The Chase Is On

Suddenly this pair of woodpeckers flew into view landing on the dead snag. Obviously engaged in a dispute of some kind, they chattered away. The lower of the two was doing the chasing, round and round the trunk they went. As quick as they came, they disappeared again, although I could still hear their vocal discontent in the distance.

Strangely, the lower one looks to be a female, lacking a tell tale red crown. I can't tell the gender of the upper one from this view and I don't have other frames sadly.

Further up the inlet, a female mallard began to quack. Her male was nearby keeping watch near the shore. She was on an island where I've seen a goose nest before now. Maybe that's her intent also.