Woodpecker vs. Hawk

[Guest guest]

Today I got home from running some errands. Across the street I hear the Pileated Woodpecker making a call I'd never heard before. So, I still there a minutes trying to spot it in the trees. After bit, the hawk flew out from the pine trees. Right on its tail was the woodpecker, which was about 2/3 its size. Following the woodpecker was what might have been a Blue Jay which was followed by maybe a Mockingbird (it was hard to tell since the distance was about 50 yards or more with the sun off to the side).

The hawk flew across the street and landed in another tree. The woodpecker made the call a couple of more time and the hawk flew away again. Again it was chased by the same crew. This time the hawk landed in a pine tree in the neighbor's yard. I could see its head pretty well and so I ran to get the camera. By the time I got back, I didn't see the hawk anymore and the woodpecker flew down the street past the house, but too fast for me to focus on it with the camera.

Compared to the other birds, it is rather lackadaisical in how it flies, very slow wing beats yet strong and steady making a smooth, not dipping flight.