four-wheel-drive Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 While I have been out walking the dog over the past two weeks or so I have been hearing wood peckers I do not remember them being around at this time of year before or is it just me getting old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 We had one drumming in the garden about a week ago. As far as I know they normally start in January and this is to get the insects moving. This carries on in to February and on when they start pairing up to breed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 I have seen all three species, and also their cousins the nuthatches, every month of the year. I am not entirely convinced that the drumming is food related as it is more likely to be territorial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 (edited) I think you are right JDog, there was a Greater Spotted on a big gravel pit that I used to fish in the spring that used to drum on an electricity pylon at the same time early each morning, it made a right ol' racket. I have seen all three species, and also their cousins the nuthatches, every month of the year. I am not entirely convinced that the drumming is food related as it is more likely to be territorial. Edited January 21, 2014 by Penelope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 The Drumming is territorial generally....If you hear it its likely to be a Greater Spotted as Greens rarely drum and the lesser spotted is extremely rare these days.Round these parts the Green is known as a Yaffle colloquially because of its laughing call and also as Rainbird since its call best travels in still Weather conditions often preceding rain.The Greens have increased substantially in numbers in the last few years which is great to see.If you want to see a Greater spotted at close quarters...find a woodland where you know they habit and tap a tree or wooden fence post intermittently with a stone for a few minutes...any breeding males in the vicinity will soon be down to check out whose making the noise...I'm afraid I can trump you there Jdog...I've recorded all three resident woodpeckers..and plenty of Nuthatches ( another bird whose numbers are on the up )and also a couple of years ago a Wryneck in my mothers Garden.I did also witness a juvenile Sparrowhawk trying to down a Green Woodpecker once and the hawk came off worse. Birding lesson over... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four-wheel-drive Posted January 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 We had loads of green woodpeckers a few years ago but do not see them so much these days I hear them tapping every now and then but do not often see them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 I have never seen a Wryneck. Nor have I ever seen a Dartford Warbler, Golden Oriole, Hawfinch, Crossbill or Waxwing. I am not a great 'birder' but I do intend to see some of these before I shuffle off this mortal coil. The Rose coloured starling which came into my garden and the great grey shrike almost make up for the discrepancies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 Been hearing Greater or lesser spotted woodpeckers on and off for the past few weeks in the woodland at the back of my house. Saw a pair flitting about in the big ol' oak tree at end of next doors' garden, - bootiful looking birds- suprised how small they were (think big pair of tits ?(behave) ) Have seen Green Woodpeckers on my mums lawn, she's more in suburbia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 I have never seen a Wryneck. Nor have I ever seen a Dartford Warbler, Golden Oriole, Hawfinch, Crossbill or Waxwing. I am not a great 'birder' but I do intend to see some of these before I shuffle off this mortal coil. The Rose coloured starling which came into my garden and the great grey shrike almost make up for the discrepancies. Saw a Golden oriole aged 10 when at Sunday School in the vicarage at Coln St Aldwyn which got me seriously interested in birding. Wonderful sight I will take with me to my grave. Hawfinch & Crossbills regularly observed in the Forest of Dean at the moment along with a Solitary great Grey Shrike.. http://www.birder.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ We had a big flock of Waxwings on our rowan last year but nothing this year yet..it hasn't been cold enough...to bring the big influx. Never seen a Dartford, or a Rose Starling...but have seen a Roller, and Hoopoe in Norfolk...both of which are wonderful birds. There are some spectacular birds which visit these shores occasionally and the images below illustrate why serious twitchers will go to extremes to view them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben0850 Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 (edited) We have greater woodpeckers (excuse my ignorance but I think they are a pair, one with the red cap and one without) who regularly feed on the nuts in the garden. Without fail we see them most days straight out of the beech wood which surrounds the farm house. Fantastic birds, I could watch them for hours! Edited January 21, 2014 by ben0850 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 Fisherman Mike, where are you from? I've never heard the word Yaffle before, but love it. great name for them. I'm just missing the lesser spotted for the year. There are hardly any this way, so much so that a sighting results in tweets being sent across berkshire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 (edited) Fisherman Mike, where are you from? I've never heard the word Yaffle before, but love it. great name for them. I'm just missing the lesser spotted for the year. There are hardly any this way, so much so that a sighting results in tweets being sent across berkshire. Deepest Gloucestershire..in the Toadsmoor valley between Cirencester and Stroud Edited January 21, 2014 by Fisherman Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smig4373 Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 Fisherman Mike, where are you from? I've never heard the word Yaffle before, but love it. great name for them. I'm just missing the lesser spotted for the year. There are hardly any this way, so much so that a sighting results in tweets being sent across berkshire. As in professor yaffle from bagpuss...plenty of greens down here in Cornwall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chacotawas Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 Up here just south of the Highland Boundary Fault- about Stirling- the greater spotted is not at all uncommon- almost a daily spot in Spring and Summer- or at least the "chick!" call- and a fairly common sight in the winter too. Over the last 20 years I've seen or heard the yaffle on about three occasions only. I've never seen a nuthatch in our woods but one was seen on one occasion by a keen birder then in our employ. Twice had a flock of Waxwings pass through- in the two recent, severe winters. Saw a pair of goldcrests the other day. We used to have three pairs of spotted flycatchers nesting around our place, but then they disappeared for several years, only to return last summer, one pair only. No rarities but one lives in hope! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evo Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 there was two woodpeckers that frequent the wood at the rear of my garden, last year but all of a sudden disappeared, they are the Great Spotted Woodpecker, the one with the bright red on the underside of its belly, I could always hear them knocking away but could never ever see them, anyway they appeared on my squirrel feeder with the peanut butter in it and I could not believe just how small they where, tiny little things but stunning to watch all the same, September came and they totally disappeared, not a sound from them, then this last week I can hear them again but have not seen them on the feeder yet, I,ll try and video them on the feeder, a truelly stunning little bird that brings joy to my daughter every time she sees them, atb Evo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 (edited) The animated puppet woodpecker in the 70/80's children's programme 'Bagpuss' was called Professor Yaffle. Fisherman Mike, where are you from? I've never heard the word Yaffle before, but love it. great name for them. I'm just missing the lesser spotted for the year. There are hardly any this way, so much so that a sighting results in tweets being sent across berkshire. Edited January 22, 2014 by Penelope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 A friend and I watch a Greater Spotted Woodpecker clear out a brood of Blue Tits from a bird box in the garden of his rented house in Great Dunmow, Essex last spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChAoS Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 We have greater woodpeckers (excuse my ignorance but I think they are a pair, one with the red cap and one without) If the *entire* top of the head is red, like a skullcap, then it's a juvenile. they are the Great Spotted Woodpecker tiny little things I wouldn't've described the *Greater* Spotted Woodpecker as a "tiny little thing". It's dove-sized, I suppose. Now the *Lesser* Spotted *is* small. I seemed to remember that it was the size of a Great Tit. I suppose it depends on how large you *expected* them to be... Regards, Mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 My neighbour, Paddy O'tool puts sawdust on his bird table to attract them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four-wheel-drive Posted January 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 My neighbour, Paddy O'tool puts sawdust on his bird table to attract them Yes I do like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 My neighbour, Paddy O'tool puts sawdust on his bird table to attract them Does he live in Chippings Norton ......bom bom.....here all week.! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 The animated puppet woodpecker in the 70/80's children's programme 'Bagpuss' was called Professor Yaffle. ah interesting. I'm a child of '85 and was never into Bagpuss really. Bananaman and Danger Mouse (could you guess?) and maid marion's merry men, but never bagpuss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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