Black-backed Woodpecker

Black-backed Woodpecker

Showing off his yellow cap.

We were hiking the Beaver Ponds trail in Algonquin Provincial Park last Monday. We had left the first pond (Second to last picture) and had climbed the ridge that separates the first pond from the second. As we were waiting for the rest of the group, we heard a woodpecker tapping nearby. Absent-mindedly, I decided to try to pick him out. I found him, not too far off, and based on the size, I announced that he was a Hairy Woodpecker, which we had seen several of all ready. Black-backs had been a target bird for me at this park for a while, but I had focused my searching to dead Black Spruces in bogs, to no luck. I went to look through my binoculars, and then I realized I had a Black-backed Woodpecker! I did not expect him up on a hillside. He allowed everyone to have good views before flying off a little ways down the hill. I was quite pleased to get such a nice performance from a life bird. The last photo shows the beaver dam that was down the trail from the woodpecker.