Wood chips

A Black-backed Woodpecker creating wood chips while working on the base of a tree in Sturgeon County.

Over the top

A Piliated Woodpecker probes the top of a tree stump in Sturgeon County.

Out on a limb

I usually see the Black-backed Woodpeckers foraging on a tree trunk, his one had worked itself out onto a limb. Sturgeon County.

Brown Creeper

A fleeting moment in the woods of Sturgeon County.

One of a pair

A pair of Piliated Woodpeckers have provided lots of photographic opportunities over the winter as they have scoured our local area for bugs to eat. The male is very approachable. Sturgeon County.

Bohemian Waxwing

Cleaning up berries in the tangled woods. Sturgeon County.

Black-Backed Wodpecker

Late January morning side light illuminates this female while chipping away in the forest. Sturgeon County

Piliated Woodpecker

After a couple of weeks of sickness, and a couple more weeks of work, it was finally good to get out into the -20 (C) weather and find something to photograph, this was it, but a nice find nonetheless. Sturgeon County.

Lost Soul

Way north of it's most northerly summer range of Oregon this Ash Throated Flycatcher faces an uncertain or most probably a limited future if it doesn't migrate as the temperatures here drop far below those in it's Mexico or Honduras wintering area. How the heck did it get here? Lois Hole Park.

Ash Throated Flycatcher

Close to the ground this fly catcher tilts it's head to look for insects in the undergrowth, this source of food will soon be gone...…..Lois Hole Park

It's only you

After 20 minutes or so of me photographing him excavating a hole in the tree this Pileated Woodpecker finally reacted to the camera clicks, took a quick look to determine the source, and then continued on with his task....I left him still going at it. Sturgeon County.

Close Encounter

I almost walked into this Pileated Woodpecker in the woods of Lois Hole Park, it didn't seem to mind one bit. St Albert.

Downy Woodpecker

A Downy alights a fungus covered tree stump I stacked out for such a shot. Lois Hole Park, St Albert.

Hairy Pose

A nice pose in a beam of light from a juvenile Hairy Woodpecker. Lois Hole Park, St Albert.

Hairy Pair

A pair of juvenile Hairy Woodpeckers in the woods south of Big Lake. Lois Hole Park, St Albert.

White-Throated Sparrow

These are ubiquitous in our area, this one held it's ground to give an opportunity for a great close up. Sturgeon County.

Piliated Woodpecker

This pair greeted me in my backyard on the start of a morning walk down to the river. Sturgeon County.

Black-Capped Chickadee

This little guy came looking for handouts, got a camera pointed into it's face for its trouble! Lois Hole Park, St Albert.

Least Flycatcher

Even though it's hard to identify the bird from this angle I liked this shot the best, I identified it from other shots taken at the same time. Sturgeon County.

Piliated Woodpecker

Pecking for insects in a fallen tree in Sturgeon County.

Red-eyed Vireo

In the shrubbery near the Sturgeon River, Sturgeon County.

Sharing

Juvenile Cedar Waxwings share a branch to perch on and a piece of lichen to eat. Sturgeon County.