Lewis's Woodpeckers have been a nemesis species for me. During breeding season they're hours away in the mountains where in the most reliable locations the birds are high in the trees, well out of range of my camera equipment (600GM + 1.4x TC). They move closer on the cooler months but unpredictable and in spotty locations. One of the more reliable wintering areas has for several years had very few Lewis's Woodpeckers but this year, perhaps because the numerous wildfires have driven them out of the mountains, one of the locations I've kept my eyes on has a good number of these birds. I scouted lighting & favorite perches early last week & returned a couple of days later, parked the camper near an unobstructed perch with good light & backgrounds and, using the camper as a blind, I waited.
Lewis's Woodpeckers have been a nemesis specie for me. During breeding season they're hours away in the mountains where in the most reliable locations the birds are high in the trees, well out of range of my camera equipment (600GM + 1.4x TC). They move closer on the cooler months but unpredictable and in spotty locations. One of the more reliable wintering areas has for several years had very few Lewis's Woodpeckers but this year, perhaps because the numerous wildfires have driven them out of the mountains, one of the locations I've kept my eyes on has a good number of these birds. I scouted lighting & favorite perches early last week & returned a couple of days later, parked the camper near an unobstructed perch with good light & backgrounds and, using the camper as a blind, I waited.
