Our Very Own Woody Woodpecker!

I mustered all of the energy I could yesterday to haul my butt outside and hang out a load of laundry. I just could not bring myself to toss the clothes in the dryer when the sun was shining and the breeze was blowing just a bit. I have been waiting for the opportunity to hang out the laundry... and by golly... I was going to do it! So there I was at the clothes line, clothes pin in mid-clamp... when I heard this pounding. I had heard it before when I would take care of the chickens in the morning... but never really paid attention to it. Well, this time... it was CLOSE! I looked over to a tree on the side of our yard... and there it was. This beautiful... HUGE... woodpecker! I was shocked at how big it was... and also shocked that it was so low on the trunk of the tree. Low enough that I could have touched it if I was close enough (and I'm short!)--of course, I'm sure it wouldn't want me touching it.

After my sudden surprise of it all, I used up what little energy I had left to run back into the house and grab my camera. When I came back out and walked toward the tree... the darn thing let out a very shrill call and flew off. DANG IT! But I saw where it went... to another tree at the edge of our property... so I got a few pictures. I think it knew I was watching it because it kept moving around the tree when I would get it into view! The little stinker! But I finally got a couple of shots!
He flew off JUST as I took this second picture! I was lucky enough to capture it... although it's not the best angle. As I was walking back to the house, I decided to take a gander at the tree... and this is what I found...
We are going to look into what type of damage this might cause to the tree... I can't imagine it's good for it!

Oh yeah, and when I finally finished hanging up the laundry and came back inside, I took a 2 hour nap. Man, I hate being sick!!