"PILEATEDS WORKOUTS"

Pileated Woodpecker (5 Photos)

No, didn't get the spelling wrong. Certain most people have heard of the "pilates workout". Well this was the "pileateds workout". 

Two pileated woodpeckers flying from tree to tree and one photographer trying to follow their movements through deep snow, stepping over fallen trees and bending in various positions to avoid branches, etc. in the shots. And the challenge of the game is to get to the new tree relatively early before they climb to the very top, without "spooking" them. Now having said that, these two were very intent on chopping out their prizes from the trees and didn't appear to be too concerned of having a very clumsy two-legged following them and stayed in close vicinity for almost an hour.

And those feet and claws, not only do they resemble something out of an alien movie but their camouflage on trees is astounding.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5