Warm in the sun, not quite the hot of summer but still nicer to be under the shade of the now mostly leafed trees.
I heard her before I saw her, a beautiful pileated woodpecker. A flash of red among the young green ground cover. A surprise on the ground like that. I stood a while watching as she bobbed her head up and down.
I have to remind myself to enjoy the moment instead of trying to catch that perfect shot. Patience is still something I have to work on. Predictably as I tried to switch to a telephoto lens, she flew off and called out with a mocking cry somewhere up in the trees, out of sight.
It only seemed fit, I paint her into the picture. It is her wood more than mine.
PS. I really can’t tell the difference whether it was a male or female, but I liked to think it was a female foraging for ants, beetle larvae and termites for her young.
For a better look, check out my Featured Pieces page.
#spring, #woods, #pileatedwoodpecker, #acrylicpainting, #landscapepainting, ottawaart, #ottawaartists, #613art
ISTVAN JOBST FINE ART 