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"A 50-cal Opened Up at 17:15 Today"

I had been working upstairs in my Bo Zarts Studio, printing some documents. I went downstairs to slap labels on a Fedex package.

What sounded like a 50-cal machine gun opened up close by. I looked for my flak vest and steel pot. And a bunker. No defenses close by.

TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT .. loud! TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT. Exact same frequency as an NVA 12.7mm machine gun. TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT.
It was coming from upstairs. Not good. I had just come from there. I could hear wood ripping.

I started up the stairs. TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT. Got louder. Upstairs hall: TAT! TAT! TAT! TAT! - LOUDER. Rounded the corner into the bedroom and, then the studio. TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT!

Through the one window of my Bo Zart Studio, I saw a huge pileated woodpecker - clinging to the window screen and raising hell with the window frame.



I have been trying to get a photo of a pileated woodpecker for years. What an elusive bird. So, I had a Canon 5D MK3 with a 70-200mm lens, locked and loaded for just such an occasion. I eased out the front door and got three shots before Woody flew off.

Not exactly the conditions I wanted for photographing this great bird. But, never a dull moment on this mountain.

Caesar's Head Mountain, SC
May 31, 2017

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