A Red-bellied woodpecker came to a backyard feeder during most previous winters
but not this year. In fact, nothing is coming to a feeder this winter, not even a single
Black-capped Chickadee. I have seen RBWP on the grounds of the Guild Inn in Scarborough
but not all the time. Sometimes I can hear one without actually seeing it. If there are
enough seed dumps, or when they also offer dried fruit the likelihood of spotting
one goes way up. It all depends how often people come around and deposit feed and if
they place it on one of the stone structures to discourage squirrels. Mind you, the squirrels
will find whatever gets dumped wherever it gets dumped.
You're quite right to feel defeated by toting a monster lens. The pro version of the Sigma 150-500mm
is an anchour, although there are times when long treks are simply not required. If money was no object
then that lens would not be my first pick, but it is just so much cheaper than a long L-series Canon lens that
you must acknowledge that you get what you don't pay for. As short as my lens is, it does have the
advantage of being very light-weight, especially because it is an old-style lens without IS, thereby
making it even lighter than the stabilized version. Even so, this very light lens can still drag on one's neck and
therefore needs to be hand-carried. Your lens might wear me out too, particularly so when you walk
around a lot and can't find anything to photograph, something I specialize in.
