Breakfast with Mr Woody Woodpecker

He's a pretty boy on > large <

There I am, minding my own business, filling the kettle for a morning cuppa and there, in the garden, I spy Mr Woody Woodpecker hammering away at the grass lawn (now I'm glad I managed to cut it yesterday during rain/hail and goodness knows what else).

Sh*t, my camera is upstairs, my new long lens is packed away ready for the trip ..... dump the kettle (cross fingers, eyes and toes that he will be occupied for a few minutes at least) ..... run up, grab camera, scrabble through my beautifully packed carry-on (not so neat now), get lens, swap over, into back bedroom - YAY, he's still there!!! Fire off around 60 shots through the window.
Go downstairs, creep slowly to the back door (luckily it's barn style and the top half is already open) poke the camera around the corner and manage another 20 or so before he flies away!

Around half were blurry, some were headless as he dug for insects. Out of 80 maybe 6 were usable - this is about the best. (A crop and a slight sharpen - other than that, handheld and straight out the camera).

This is for you, RDC.

Leaving tomorrow so will try to blip while away but doubt I will have the time to comment and respond to every/any comments I get - I apologise in advance but promise to reply to each and every one when I get back even if I have to sit for a whole day (or two) to do it - any excuse to gaze at blip!!!

Happy Monday - and thank you to everyone who put Shadow on the spotlight page yesterday - we are thrilled.