This was my first (and so far only) sighting of a three-toed woodpecker. I came across this beautiful little creature several years ago in Yellowstone National Park. I didn’t think I’d have much chance at a picture, as despite the harsh light of the midday sun, little was making it through the canopy. I had left my tripod in the car so that I didn’t get too tired on the hike, but handholding the camera wasn’t easy in the low light. And the bird wasn’t sitting still, circling around the trunk and hammering into the bark, usually partially obscured by the many thin branches sticking out from the tree, often in poor lighting. While I don’t usually like strong light sources in the background, I really like them in this picture, the sunlight streaming through distant trees.