Flicker

We spotted a Northern Flicker on our lawn.

Rarely seen around here, maybe once or twice.
Bird watching at Gopher Flats gets a bit exciting:

"Quick, come and see this!" (whispering)
"What?!" (whispering)
Com'ere. (gesturing)
What! (gesturing emphatically)
Hurry and see this, NOW! (more gesturing!!!)
"Tippy toe over to the kitchen window as fast as you can! Get the binoculars, I can't see it clearly enough to identify it!"

One dashes for the binos, one dashes for the bird identification website.
One calls out identifying marks and colors, one tap, tap, taps on the computer.

Seems as if we've got ourselves a female Northern flicker.

Oh, no! Are you munching on the grass seed we just spread on the brown lawn? (thanks a lot, gophers!)

But no, they don't eat seeds, they prefer ANTS!

Oh, goody!

We've got ants by the dozen, ants in the bathroom, ants in the kitchen, ants in our pants!
Who needs poison?
We just needed a Northern Flicker!

What's next?

An ORIOLE?!

Get the sliced oranges ready...those orioles will be lookin' for 'em!