never seen a red Headed one. While we have Pileated here, I've not seen one on our feeders - they must all like your gourmet buffet.

George said...

What a wonderful post. You shared some beautiful photos and some great advice.

Silver in AZ said...

I'm a poor city girl who's never seen a woodpecker in real life. I think I've heard one, once or twice when out in the country for a weekend, but never actually seen one. :(

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

I find myself taking a lot less pictures lately than I used to. Glad you had a fun time!

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

That photo of the red-headed woodpecker is really great. I like all of them, of course, but that one really caught my eye. I think Woody is one of a kind myself. ;)

Arkansas Patti said...

I'm with you on the real Woody. Perfect match. I no longer have the Red Bellied one at my nectar feeders. Kind of miss them but I'm sure the Hummers are happier.

Ruth Hiebert said...

Yes,the Pileated is the real Woody in my opinion. Love all your bird pictures. Have a great week.

David said...

Betsy, We love woodpeckers too! Plus our deer, turkey, fox and even squirrels now that we have a squirrel proof feeder...

As for the homes we toured, there wasn't any sales pitch by the builders but they did answer questions. Of course we liked the most expensive home which was the nicest by far and it was on the water too! As for 1 level homes vs. multi-level, we enjoy our 2 level home and my man cave and office are both on the upper level.

However, the way our house is set up, we could live on the first level if needed...and it even features a "back up" man cave. Take Care, Dave

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

What a nice thought. I chose to Live. I get the same way, too busy living, forget some times to take photos. That is ok? Love red headed woodpeckers! So pretty

Chatty Crone said...

I see you know a lot about them. You are feeding and watering them. I wonder if they get hot like we do? Ever wonder that? Love, sandie

Ginny Hartzler said...

I think you are right, woody is a Pileated!! I love all your quotes today! Of course my favorite is the upside down Flicker!! I have never seen a real Red Headed. That would be really something. I want to see your new swing!! With you in it! I think I shall call you The Bird Whisperer!

Marcia said...

Love those woodpecker photos. We were walking in the woods last week and heard the pileated hammering/drumming away. Yesterday on another walk we saw the holes in a trunk done by woodpeckers - a neat horizontal row of holes.

Annesphamily said...

Hello my friend! I forget you are here too. Oh the woodpecker. I hear one each morning but I never see him. I think he travels from tree to tree. Across the street from our home.
We are having extreme heat. As my aunt Ang use to say, if I wanted to live in the darn desert, I'd move to Arizona. The wildfires are so bad due to this awful heat. I am praying for rain.
Staying cool with my son Nick. He is working 1 A.M. to 9 A.M. and he misses the traffic coming and going to work. He works at a homeless shelter and last week a gentleman died. It was so sad and I cry thinking of him all alone in the world. It sounded like a heart attack. Nick is a kind heart so he enjoys listening to each story when the men share. Some just need an ear to listen to .
Nick sleeps most of the day away but I understand. I miss his help with these naughty puppies. But since the newlywed bride reminds me I said "let's take all three" I cannot complain.
Also going to visit my hubby's sister this weekend. She is getting stronger each day. Their accident was devastating and by the grace of God all 6 of them survived.
I hope you are doing very well and enjoying your photos that you take on your cool travels.
HAve ablessed and beautiful day with that hubby of yours. HUGS

Linda Kay said...

Betsy, love the woodpeckers, and thanks for the "Woody" reminder.

Pat Tillett said...

Hi Betsy! Glad to hear that you had a good 4th. I used to always be the one taking photos at family gatherings. A few years ago I realized that I was so busy taking photos that I was missing out on some of what was going on. So I stopped! That was the moment that everyone in my family started using their phones to take them. Now I just enjoy myself.

Speaking of woodpeckers. The local version where I live is the "Acorn? woodpecker. They peck holes in trees and then force acorns in them. At a later date they come back and eat them (and the bugs inside them) later. Well, there really aren't that many acorns in this particular area, so they have started pecking holes in the palm trees! I have no idea why though...

Lady Fi said...

Ooo - fabulous bird shots! And wonderful to hear you had a great celebration.

Susie Swanson said...

I know what you mean about the existing part. It's been hard but like you I try find as much enjoyment as I can. I love my birds and we've seen quite a few of the woodpeckers here as well. I call them red headed woodpeckers. lol Was so sorry to hear about your brother in law and you and George are in my prayers. Blessings sweet friend.

Betsy said...

Hello Betsy! I enjoyed learning about the woodpeckers on your post today. I finally saw a hummingbird at our feeder yesterday. Of course, it may have been coming and visiting for the last week or so while we were in Omaha but I’m not sure about that. Enjoy your new swing and your birds!
Blessings, Betsy

Farikica said...

Good info on the woodpecker.. my most enjoyable memory of woodpecker when i was a kid was the woody woodpecker series.

Dee said...

Dear Betsy, up in Stillwater, Minnesota, where I lived for 39 years, I frequently saw a pileated woodpecker in my back yard. Down here in Missouri, I haven't seen one in nine years, but I keep hoping!

Thanks for sharing the advice of the woodpeckers and their photos--as well as the tutorial on who's who! Peace.

Lowcarb team member said...

Hello Betsy
I think it's important to enjoy life as much as possible!
What a lovely collage of birds in your post.
I'm so pleased you had a great time with family for your America celebration.

May the rest of the week be a good one for you.
My good wishes

All the best Jan

Lady Di Tn said...

I LIKE ALL THE BIRDS AND WATCHING THEM IS A TRULY ENJOYABLE PLEASURE. HOWEVER, I ALWAYS FEEL A THRILL WHEN A PECKER WOOD VISITS OR I CAN HEAR THEM LAUGHING AT ME FROM A TREE. I TRY TO KEEP THE BIRD BATHES FILLED WITH CLEAN WATER IN ORDER TO WATCH THEM BATHE. PEACE

Jeevan said...

The only woodpecker i have seen and captured was Black-Rumped Flameback, which has a red crest as Pileated Woodpecker! So i'm with you on the real woody woodpecker. I really enjoyed the different woodpeckers you shot there and glad you had good july 4th :)

Beth said...

Gorgeous birds. I like the pilated woodpecker the best. Glad you had a wonderful 4th. Ours was quiet here.

Connie said...

Lovely collage of bird photos, Betsy! They are so much fun to watch, aren't they. The woodpecker advice made me smile. I hope you have a nice weekend.

BeachGypsy said...

Enjoyed this post and all the pictures. Is this the same as the "Lord God bird" that I've read about in the Eugenie Price stories and other places? do you know about that bird?

Twilight Man said...

I love Woodpeckers as they are so rare in my country. Maybe it's my problem for living in the city and not the suburbs with forests.

Thank you for sharing the photos of your birds. I love them all.