Saturday, March 19, 2022

Jungle Birds

 
I was in the bad habit of calling birds by whatever name I thought fit, back in the olden days. 


When I lived in the mountains of NC, I encountered a large bird that flew up and down the creek, making sounds just like a jungle bird. But since I've never been to a jungle, that may be my imagination too! lol 


It turned out to be a Pileated Woodpecker. And I heard him for a long time before I ever got a good sighting.


Pileated Woodpecker LINK

At Blue Run Park, they are a regular. But of course they are still fun to see and hear!


Another bird I saw this week with a flaming crest was a Cardinal.


Northern Cardinal LINK

Usually the male is the showiest but the sun was just right to show off the pretty colors of this female.

We've had some rain but no bad weather here at our house. We watched the weather channel and saw the damage just East of us though. One lady even sat in her car as a tornado tore through the area. We had no idea any of that was happening, but it is the time of year for violent thunderstorms here in Florida. The rain has brought some of the most beautiful wildflowers and along with those, butterflies galore! 


Always something beautiful to see in nature!


Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly LINK

I hope you have a chance to enjoy it where you live too!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 

41 comments:

Lea said...

Great photos of the Woodpecker, and the Cardinal is beautiful!
Looking forward to butterfly season here.
Have a wonderful weekend!

MadSnapper said...

Mrs. Cardinal is the prettiest female I have ever seen. super shot! she is gorgeous. I know jungle sounds because I used to go to Jungle Gardens 2 or 3 times a year

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

I always thought the piliated woodpecker sounded like a monkey in the jungle lol. Great pictures. Glad the bad weather did not get to you!

Tom said...

...yep, life is a jungle.

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

The Pileated photos are awesome, they are beautiful birds. I like your Cardinal, she is pretty too. Love the butterfly, I hope to see them return here soon. I am glad the tornado missed your area, they are scary.
Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great weekend.

NanaDiana said...

Wonderful pictures. We have two pileated woodpeckers here. One is often in the tree right behind our place-the other one is always down by the ravine. They are amazing birds, aren't they>. Hope you have a great weekend. We have snow here-ugh- xo Diana

handmade by amalia said...

Your gorgeous Pileated Woodpecker should never play hide and seek, he really stands out.
Amalia
xo

Penelope Notes said...

Your photos have wonderful clarity. The names of some butterflies are almost as creative as the creatures themselves. :)

Sandy said...

Wonderful pictures of the birds. I am glad y'all were ok. It is the time of the storms, so you just never know. I am loving the warmer days here last week.

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Pileated woodpeckers echo through the Vermont woods quite loudly. Fascinating bird, the huge chunks of wood they create chopping out a nest are amazing.

carol l mckenna said...

Lovely series of photos of our 'feathered friends' ~

Wishing you lots of laughter and love in your days,

A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Lorrie said...

Pileated Woodpeckers are seen here, too, banging their beaks ferociously against trees. Fun to watch. Beautiful photos, Diane. The butterflies are lovely.

Vee said...

Excellent captures! So glad that those storms passed you by. It'll be some time yet before spring arrives.

Bob Bushell said...

Fabulous Pileated Woodpecker series, and the Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly, beautiful.

Lydia C. Lee said...

Those colours are great. We don't get woodpeckers here so it's such a pleasure to see them! #Idratherbebirdin

David M. Gascoigne, said...

I am always especially delighted when I come across a Pileated Woodpecker.

RedPat said...

Such gorgeous shots! The woodpecker is fabulous.

Anni said...

Extraordinary woodpecker images. The lighting is perfect. Stay safe from the storms & thanks for linking in Diane.

Ed Rosack said...

Lovely photos - well don!

Cloudia said...

Wow you paint quite a picture!

happyone said...

Love those woodpeckers. We have them around our house. They are quite big!

Pamela M. Steiner said...

I love to see the Pileated Woodpeckers. We don't have as many here as we did in Salt Springs, but once in a while I will hear one and I usually see it flying off to another tree by the time I find it. Love the butterflies and all the beautiful shades of green in the trees now. Yes, the storms will come and go. We have to be aware and ready, but I still think we live in the best part of the country!! Have a blessed week.

Ann said...

Love the photos of the woodpecker and the cardinal. Cardinals have always been one of my favorites.

Terri D said...

Beauty all around us!! Lovely photos, as usual!! xo

NatureFootstep said...

I loved to visit jungles on my trips. They are mostly very beautiful. And so are the Pileated Woodpecker.
Love your new header :)

Irma said...

Great photos of the Pileated Woodpecker.
The female cardinal is really beautiful in color.
The butterfly is very beautiful to see, here in the Netherlands I have not seen any butterflies yet.
Greetings Irma

Jenn Jilks said...

Crazy weather! I saw that storm. Our kids are in Florida for March Break. They are having fun.

Debbie said...

your images are outstanding today!! in her picture, the female cardinal shows better than the male!! when i am by my window taking pictures, i almost always hear my birds before i see them. it's nice to prepare for who's coming!!

the zebra swallowtail is beautiful, i like the perspective...and the flower bud!!

Wally Jones said...

Nature sure is beautiful!

Nature in the Spring is even more beautiful!

Nature in the Spring in Florida is - well, you have to experience it to believe it!

Diane, thank you for showcasing some of our great residents!

SImple and Serene Living said...

I've seen a couple of small butterflies here, but can't wait to see monarchs and swallowtails. xo Laura

Phil Slade said...

Great pics of the Pileated Woodpecker, my bogy bird of North America. It seems like as a child you were a fan of the Tarzan films? Enjoy your Sunday like are now - it's sunny at last.

italiafinlandia said...

Thanks for sharing these jungle Beauties.
Love the butterfly best. 🦋

John's Island said...

Hi Diane, I’m getting caught up on looking at your recent posts. As usual, you have another set of great photos here. The Pileated Woodpecker is such an interesting bird. I often wonder about amazing aspects of nature. For example, how can this bird dig holes into trees without wrecking its neck and bill? :-) Talk about something that would give me a headache. Ha ha. Love the pics of the female Cardinal. Butterflies are neat too. Thanks for sharing another fine post. Sending you wishes for a happy week ahead! John

Lowcarb team member said...

All beautiful photographs, I especially liked the ones of the Pileated Woodpecker.

Enjoy the remainder of the weekend and have a great new week.

All the best Jan

magiceye said...

Gorgeous captures!

Nancy Chan said...

I like your photos of the beautiful birds and butterfly.

Jeanie said...

The names we invent are much more fun than most of the real names! I like "jungle bird." I agree!

Teresa said...

Unos avistamientos preciosos. Besos.

Breathtaking said...

Hello Diane, :=) Wow! Your photos this week are fantastic,...so sharp and in lovely lighting. I would love to see the Pileated Woodpecker, as it's such a striking bird. The Cardinals are perhaps my favourite American bird, and you have really done them justice with your lovely photos. Beautiful shot of the butterfly too Diane.,
Have a good week.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Let's cross our fingers for good weather in both our parts of Florida for (well, for the foreseeable future would be good). Loved this walk too, agree that I never get tired of seeing the pileated woodpeckers (I just read where they mate for life. Did you already know that? I bet you did!).

Red Rose Alley said...

Oh, that female Cardinal is pretty. And that Woodpecker is a beauty also. I love his red spiked up hair. I see the Woodpecker here all the time, even in my yard, pecking at the trees. But ours has a red head with no spiked hair. They are such funny birds, but here in the mountains they can be an annoyance, as they peck in the day and even at night. And if you notice the holes on your pictures, imagine those on the eaves of your house, oh my. The butterfly is beautiful, and what lovely photos you took of it. It's wonderful all the different birds you see on your hikes.

~Sheri