Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Suspect Captured!

on film that is...

Here is the suspect, caught in the act of vandalizing a neighbor's mailbox.  I know you can barely make him out.

I was shooting with my P&S from across the street and maybe 15 yards back on a fairly high zoom and hand-held which means the entire photo is out of focus, so I circled the guy so you can find him.

I tried to get closer, but of course he took that as his cue to fly away.


Source
A quick google search identified him as a downy woodpecker, apparently fairly common in Pennsylvania.

And just what is this cute little ball of feathers guilty of???

Mailbox defacement in the first degree!  The hole on the furthest left actually goes all the way through to the interior of the mailbox.  The ones on the center and right side are fairly fresh.  If this keeps up, we'll be needing a new mailbox soon!

Just for fun... leaving you with my 11-11-11 photo. I wanted to take this in the morning but happened to be out running errands with hubby at the time and no camera with me.  So I waited...
and captured the p.m. version. Then because the photo was so boring, I added  textures! "Scripted magic" on screen mode, plus "cinnamon" - both textures from Kim Klassen.

15 comments:

Debra Dotter Blakley said...

Oh that pesky little fellow! Be sure your next mailbox is metal or he'll be right back. Ha Ha. Love the 11/11/11 picture.

scrappyjacky said...

A metal mailbox sounds like a good idea!!

Denise said...

He is very pretty though isn't he!I wish I'd have taken a photo of my phone on that date now..

mjmaterazo said...

how can something so cute make so much damage. good job catching him in the act & getting your 11.11.11 photo as well.

quiltingfool said...

Love the little guy! Buy a metal mailbox and leave the old one somewhere for him to continue to vandalize! So far, all I've seen here in Texas are grackles (these must come directly from hell by the look of them and since Summer here is just like hell...who knows) and lately some tiny sparrows. I was promised blue jays and woodpeckers, but so far, no shows. Love your photos and story!

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

Eeeow. Pretty bird but really distructive, eh? And I'll bet he's a bit noisy too?

I like your 11/11/11 11:11 photo. I took on in the morning and mine was fairly boring. Carrie was smarter and took a really cute shot of herself and a girlfriend at the pm passing of the event.

Amy said...

What a little devil!
I didn't take any 11/11/11 photos - how bad is that?!

Cheryl said...

Ah, we had one of those when we lived in PA. He didn't do any damage to our property, thank goodness, but boy was he loud! I love the textures you added to your 11/11/11 photo - it looks so cool!

Ginger said...

Wow, that bird sure has nerve! I like your 11-11-11 photo with the KK textures!!

Cheryl said...

How cheeky is that x

Anonymous said...

We really enjoy seeing the woodpeckers at our feeders, but fortunately, they haven't caused any problems here. I guess we're just lucky. We talked about 11.11.11, but did I think to take a photo? Not.

Melissa said...

Oh my, it does look like a new mailbox may be in order soon! Great job catching the suspect on film! :>)

I like how you used the textures on your photo!

Melissa said...

Oh my, it does look like a new mailbox may be in order soon! Great job catching the suspect on film! :>)

I like how you used the textures on your photo!

alexa said...

You did well to spot him and capture him on film - as withe all the 11s. I will have to try and remember to do this next year with all the 12s!

humel said...

He is a very attractive looking vandal - but the damage isn't so pretty! And you already know I have a very similar photo, don't you, even though I haven't shared it on my blog yet?! ;)

I've been having a lovely catch up here, Cheri. I'm interested to hear your plans for documenting December, and I was moved to read your very open story of your childhood. Some very special posts, I'm sorry I'm so late to read them! xx