Blackberry Winter

We have been experiencing a cool rainy period here the last few days.....What old timers call "Blackberry Winter."

Proper identification of Woodpecker has occured

After over a week of diligent observation.  My identification of a black backed three toed woodpecker
has been amended.....turns out it is a large Downy Woodpecker.   My intial observations were from greater distances and my mistake was the rapid hammering sound of both species does sound similar.
It would have been a tremendous sighting if it had been a Black Backed three toed since Tennessee is very far south for that species...... I am glad to update my identification and certainly am glad I did not contact my friends at Cornell Lab of Ornothology with a wrong identification.

late winter storms-spring- Black back three toed woodpecker?

We had many late winter storms, ice and snow until late march.  Than it became warmer.
Now, it is april the trees are budding and life renews.  Yesterday April 3rd,  I saw and heard what might be a black back three toed woodpecker...however it also may be a  Hairy woodpecker they
have make the same hammering sound on dead trees.    I will search more with my good binoculars tomorrow.... it is now dark.