New Tenant?

This handsome Red-shafted Northern Flicker has a tiny wood shaving on his beak because he was checking out the hand-crafted accommodation available here today.

After tossing several rounds of wood shavings out of the box made by Phil a couple of years ago, but not yet used by a flicker family, this fellow looked as though he'd made up his mind to stay, until a couple of rambunctious neighbors, who'd been watching him with interest, scampered past his new home.

Off into the trees went the flicker, but not far, and we hope he returns and settles in for the winter! Our neighbors have a bird feeder with a wide range of appealing food, and we have native plants in our garden with berries that will last into the winter, which are among these handsome woodpeckers' food choices, although they prefer ants and beetles.

I'd love another chance to take photos of this delightful bird, as I shot this through our bedroom window -- not ideal!

(Phil has a lovely Blip for Remembrance Sunday -- be sure to click on the links, too.)