Pileated woodpecker

This is the woodpecker I saw this morning behind the inn on a large dead branch of an ash tree. The ash appears to have been struck by lightning a few years ago, and is too close for comfort to the inn and will be removed this Winter. Fortunately there is plenty of habitat through the hills here that it shouldn't need to fly too far to find more feeding/breeding ground.

It is a pileated woodpecker....the largest woodpecker there is. It was e model for the cartoon "Woody the Woodepecker."

My photo can't do it justice, so here is a link to some good pictures.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pileated_Woodpecker

Come up sometime and walk the trails....see if you can find him again. (I think it was a 'him' although it was a bit too far to tell.)

They are permanent residents and build new nests every year. Hopefully we'll see him again next year.