The half bird post

Something got into Blogger this evening; it hasn't accepted picture downloads since about 8:30 p.m. So there I am, minus nine images, all cropped and PhotoShopped. Ah, well, half a loaf and all that jazz.

In case you hadn't already guessed it, seated above is my favorite bird, the raven. Not an especially exciting portrait; it is there to remind everyone of your everyday raven pose. That way, you'll understand the picture below. Same guy, same seat. However, he is making his cawing squawk. Watch a raven sometime; you'll discover that he always swings his wings part way out when he caws. It's a curious sight.

I'm glad that my downloads included my acorn woodpeckers, because it's a reminder that two of my regular visitors today posted far better woodpecker photos from far away places (OmegaMom and The Red Squirrel). The birds above are exploring a neighbor's house as a potential storehouse for their nuts. Their MO is to peck a hole, then push an acorn into it, saving it for a rainy day.

This little guy must have had a flea or a mite that needed excising; shortly thereafter, he hopped to the top of the telephone pole to survey the world. Telephone poles and tree trunks (as well as parts of neighbor's houses) are often studded with acorns.

Acorns Underfoot -- and in Process

As I was walking up the road toward home today, I happened to glance down at a neighbor's driveway. What should I see but many, many acorns.

I peered up the drive and saw still more.

And yet more. No place to grow a new oak tree, however. Nor did I collect a bag of the nuts, which I should have -- these were from the emory oak and are actually palatable without special treatment.

All of which reminded me that I had very recent picures of acorns in development on the turbinella scrub oaks up my hillside, including the half-formed little fellow below.

Now if only I had a close-up picture of an acorn woodpecker to complete the set. Here's how the birds earned that name.