The male G.S.Woodpecker is visiting each day and today we tested how brave he would be by placing the log with mealworms just over a metre away from our feet ! Even though I used the 5D with 300mm (no extender needed ! ) I didn't have need to crop all the photos and those that I did were minimal.
Wasn't till I saw the photos on the computer that I realised he'd been predating ladybirds ! click full screen for better view.
This is a record shot taken on the iPhone to show you where Mike was sitting and the woodpecker - it actually looks further away on the photo than it was for real.
He was really close lol
think he's sticking his tongue out at the camera lol
In this next photo if you view on full screen you will see how long its tongue is and the reason it can grab chicks from the nest box :(
I've got tons of pics of him as you can imagine but will leave it at this
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Regards, Hazel
"Each kindness shown to birds or men is sure to flutter back again"
He's a beauty, Hazel! I wonder if he is a young adult and has not yet learned to avoid humans! He's lucky to have found you!
Kind regards,
Ann
In reply to Gardenbirder:
Wow, I would have had a field day if it had shown like that when I was round Hazel.
Jim
My Pictures
In reply to James:
Thanks Ann & Jim,
@ Ann, He's certainly taking food back to nestlings and I haven't seen the female for a few days so she must be keeping close to the nest; I think the woodpeckers are just so used to us and when mealies are on offer all fear goes out the window lol
James G said: I would have had a field day if it had shown like that when I was round Hazel.
In reply to HAZY:
Cracking shots Hazel I especially like the first one
My Flickr photos
In reply to Alan.:
Cheers Alan, I did a test today to see if the Woodpecker would come close enough to use the macro lens lol ... and he did !! less than a metre max lol
How close do you want him, next test is to see if he'll land on my lap ha ha !!
Even though I'm feeding him live mealies and suet pellets, the naughty boy was at the Nuthatch nesting box earlier; it is stonecrete so can't be destroyed but once the nestlings start growing and jumping up towards the exit hole he'll be able to hook them out with that long sticky tongue :(
Amazing shots, Hazel. Normally, GSW's are quite shy - well for me anyway - but yours are so bold. Who'd have thought you could use a macro lens to get shots like that. Hope he leaves the young Nuthatches alone.
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Regards,Tony
My Flickr Photostream
In reply to TeeJay:
It surprised me too Tony and he keeps coming back; this time I took even closer pics; this is uncropped
and same shot cropped
Mike and I are on nest box watch now the Woodpecker has shown interest in the Nutty nestlings ! thank goodness it's a stonecrete box but he'll try reach in once they are big enough to jump up at the exit hole.
I always find it pleasing when a wild bird (or animal) decides it's not concerned by my presence, whether a LM Robin or Pheasant or whatever but a GSW within macro range is quite special.
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Nige Flickr
In reply to Nigel O:
How lovely to have a wee pal in the Woody Hazel. Would be great if he had enough T confidence to eventuall sit on eat from your, leg, knees, hand! Beautiful photos.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
In reply to Catlady:
Thanks Nigel and Catlady, I was amazed that I could get within a metre of it (or rather it come within a metre of me ) but not sure it will get any closer and to be honest, I don't fancy that large bill pecking a hole in my leg lol