As a bird photographer, I know the feeling all too well. You're out in the woods, camera-ready, and there it is: the perfect perch. It's got ideal lighting, a dreamy, bokeh-inducing background, and not a single distracting branch in sight. The problem? It's usually just that – an excellent bird picture missing the bird! This frustrating scenario happened repeatedly during my Songbirds of Pelee Workshop earlier this month. We were hot on the trail of a pair of stunning Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. They'd land, often on beautiful branches, but always, always, with a pesky leaf or twig obscuring a clear shot. We'd shift, we'd wait, we'd plead with them (silently, of course), but they wouldn't cooperate. Just as we gave up on the grosbeaks and turned our attention to a newly spotted Black-throated Blue Warbler – another gem of the forest – something incredible happened. With its striking red cap and zebra-striped back, a Red-bellied Woodpecker swooped in and landed squarely on my perfectly scouted, previously bird-less perch!

Despite their name, Red-bellied Woodpeckers have very little red on their bellies; the reddish wash is often challenging to see in the field, leading to frequent misidentification by novice birders.

It was one of those fleeting moments bird photographers live for. The woodpecker paused for just a fraction of a second, but it was long enough. I managed to rattle off a single, glorious frame. It was a reminder that sometimes, the magic happens when you least expect it and that patience (and a little luck) can turn a near-miss into a memorable photograph.

Do you have a similar story of a perfect perch finally meeting its perfect subject? Share your experiences in the comments below!