Once upon a time there was a Ms. Hairy Woodpecker, enjoying a peaceful morning searching for a tasty insect among the late summer blossoms of a lovely garden.
She was minding her own business when suddenly…
…she realized something was coming up behind her. Why it was that silly little chipmunk!
Ridiculous that this little rodent would think he could beat her to breakfast! Did he think she was a birdbrain?
Did he think she’d just give up her favorite feeding location to a little nim-nut like him?
She thought not!
And the little chipmunk scurried back down the tree, toute de suite. After all, there were plenty of treats back on the ground where he belonged. He wondered what he had been thinking anyway.
Ms. Hairy Woodpecker went back to enjoying her brunch.
And then moved on to another favorite location that advertised being chipmunk free.
September 27, 2026 at 1:07 pm
Ha, fun, and great captures!
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September 27, 2026 at 1:37 pm
I was really lucky. I was photographing the hairy woodpecker out of the breakfast room window. We don’t see this particular type of woodpecker very often. Then I saw her turn around and I had no idea what was there until I looked at the pictures. I was just holding the shutter down and it was shooting as fast as it could. She sure told him off.d
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September 27, 2026 at 1:08 pm
Too cute! 💕
Until recently, I did not know that chipmunks could climb fences, trees, etc. I always considered them ground animals since they live in burrows. Henri “treed” a chipmunk up a fence recently. I’m not sure who was more surprised…me or him!
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September 27, 2026 at 2:50 pm
I have never seen them in a tree before either. I have no idea what it was thinking. I don’t think they eat birds?
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September 28, 2026 at 7:26 am
No, they eat seeds, insects, and parts of plants. The chipmunk may have been interested in the nut? that the bird had? But that was really bold! Much easier to get to the leftovers on the ground below the feeders.
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September 27, 2026 at 5:33 pm
Very fun sequence!
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September 27, 2026 at 7:14 pm
Made me smile.
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September 27, 2026 at 6:08 pm
I’m loving the stories you have been posting!
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September 27, 2026 at 7:15 pm
Always something going on around here.
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September 27, 2026 at 8:41 pm
That was a cute story Dawn. I wish we had chipmunks around here – they are so cute. I have to admit that I often see the squirrels and birds sharing peanuts on the ground. A few years ago I had pictures of the red-bellied woodpecker, jays, cardinals and squirrels feasting together in the snow and once a couple of mallards encroached as well. You have a window to the world!
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September 27, 2026 at 11:57 pm
What fun! Wow, you were looking at the right spot at the right time. And you had your camera in your face! Cool. 🙂 Keep on doing that. Thanks Dawn. Made my day.
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September 28, 2026 at 7:03 am
Never a dull moment, eh?
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September 28, 2026 at 9:36 pm
Fun story with equally fun pictures to go with it.
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October 3, 2026 at 5:40 am
So much goes on in the world that we never notice. Thanks for sharing this cute story (and amazing photos)! It made me smile, especially that little tail scurrying away. I’m team Ms. Woodpecker!
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