Nature Note:Red-bellied Woodpecker

A red-bellied woodpecker has been visiting the property for about a week.This forest bird is attracted to the maturing timber.It has been doing some excavating of old scars on the trees,no doubt looking for a nest tree.It even ate some bird seed from the ground under the feeder.Actually,it has a scarlet cap.There is no readily visible red on its belly,if there is any at all.It gives a rattle call.This is the most time a red-bellied has spent on this land.