Close up of an immature male Downy Woodpecker, Wasatch Mountains, Morgan County, UtahClose up of an immature male Downy Woodpecker – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

A few weeks ago while up in the Wasatch Mountains I was able to see and photograph an immature male Downy Woodpecker as it foraged for food in willows and while clinging to a Common Mullein.

Of all of the photos I took of this young Downy Woodpecker I felt that only this one image file was acceptable to me. Why?

When the immature woodpecker was in the willows every photo I took of it had out of focus branches in front of its face or body. And those branches were distracting, annoying and unacceptable to me.

Then after the young male woodpecker flew to this Common Mullein I was too close to take full body photos. Even worse than that when the Downy Woodpecker moved up the mullein stalk there was an out of focus line of fencing that cut across the head and body of my subject. That silvery strand of fence ruined what could have been my best images of this bird.

I see and hear Downy Woodpeckers far more often than I am able to take photos of them so when I get what seems to be a great opportunity with this species and all but one of the photos are ruined it can be frustrating.

I do like this photo because it shows the eye of the woodpecker so nicely and the tiny red feathers on his head that indicate that he is a young male.

The rest of the photos I took of him are in my delete bin.

Life is good. Stay safe.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Downy Woodpecker photos plus facts and information about this species.