Two Woodpeckers at the State Park

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On Sunday I took my daughter to a nearby outlet mall so she could go shopping with a friend. I used the time to visit Champoeg State Heritage Area, a state park that includes old growth trees, walking and biking trails, access to the Willamette River, and historical interest.

My photography intentions were to find a good location to set up my tripod, sit quietly while the birds got accustomed to my presence (or never noticed me at all), and take some photographs. I thought I’d found a great spot when I saw the primeval-looking Pileated Woodpecker in the top picture. I snapped a quick photo, even though I didn’t like the angle, then started taking off my camera backpack to access my tripod. I hoped to combine patience and craftiness to get a much better shot. Just then a large group of folks came loudly down the trail. The Pileated Woodpecker bolted. It never came back.

Hiking a bit further I saw the Hairy Woodpecker hunting for bugs at the base of a tree. I like that you can see the insect’s legs sticking out of his bill.

In the end, I never actually set up my tripod. I got caught up in the beauty of the trail and just kept walking. I probably have fewer photographs as a result—I posted an Osprey from Champoeg yesterday, and sometime soon I’ll share a picture I really, really like of a Song Sparrow there—but I have no regrets.

Pileated Woodpecker

Location: Champoeg State Heritage Area

Date: May 23, 2021

Exposure: 1/400 second, f/6.3, ISO 4000

Focal Length: 600 mm

Gear:

Camera: Nikon D750
Lens: Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary

Hairy Woodpecker