Birds of Big Sur, Carmel, Pebble Beach, Monterey, Pacific Grove, California, USA's Journal

Hi Birders Near and Far,

Has it been your experience that birds watch you, as much as you watch them?

I was birding yesterday - 2/5/2021, 12: 51 PM PST, in an area with very tall trees hoping to see a hawk, any hawk, but to no avail. No sooner than I walked away from what I thought would be a good lookout perch, a California Red-shouldered Hawk - (Buteo lineatus ssp. elegans), flew and perched atop this dead tree. Upon my starting to leave an observation area, too many times than I can count, birds soon arrive. I believe this has to be more than coincidences. Luckily I was still within range with my telephoto zoom lens, and felt fortunate to get three photos. This hawk kept eye contact with me, while I took the photos.

When I was birding today, 2/17/2021, at 12:49 PM, I observed three Acorn Woodpeckers - (Melanerpes formicivorus), perched together on the side of a very tall pine tree. "Three's a crowd." One adult, male Acorn Woodpecker, pecked another male's head to get him to leave, so he can mate with the female, just behind the male who is getting pecked.

In addition to posting at inaturalist, I also post on several Facebook birding sites. On one of these sites, a more experienced birder than I, let me know this behavior is known as a "Wing Clap." Birds will do this as a warning to others about predators, or during mating rituals. A Band-tailed Pigeon - (Patagioenas fasciata) engaged in, "Wing Clapping." Carmel, CA. USA. Photo © Kathleen L. Ryan. 2/18/2021, 12:01 PM

Today, 2/25/2021, I observed three different type of Acorn Woodpecker - (Melanerpes formicivorus) behavior. Please see photos that accompany these observations.

Observation #1 - I saw a female Acorn Woodpecker - (Melanerpes formicivorus), take an acorn out of a hole in a well drilled pine tree, and place it in another hole on this same pine tree.

Observation #2 - "High-Rise Neighbors." I observed two Acorn Woodpeckers - (Melanerpes formicivorus), appearing just far enough out of their homes in a very tall pine tree, to watch other neighbors flying nearby. I observed several Acorn Woodpeckers flying around this tree, as well as seeing two, and three woodpeckers flying in and out of these two homes.

Observation #3 - I observed one Acorn Woodpecker - (Melanerpes formicivorus), appear just far enough out of his home, to let another acorn woodpecker see him. The second woodpecker landed and perched on the side of the tall pine tree, right beside the first woodpecker's home.

When I went birding on 2/25/2021, on a trail in Pebble Beach, CA on the 17 mile drive, I was able to spot and photograph what I thought was a Northern Flicker.

When I researched it further in my birding book, I think I might have photographed an "Intergrade," of a, "Red-shafted," x "Yellow -shafted" Norther Flicker. Could someone more experienced than me with birding (which is most everyone), help me with this identification. I ask because there is the red whisker AND red nape.

I'm sorry the photos aren't better, but this bird was in heavy shade, and tall grass, and was hopping around on the ground searching for insects. Then it flew off into deep cover, the opposite direction from where I was hiding behind a tree . Thank you.