Roger, Your stealth paid off! Great shots of a very easily spooked bird. Keep us informed of your birding pursuits. They're always interesting. DaveR/Breaks ----- Original Message ----- From: Roger Mayhorn To: BCBC Listserve Sent: Monday, May 06, 2013 6:17 PM Subject: [bcbirdclub] Close Encounter with Pileated This afternoon after the rain stopped and the sun came out I went out looking for birds. I heard a Pileated Woodpecker up on the knoll, then later I heard thumping coming from the logs where the old barn used to be. I realized that the Pileated was searching for grubs in the logs. I decided to sneak as close as I could in the hope of getting some photos, though the chances of getting close to one of these fellows is slim. After moving to where the sound was coming from I finally located the bird working on a log down behind some blackberry canes. Because it was down in the vegetation I was able to inch closer and closer, becoming very still every time the bird looked up. Finally I was within about 15 feet and the Pileated had no idea I was there. It continued to work on the rotting wood. The red stripe under his bill let me know that it was a male. I started taking pictures, and eventually the Pileated heard the clicking of the camera. He raised his head to look at me through the foliage. I thought he would fly then, but he just moved up higher on the logs and stared at me. I was too close to get the whole bird in the frame with my telephoto lens. After raising his crest in alarm and staring at me for a few more seconds he hopped up to the top log and sat there for a minute before taking off into the woods. Roger Mayhorn Compton Mt