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Northern Flicker Vs Red-Headed


Northern Flicker Vs Red-Headed
Photo Information
Copyright: Martin Lukasiewicz (MartinL) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 178 W: 3 N: 326] (1346)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-10
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D300, AF Nikkor 300mm ED f/4
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/800 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Joe's Favourites 2 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-05-16 18:39
Viewed: 1048
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 52
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hello TN!

Today I decided to post this very unusual shot I took at Rondeau Provincial Park. Here is the story behind it….

It turns out that the Red Headed Woodpeckers nested in a tree for several years, until the sring of this year when a pair of Northern Yellow Shafted Flickers decided to make themselves at home. When I came upon their site, the female Flicker was in the tree while both Red Headed Woodpeckers were outside the tree trying to harass the female. The would knock on the tree but it wasn’t a normal woodpecker knock – they were doing it slowly and methodically just to let the female Flicker know they are outside and NOT all too happy. While all this was going on, the male Flicker would attack the rightful owners and try to chase them away. Several times both males would grab each other in midair and try to cause as much damage to one another as possible while falling down in a spin. A small group of people observed this spectacle. After the fourth of fifth round spiraling down, the Red Headed Woodpecker gave up on any substantial harassment. When I opened this picture at home, I quickly realized why. It turns out that on the last round down, the Flicker grabbed the Red Headed by its tongue and kept spinning it around as they went down. I am sure it was really painful and it most definitely looks that way.
On a happier note, I spoke to people who witnessed the same thing on the following day and told me that the Red Headed Woodpeckers were back fighting for their home again. That leads me to believe that the bird got away without major injury. Maybe only his ego was hurt… we’ll never know.
Now this shot is one of a series of shots I took on that afternoon. It is not exactly sharp but I thought that the uniqueness of this moment was worth sharing. It was tough to get a decent shot as our view was obscured by branches and leaves. I was really happy to end up with this one.

Best Regards,

Martin
Luis52, smitha, marhowie, keanhoon, crs, SueThomson, mesquens, anel, PeterZ, aes_thor, eng55, lise, matatur, sandpiper2, Art_R, CeltickRanger, Hormon_Manyer, paulbright, elizabeth, keldermt has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1025 W: 5 N: 2876] (10399)
  • [2008-05-16 19:06]

Hi Martin.
This is a very interesting photo. Never seen two woodpeackers in a big fight. Your note is also very interesting.
Saludos My friend.
Luis52.

Hello Martin,
Great capture, fantastic timing, good sharpness,
nice colors and very good action
shot.
Angela

Awesome action captured Martin,
I have never seen anything quite like it before..I'm "tongue-tied" ;}
Excellent notes on this, a great story.
Very well done,
Howard

Very interesting story behind, you have done a great shot, not to mention the scary action. I think is impossible to get a perfect focus of this scene.
I do hope all ended happily.
TFS
Best regards,
Kean

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1095 W: 1 N: 4448] (14934)
  • [2008-05-16 20:03]

Hello Martin,
Amazing capture Martin, and amazing experience. Truly unique image well captured. I have often gotten home and realized I have not seen something the image has caught for me. Beautiful color and good details, thanks for sharing this one, off to my favorites.
Rick

  • Great 
  • crs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 356 W: 0 N: 559] (2285)
  • [2008-05-16 21:31]

Hi Martin,

This is an amasing shot. For sure the quality of the image is not the most important in this case. The moment you cought in your photo is very interesting and probably unique. Definetly your not is very interesting and you did the right sing posting it as it cover information that could not be known from the image.

Great shot!

Thank you for sharing it,
Cristian

Hi Martin
Great work on this one. Interesting note and good to hear the birds were OK. I think you have have done really well on this one with the focus considering the action that was happening at the time.
Cheers
Sue

Spectacular! That's all I can say Martin. A rare shot indeed. TFS Trevor

wow!!!!!!!!!! this is a rare and great capture, TFS Ori

Hello Martin,
Fantastic action shot. Call it being in the right place at the right time with the right equipment.:)Excellent POV.It shows the fight from a lovely angle. Poor woodpecker, I wonder why it stuck its tongue out for the other one to grab.Good focus and sharpness.Nice colours.Thanks for sharing this amazing shot.Enjoyed reading the notes too.
Regards,
Smitha.

Olá Martin,
Very good shot from a "battle". Nice colors and sharpness. Excellent POV
Raimundo

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1812 W: 243 N: 5978] (21303)
  • [2008-05-17 1:44]

Incredible shot, Martin!
What phenomenal skill you have to have captured this!
Both the poses are awesome and the movement is excellent!
And that tongue looks so painful!!!

Definately one for my favourites!!

Cheers!

Joe

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1211 W: 0 N: 2132] (9006)
  • [2008-05-17 1:55]

Hi Martin,
It is indeed a unique scene you show us here. Absolutely amazing! Very good timing too.
Bravo for this superb shot
Anne

Hello Martin,
Amazing story and a perfect timing in this unique photo. Evenso the sharpness is good and the photo is in beautiful natural colours.
Excellent note.
Regards,
Peter

Hi Martin,
superb action-shot, very dinamic, great captured. Great colours and light. Congratulations!
cheers
Adrian

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 412 W: 3 N: 427] (1335)
  • [2008-05-17 3:25]

Hi Martin,
Very interesting moment and you caught it very well.POV,details,exposure and composition are wonderful.
Thanks for posting.

Hello Martin
This is an amazing capture..Perhaps not exactly sharp as you say but as we have said before I think there is always a tendency to try and be unnaturaly sharp..You have got the energy here of an amazing and interesting battle..
Brilliant Work
Best Regards
Paul

  • Great 
  • lise Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 184 W: 51 N: 560] (2819)
  • [2008-05-17 13:29]

Hi Martin,
This is an incredible shot! I really feel sad for that poor woodpecker.
Amazing action shot with great timming, nice natural colours.
Very well done.
Lise

Wow! What a timely shot Martin, a rare sight indeed my friend, captured perfectly in the nick of time! TFS and cheers,
Mehmet

Hi Martin

Oouch tht's got to hurt. An amazing shot and story, well worth posting on TN.
I wouldn't be worried about the sharpness etc with this one, its the momment that's important. Nevertheless the flicker is sharp enough and we can clearly see his yellow shafts.
TFS.

Chris

  • Great 
  • Art_R Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 200 W: 16 N: 483] (1995)
  • [2008-05-18 20:46]

Hi Martin , an fantastic action shot , nice work

regards
Art

hello Martin

this is a great inflight fight shot, you where at the good
place the good moment, excellent luminosity of the image
you froze the scene superbly, i love the great details
of the Northern Flicker's plumage, TFS

Asbed

Hi Martin,
Very interesting photo and story. Not the ordinary bird photo. Tfs this unique image, it's really spectacular.
Regards, László

very interesting and unusual shot! you have captured the moment so well. TFS!

What a wonderful action shot to capture. It looks painful! Great notes to support it.
TFS
Cheers
Elizabeth

Great capture, fantastic timing, good sharpness,

Martin - this shot defies belief... wow! A brilliant capture. Thanks for sharing and for providing the story in your notes... impressive! Thanks.

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