Our backyard feeders have seen a steady stream of woodpeckers this season.

We’ve had handsome Hairy Woodpeckers dine with us…

…and delightful Downy Woodpeckers…

…and stunning Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers too.

We’ve even had a Northern Flicker who has been hanging about, though typically keeping a safe distance.

But the Red-bellied Woodpecker, which has always been the most common visitor of them all, has been missing from the mix for the last several months. I know they are in the area, because I can hear their call in the distance, but they haven’t been showing up at the feeders.

Thankfully, just this week, they’ve started stopping by again, quickly grabbing a peanut or a beakful of Bark Butter and then flying off.

They are darting in and out pretty fast and acting quite skittish, which has me wondering if they are having a bit of a territorial spat with one of the others.

There absence definitely made my heart grow fonder. I missed these beauties and am so glad to have them back!