Woody

[jasmine]

OH took these photos through the kitchen window so there is a bit of reflection but the woodpecker takes off at the slightest movement so this was better than nothing - he/she didn't like the flash much either.

Operation Woodpecker:

Hop up the pole....



Hop over to the peanut feeder....



Repeat process 2 or 3 times a day!

[emseypop]

What a lovely visitor

[bogmyrtle]

Well done for the photographs, the ones we take through the window are hopeless!

They are lovely birds, we can hear them 'cackling/laughing' for want of a better description across the golf course. There is a way to tell the drumming between the great & lesser spotted as well - it's at home, I'll look it up.

[bogmyrtle]

Found it - with the Great Spotted, the drum fades away towards the end, the Lesser Spotted (much smaller) his drum is fairly consistent to the end.

[jasmine]

I'll have to look both those birds up first Myrtle - not sure which one ours is. I would guess a Greater Spotted.

[bogmyrtle]

www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/g/greatspottedwoodpecker/index.asp#

www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/l/lesserspottedwoodpecker/index.asp

The one we have in our garden in the great one - he is definately blackbird size, and yours looks about that size doesn't he from the photographs? Although the lesser is rare it is more common in your area - if that makes sense!

[jennywren]

Wonderful photo Jasmine - you get some posh visitors in your garden then

[jasmine]

Oh, we're very posh here Jenny! (not!)
I just love all the birds who think the garden is theirs! (Well, it is I suppose). The cheeky robin and Mrs White Feather (that's our resident lady blackbird), she has a very distinct white feather in her tail. She is busy collecting moss for her nest at the moment - where is Mr Blackbird, got his claws up somewhere watching the footie probably.
Thanks for the links Myrtle, ours is a greater spotted, it has a red bottom like the one in your link.

[farmersboy]

We have one of those Jas,a Blackbird with a white feather in its tail,but not seen it for a while,maybe its the same one ;D

[jasmine]

Maybe they're twins FB!
We've had ours for a few years, the hedge needs a good trim but haven't got the heart to get it done til the summer now because her nest is obviously in there.