A big surprise

by Terry Plett
(Winnipeg, MB, Canada)

We live in Winnipeg,Manitoba just at the edge of the south end of the city. We have 6 feeders in our backyard, two of which are for the larger birds containing whole sunflowers seeds and peanuts. This fall we attracted more birds than usual. Some days between all the different birds including hawks, woodpeckers and bluejays, our backyard is like a school playground at recess. We also have a heated birdbath which they all love and sometimes all try to use at the same time which is just hilarious to watch. Today as I was speaking on the phone with my partner who works from home and has an uninteruppted view of the yard, he said "Oh my god, there's a woodpeckers the size of a hawk at the feeder". He hung up and went to take photos. We have had the smaller woodpeckers visit this fall but this one is twice the size. I've attached a photo he took but it was through the glass so it's a little blurry but it's definitely our first ever Pileated Woodpecker.