Drumming Together

(Male and Female White-Headed Woodpeckers)

Becky and I moved from St. Louis to California way back in 1981. Her brother Jim helped in the move and the three of us drove a U-Haul truck instead of a team of oxen. If memory serves, we camped in a park along the edge of Lake Tahoe the second night out. It was on a walk the next morning when we saw our first White-headed Woodpecker. I was so excited. Becky captured the moment of discovery on her camera. Jim would have been watching and quietly thinking, “Hmm. This is my new brother-in-law….” Fast forward to 2024 along the roads of the Running Y. I still eagerly watch for the White-headeds every spring.

I waited for the sun’s rays to pierce the branches above me.
The car was warm. The coffee black.
Seamus snuffled soft, low grunts as he tested the air outside his window.

At last, the light came. Blinding. Then softening to a morning’s warm glow.
A chatter took my attention. Another followed in quick reply.
A pair of White-headed Woodpeckers wasted no time beginning the day’s hunt.

My day was off to a good start too.