green woodpecker

All free living creatures around our Homes & Gardens - enjoying helping them helping us
Post Reply
User avatar
Mo
Legendary Laner
Posts: 15359
Joined: 30 Apr 2007, 09:39
Location: Cheshire (nr Chester)

green woodpecker

Post by Mo »

My washing-line prop seems to be a favourite perch for birds. The grass under it is splashed white. In the past I've had a buzzard and a long eared owl as well as the regular blackbird and other small birds.
On Saturday it was a green woodpecker, who sat there long enough to be identified as female (no red moustache), looked all around, watched the sky for a minute or two, then flew off with a flash of yellow back.
Dance caller. http://mo-dance-caller.blogspot.co.uk/p/what-i-do.html
Sunny Clucker enjoyed Folk music and song in mid-Cheshire
Gwenoakes
Legendary Laner
Posts: 7325
Joined: 11 Aug 2007, 19:58

Re: green woodpecker

Post by Gwenoakes »

We used to have lots of green woodpeckers at the old house, but not so many at this one. Not sure why though.
They are very attractive birds and it took me a while to identify them as they were hopping across the grass and for some reason :oops: I expected them to be pecking into trees.
User avatar
Mo
Legendary Laner
Posts: 15359
Joined: 30 Apr 2007, 09:39
Location: Cheshire (nr Chester)

Re: green woodpecker

Post by Mo »

Yes, I was surprised that the last one I saw was on the grass in my garden (must have been in winter as I can't see that grass from my window now. the blackcurrant bushes hide it). Looking online it said they find their food in the grass. So they don't peck wood at all.
Dance caller. http://mo-dance-caller.blogspot.co.uk/p/what-i-do.html
Sunny Clucker enjoyed Folk music and song in mid-Cheshire
Gwenoakes
Legendary Laner
Posts: 7325
Joined: 11 Aug 2007, 19:58

Re: green woodpecker

Post by Gwenoakes »

They say that you learn a little something each day and thanks to you, Mo that is my little something for today as I never knew that.
User avatar
Mo
Legendary Laner
Posts: 15359
Joined: 30 Apr 2007, 09:39
Location: Cheshire (nr Chester)

Re: green woodpecker

Post by Mo »

Actually I'm wrong, https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/green-woodpecker/, they do peck wood to make holes to nest in. But they dig in the grass for ants. So likely to be on the ground if it's not nest building time. Don't know what it was looking for on my clothes prop. My Son in law is a keen birder and got quite excited to see it so near.
Dance caller. http://mo-dance-caller.blogspot.co.uk/p/what-i-do.html
Sunny Clucker enjoyed Folk music and song in mid-Cheshire
User avatar
Spreckly
Legendary Laner
Posts: 5822
Joined: 26 Mar 2011, 14:21

Re: green woodpecker

Post by Spreckly »

How fabulous Mo. I have never seen the green woodpecker, only the more common greater spotted, or is it the lesser spotted, and they haven't been around since we stopped feeding the birds, courtesy of my neighbour's rats.
User avatar
wendy
Moderator
Posts: 29794
Joined: 30 Apr 2007, 14:13
Location: Hertfordshire
Contact:

Re: green woodpecker

Post by wendy »

Same with me Spreckly.
Only the spotty ones.
http://www.busheyk9.co.uk

If you can't be a good example........
you will just have to be a horrible warning
User avatar
Mo
Legendary Laner
Posts: 15359
Joined: 30 Apr 2007, 09:39
Location: Cheshire (nr Chester)

Re: green woodpecker

Post by Mo »

Another for my washing line list, though on the line itself, not the prop. 2 long tail tits. One of my favourite birds.

And another bird that I have seen for the first time - thanks to my daughter and SIL. We stood in a forest clearing last night and heard and saw nightjars flying round. some came overhead. Rachel reckoned they were attracted by the midges that surrounded us as we stood still. Last week when they went they also saw woodcock, so were hoping to show me that, they made me listen to a recording of the call - Dave heard several, and pointed one out as it flew away. I had heard a bit of its call but wouldn't have known that was what I'd seen - he said he only knew by the call. Better ears than mine.
Dance caller. http://mo-dance-caller.blogspot.co.uk/p/what-i-do.html
Sunny Clucker enjoyed Folk music and song in mid-Cheshire
User avatar
Mo
Legendary Laner
Posts: 15359
Joined: 30 Apr 2007, 09:39
Location: Cheshire (nr Chester)

Re: green woodpecker

Post by Mo »

Dave has better eyes than mine too. They invited me on another walk yesterday and spotted another 'first' for me. Not exactly a bird this time - a humming bird hawk moth. All I could see was a small orange wing flapping fast, then it stopped to take nectar and it did look very like a humming bird (not that I've seen a humming bird either).
Dance caller. http://mo-dance-caller.blogspot.co.uk/p/what-i-do.html
Sunny Clucker enjoyed Folk music and song in mid-Cheshire
Gwenoakes
Legendary Laner
Posts: 7325
Joined: 11 Aug 2007, 19:58

Re: green woodpecker

Post by Gwenoakes »

This is uncanny as I have just this morning seen a Green Woodpecker on the Silver Birch tree this time.
Like I said before I have not seen one for a while and then today he/she was there, but did not stay long.
I am not keen on moths, not sure why and it does not matter how pretty they are, still want to run away, been like it all my life that I can remember.
User avatar
Mo
Legendary Laner
Posts: 15359
Joined: 30 Apr 2007, 09:39
Location: Cheshire (nr Chester)

Re: green woodpecker

Post by Mo »

Just moths? What about the ones that fly by day and look like butterflies? Do you stay to identify them or run just in case?
Dance caller. http://mo-dance-caller.blogspot.co.uk/p/what-i-do.html
Sunny Clucker enjoyed Folk music and song in mid-Cheshire
Gwenoakes
Legendary Laner
Posts: 7325
Joined: 11 Aug 2007, 19:58

Re: green woodpecker

Post by Gwenoakes »

Now that is a question and a half.
I do not run away in the day, but definitely do not get too close either. Don't get me wrong I do like to see them both in the day and night, just not up too close and personal. LOL
User avatar
Richard
Lord Lane of Down...... Site Owner
Posts: 30037
Joined: 26 Apr 2007, 22:48
Gender: Male
Location: Ashford, Kent, UK

Re: green woodpecker

Post by Richard »

Here's one I took earlier.

[center]Image[/center]

)t' )t'
New Member? Get more from the Forum and join in 'Members Chat' - you're very welcome
User avatar
Mo
Legendary Laner
Posts: 15359
Joined: 30 Apr 2007, 09:39
Location: Cheshire (nr Chester)

Re: green woodpecker

Post by Mo »

Very clear. )like(
Dance caller. http://mo-dance-caller.blogspot.co.uk/p/what-i-do.html
Sunny Clucker enjoyed Folk music and song in mid-Cheshire
Post Reply