Northern Flickers are pretty close to being a nemesis bird for me. I see them fairly often, in my neighborhood and at several of my birding haunts, but they almost never let me get close enough for decent photos. And their penchant for staying in the shade in an attempt to make it more difficult for predators to spot them doesn’t help.
But last week that unfortunate tide began to turn.
On three consecutive afternoons last week (at about the same time each day), while I was sitting on my patio in the shade, two male Northern Flickers landed in my Catalpa trees and then flew down and foraged for ants and other insects on my shaded lawn right in front of me.
They knew I was there of course but they didn’t seem to care – which is very unusual for flickers. One of them was more tolerant of my presence than the other, coming in so close I couldn’t always fit him in frame.
On the first two days I didn’t have my camera gear with me but on the third day I did. The following photos document that encounter.
This is the tamest (bravest?) flicker of the two, right after he’d flown down from the treetop and landed at the base of the tree, before working his way to the patch of lawn he prefers for ant foraging.
I’m not fond of the fence and my neighbor’s pink lawn furniture in the background, and I wish he’d been in direct sunlight, but I was thrilled to finally get flicker shots that almost filled the frame.
He dropped down to the grass and…
slowly worked his way to the same patch of shaded lawn that he’d foraged for ants on the two previous days.
Here he’s looking for ants, amongst all the annoying Catalpa seed pods on my lawn that I haven’t yet had time or opportunity to clean up after the long winter.
There was a patch of filtered light between the shade of the tree and the shade of my house and when he was a little better lit like this, he was obviously nervous and more alert. Here he’s watching me carefully, but he continued to come my way as he got closer to his favorite foraging patch in deep shade. And closer to me.
But even when he was better lit, he was also looking for ants.
Here he’s looking upward for potential predators. I’m sure he’s fully aware of the neighborhood Cooper’s Hawk that would like nothing better than to catch one of the flickers out in the open. The only times I saw him watching for predators was when he was in better light like this.
One more glance in the opposite direction for predators before he reached the deep shade of my house. After this he was in such poor light I took my eye off my viewfinder and watched him without taking photos. Besides, he was so close he wouldn’t fit in the frame.
This is the other male, high in one of my Catalpa trees. This flicker only came down to the lawn once, for a few seconds before returning to the top of the tree. He stayed up there, watching me photograph his buddy.
I was so intent on photographing flickers to my left, it took me a while to notice the mayhem that was going on in my garden directly in front of me.
Bandito, or one of his buddies, had knocked down one of my feeders and was gorging himself on spilled bird seed.
Normally the fox squirrels don’t go into my garden while I’m on my patio because they know I don’t react well to them eating me out of house and home. But apparently he knew I was distracted so he continued to chomp away, even when I aimed my big lens in his direction.
Gluttonous little devil. I guess I’m going to have to look for another Slinky. The one I used last year is so stretched out it’s completely useless.
Ron
They’re so elegant. Thanks for sharing your joys and tribulations.
Pat
I am so glad that you have conquered this nemesis – and without leaving home too.
And of course Bandito or his relative took the opportunity when it presented itself. That is almost a given. It took me four attempts (shutting and reloading) before all your photos loaded this morning. I am glad I persevered.
“and without leaving home too.”
Excellent point, EC – especially given my current vehicle situation.
I’m glad you did too. I wish you weren’t having those problems loading my blog.
Such dapper gents! What a treat to see their gorgeous markings. I envy you their willingness to hang out in your yard.
As for Bandito (or his friend), I get it. I was surprised that the squirrels and one very determined opossum went for the oranges in my yard even when I was out with my foster mama dog — a very protective girl, indeed. No matter what she did they were more or less unfazed. The squirrel (and opossum) uprising is nigh!
Marty, I didn’t know there were possums in your area. I’ve never seen one in the wild so I’m jealous.
I’m so jealous that you have flickers IN YOUR YARD! I rarely see them (more like hear them) even in my neighborhood. They are quite beautiful and I appreciate all your close-up shots, so kind of the one to trust you like that.
The only way I’ve mostly deterred squirrels from my bird feeders now is by throwing them peanuts in the shell (unsalted, of course) — still not cheap but definitely less costly than WBU no-mess blend. We’ve reached an understanding, I guess.
Chris, most any critter food is cheaper than WBU no-mess blend. But it’s good stuff. You get what you pay for I guess.
You do have some cute pictures to post this time. Always lots of fun in your yards. Hey the pink furniture is a classic item. Don’t think I have seen any of them around!
Trudy, pink furniture isn’t for me. Pink anything, actually…
Great photos and article, Ron. Normally, they are so “flighty” — anxious and rarely sticking around for photos. I wonder why they were more relaxed this time? Perhaps nest building close by?
I wonder too, Ed. It’s certainly out of character for them but I hope it continues.
Great photos Ron. We have them in our neighborhood, but I have never seen on on the ground before. Usually they are way up in the tree tops. Hear them more than see them.
“Hear them more than see them.”
So do I, Michael. Their hammering in particular is hard to miss.
The flickers in my yard are pretty bold – they visit the suet feeders in the apple tree about 6 feet from my window – this year there are 2 males and 1 female that visit regularly – and if I approach the window slowly, they don’t spook. But before they start pounding on the suet, they always check the skies very carefully for the hawks. Such neat birds.
Carolyn, at first I assumed that these two were a mated pair. Assuming is dangerous, as it was in this case.
Good series, Ron – the Northern Flickers here are often in the sun but that’s where the ant hills in the lane tend to be. They ARE spooky however. Our main heartburn with them in spring is their choice of “sounding boards” for drumming. Metal is the preferred target tho, fortunately, none have used the vents on the house in recent years…..
Anything intent on that bird seed will keep trying – sighhh.
Judy, flickers used to damage my house under the eaves. But that hasn’t happened since I had metal siding installed on my house.
However, my neighbor’s fireplace is right outside my bedroom window. For some reason, flickers like to hammer on the metal flashing around that fireplace. It’s loud in my bedroom but thankfully they don’t do it at night, although I have had a few afternoon naps ruined.
What a beautiful series. It’s a common bird here and easy to take for granted. Your photographs help me to see it afresh.
“Your photographs help me to see it afresh.”
Good. Thanks, Kate.
Love these photos ! When I lived in a truly tiny town which had lots of big trees and little traffic, the flickers who lived in the area were
practically tame– I could sit under a tree and they would move up and down the trunk just over my head, sunlight playing over all of those gorgeous markings– JOY !
Kris, flickers have never been that cooperative with me. Until last week.
Amazing shots of the bird. Don’t know that I ever saw one – as I think I would have remembered the red each side of his beak and the black bib. Actually – beautiful birds. The spotted breast is also attractive.
Too bad about the squirrel. We had black squirrels in Omaha, grey ones in Bountiful (who would dig under the sidewalks, etc.) – and racoons – who would destroy a fruit tree in one night, build nests in the chimneys, and dig in the garden – along with the skunks, deer and porcupines & rabbits. I kind of miss the wildlife. Thanks for sharing your adventures.
“I kind of miss the wildlife”
I don’t blame you, Judy. I would too. It’s funny how some critters can be annoying and endearing at the same time.
I would think that flickers would be fairly common where you used to live in Bountiful.
I’ve had a vague mental image of Northern Flickers, and probably have seen some, but these photos make clear just how appealing they are. There are so many feathery details to enjoy — each photo has something different, and quite pleasing, to offer.
“these photos make clear just how appealing they are”
Shoreacres, they’re even more appealing in flight when you can see their beautiful salmon-colored feathers beneath their wings and tail. Flight shots are my next goal with these two guys. If they continue to cooperate.
Ron, we also have squirrels that are playing havoc withour feeders. What does a Slinky do?
Connie, click on the “Slinky” link in the last paragraph of my post. That’ll answer your question and more.
Ron – I love Flickers, and I’ve never seen the Red-shafted type that you have in these photos. The red “mustache” is very jaunty! Thanks for being a good bird whisperer and sharing these with us.
“Jaunty” – I like that word. Wish I’d thought to use it in my post. Thanks, Noel.
What a great, fun series of photos! Thanks Ron.
Thanks very much, Mark.