The snow floated, light yet thick. Fate was distracted under the white pine in the back pasture, until she saw me head towards the woods. Then she ran ahead of me, squeezing through the gate before I could open it.
I followed no path although I saw my tracks from days before. The dogs ran ahead anticipating where I might go.
They made their own way and I made mine.
I stopped to take a video of the snow falling through the branches of a giant wolf pine. While I did Zinnia and Fate were digging in the snow around the tree.
When finally I looked at what they were doing, I saw the intense yellow of the birds feathers. I dug deeper where they left off and found a frozen Northern Flicker.
The bird was intact, no sign of injury. Next to it was a mat of fur, that looked to me like a piece of a squirrels tail.
The bird was so beautiful.
I took some time to look at the extremely long beak, the red tuft on their head, the delicate gray down, and black and brown patterning. But my eye kept going back to the deep yellow spine on the wing feathers.
I picked up the Flicker and placed them in the soft snow at the base of the white pine, hoping someone who is hungry will find them.
Fate led the way home, waiting in the back pasture long before Zinnia and I got there. The stream and Gulley Bridge is once again covered in ice and snow.
What a beauty of a bird, poor creature. I’ve only seen a Northern Flicker once down by the reservoir that my village overlooks. It was also the brown and striated, but I don’t recall any yellow or red, so maybe a juvenile or female.
It seems there are different kinds Amy. I tried to see the difference between males and females but mostly what I found was about markings on their bellies. But you’re right, could have been either.
Flickers are one of my favorite birds. They’re so distinctive in their markings and so beautiful to me. The ones we have in the PNW have orange tail feathers rather than yellow, and their breasts are a creamy tan with black polka dots. When I first moved to the northwest, I lived on Orcas Island (in the San Juans), and I would find these orange feathers but not know where they came from. When I moved to Vancouver, WA, I first saw the flickers. I have this connection with them and I always get so excited to see one. They come to our feeders.
I first saw one when it came to my feeder a couple of years ago. Their markings are really spectacular. So interesting how they have different colors and patterns. Thanks for you story Sandy.