As Autumn weather cools things down in the Northern hemisphere, woodpeckers get ravenous and attack the silent suet cakes with increased vigor. Unfortunately, their enthusiasm has been more keen than usual this year as they look for tasty snacks they imagine are hiding in the wood siding of the house. They may be doing me a favor by tapping out ants or other wood-dwellers and -eaters; yet their tapping here and there is bothersome in sound and effect.
Mlady and Dotty go on high alert when the tapping comes close to the open windows and doors. They look wherever the tapping is, and I look at them looking at where the tapping is then go out to wave my wings and squawk at them over the course of the day.
Autumn moon rises;
its spotlight dapples shadows —
tired woodpeckers dream.
image by Billy (could not find any pics of sleeping woodpeckers, so this one will have to do.)
Frank J. Tassone is today’s host of dVerse. Frank says:
Today, let us write haibun in which we use the word “moon,” alluding to whatever context we find most meaningful. For those new to haibun, write a prose paragraph or two, followed by a haiku, in which you include a seasonal reference, and a complement of divergent images that provokes insight.
Tao Talk 
That’s really lovely. Our autumn moon is shining outside. 🙂
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I like the idea we all look at the same moon in the night sky. There is something comforting about it.
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💖💖💖
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I have never had woodpeckers attacking the house… it sounds disturbing… but maybe the silent worms eating the timbers is really more disturbing.
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I know what you mean about critters in the wood! It looks like the birds are trying to open up a bigger hole in a couple of places. Maybe looking for a place to live in winter? I was told at the paint store that hanging Christmas tree icicles on the house will scare them. Time to give it a try.
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An autumn scene evoked so vividly! Wonderful!
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Frank, thank you. Life up close and personal 🙂
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I have so missed the woodpeckers around here, Lisa! Thank you for writing about them this Monday, you cheered me up with the thought of them attacking ‘silent suet cakes with increased vigor’. I’m glad they’re making themselves useful too, by tapping out insects. That’s a lovely image in your haiku, the spotlight of the moon dappling shadows.
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Kim, glad to have perked your day up. Did the woodpeckers just leave or didn’t they ever come back? I remember in the Spring you were waiting for them.
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They just never came back. I’ll still watch for them next spring.
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This is incredibly evocative, Lisa! I especially love; “spotlight dapples shadows —
tired woodpeckers dream.” 😀
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🙂 So glad you enjoyed them, Sanaa, thank you.
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I laughed at “wave my wings.”
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🙂
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A lovely Haibun Lisa. I loved the image of the silent suet cake being attacked!
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Thanks much, Christine 🙂
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So much vigor dappled with levity. I really enjoyed this. Woodpeckers seem to be rare around here. I seen them and heard them in the forest. You “waving your wings” brought to mind Woody Woodpecker.
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I’m the biggest bird brain in these woods lol Thank you for your thoughtful comment. If I didn’t put suet cakes up I probably wouldn’t see them either.
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I have never heard a woodpecker.. The idea of one attacking the house is deeply disturbing. I hope you manage to scare it off.
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Suzanne it isn’t attacking the house as much as the bugs it likes to eat. The sound is like a rat-a-tat-tat of a machine gun. Now a machine gun attack (I just put my Biden and other assorted local candidates’ yard signs in the front yard, so the concern is valid) would be deeply disturbing. Suzanne there isn’t just one! It’s Hitchcock’s Woody Woodpecker Bombadiers!
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Oh no. We don’t have them over here in Australia. Given the US gun culture and the political tension there it must be extra nerve wracking. I hope you can get them to move on.
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Haibunilicious, Lisa! I, too, dug those waving wings.
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Thanks Ron 🙂
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They can be stinkers! We have a lot of dead trees and the house has sliding 😉
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Have you found anything that works??
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I love the image of you as a woodpecker! I used to see them on the tree next door two residences ago, but all I get on my windowsill now is pigeons. (K)
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I’m one of those bird people you use in your art 🙂 I bet if you put a suet cage up with suet you’ll see some.
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That’s an interesting idea…we’re not supposed to put anything on our window ledges though. If I could find someone to climb one of the trees on the street though…
A birdling! of course you are.
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🙂 ❤
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I smile to think of you waving your wings and squawking, Lisa 🙂 Yes, those woodpeckers must be tired.
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Lynn they play hard and sleep hard I bet, and oh the dreams they must have! Thank you.
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It’s amazing they don’t get migraines!
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You know, I wonder about that also!
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I like woodpeckers a lot. They are different…and I love different. Unless…the different is pecking on my house. I love to see hear them in trees.
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I hear you, same here. I need to get wood putty for the two holes I see. Not big enough for them to get into yet and that’s the way it’s going to stay. Maybe I’ll have one of my kids climb the ladder to do it. Oh and the Christmas tinsel!
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Might as well while they are up… Woodpeckers and Bumble Bees can make a mess of your house. I like both of them though…they have their charm…just stay away from my house lol.
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Very apt Li.
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Thank you, Sadje.
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You’re welcome
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You took me right there and I could clearly see you flapping and squawking!
Love this but it would worry me, Mum had sparrows who used to tap on her window. They could see their own reflection and thought they were fending off an intruder. It is slow persistent torture …
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Doing nothing is not an option as they have gotten real persistent over the last couple of weeks 😦
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ouch hope you find a solution!
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This has such charm and love in it, with just the rip nip of autumn. Well written Lisa. I can see your cats on the prowl… 🙂
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Thanks much, Rob 🙂
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I’ve only ever seen woodpeckers tapping trees at a distance, which is quite enchanting, but I can imagine it grating on the nerves a little if they are constantly tapping at the framework of your house. I love the cosy Autumn scene you’ve conjured up here!
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The sound doesn’t bother me as much as knowing they are putting holes in the siding. These (de)buggers come in all sizes and all are very cute except when they are being naughty. Glad you like the Autumn scene 🙂
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Well, if you will live in a wooden house…
I love woodpeckers, but I can see they might be a bit of a nuisance if they come knocking in the walls all day.
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People with wooden houses shouldn’t have woodpeckers 😉
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🙂
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I had to giggle a bit about the woodpeckers and their incessant pecking … I have a few who love attacking the wood frame around our roof. No kitties to frighten them away. Cheers.
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Yes, they are lovable little pests aren’t they.
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This made me smile, Lisa. Hadn’t thought about it, but after all their head-banging, woodpeckers are bound to be exhausted. So I’m with you, and may their dreams be sweet 🙂
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🙂
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