Ladder-Backed Woodpecker, Ramirez Family Ranch, Roma, Texas
©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com
Canon EOS 1DsMKIII, 500mm F4 Lens with 2X II Tele-converter
ISO 250, F8, 1/100s Aperture priority +1/3, Flash ETTL II -2+2/3
Once called the Cactus Woodpecker, the Ladder-Backed Woodpecker was first described in 1829 by German herpetologist Johann Georg Wagler. It is found in desert and arid environments in the United States, and in the pinelands of Central America.
Artie dropped me off at the airport in McAllen, Texas at 04:00 this morning (thank-you, Artie) and I am now in Houston waiting for my connection to Cleveland, en route home to Montreal. It's been an amazing trip, at a furious pace, for the last 19 days of photography and travel. We've had a blast, got many keepers and added many stories to tell. I have so much to be thankful for, but most important is the friends and people I meet along my path in life. I need to say Thank-You to Arthur “Artie” Morris for far too many things to mention here, but most important is his friendship. Artie will continue driving north, until I meet him at Point Pelee, Ontario (in only 6 days), where Artie will be co-leading my Pelee Songbirds Workshop with me. Travel safely, Artie. As great a trip as it has been, I look forward, very much, to getting home to Julie and T-Bone.
I have a massive amount of work to get done before heading off to my Songbirds of Pelee Workshop on May 7th, but I’ll make sure to post more images from this trip during the days ahead.
Did you know that a group of woodpeckers has many collective nouns, including "a descent", "a drumming" and "a gatling" of woodpeckers.