Downy Woodpecker (female)

A male downy would have red on its head--it was unusually close and about at eye level, on the Rail Trail not far from Station Road in Amherst. Given the lack of clear patterning on the rear I wonder if it's possibly a first year bird. They are North America's smallest woodpecker.

We started early today and it paid off, with many more birds than yesterday's later walk. Images competing for blip status were a tree swallow with substantial nesting material (though not close) and a distant turkey vulture perched with its wings spread (backlit and also distant.