Hi there
I have have had one sighting of a Male Green Woodpecker in my last garden this year. The bird stayed for a few minutes and no more, and then moved on.
They are not bird feeder birds so their diet is based on eating ants and insects from our lawn areas. I heard lots of 'Yaffling' calls going in the park near to the house.
Anyone been so lucky to see them at all in their garden areas at all?
Is there a way of encouraging them to get closer to us?
I know I have placed out plant pots onto earth. After a few weeks, I look underneath the pots to find little ants colonies that the Green Woodpeckers would go mad for.
Anyone had experiences of Green Woodpeckers that they would like to share.
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Kezmo, so glad you fulfilled one of your goals and saw a woodpecker in your garden and of course, caught it on camera.
Hi Brenda
Nice to see you back, hope you had a good Christmas and New Year
Darnit woodpecker hasn't been back or not that I noticed - I have been looking out for it perhaps he's been popping in when I've popped out!
Kerry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kezmo6310/
Hi Blackbird &Kezmo
Just discovered your thread on Green Woodpeckers and thought I'd add my tuppence worth.
A few weeks ago before the big freeze set in I had an unexpected visit from a green woodpecker. He must have stayed for at least 15 mins giving me the chance to take quite a few photos albeit through the kitchen window.
He gave my lawn a thorough working over although quite what he was finding I don't know because I wouldn't have thought there would have been ants around at that time of year. He was constantly looking up for threats from above - maybe from red kites which are often overhead. Anyway, here's a couple of pics from the many I took.
I think it's a male because of the red cheek.
I've just remembered I'd taken a video with my point and shoot camera which I'd just left on my computer. It's much too big to post on the forum so I have taken the plunge and signed up for an account on YouTube. After a couple of attempts of not really knowing what I was doing I managed to convert it and upload it. Not too bad, I thought, for a silver surfer. Here's the link:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geycnr6t_TY
To be honest it's a pretty rubbish video (no threat to Simon King) but if you can put up with the wobbles, lack of focus and reflections from the kitchen window then it does show what a vibrant, powerful and vigorous bird the green woodpecker is.
Cheers
Tony
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My Flickr Photostream
PS. to my previous post. I didn't know how to make the link to the video into a hyperlink so if you want to look at it you'll have to copy the link and paste it into your browser.
If you edit the post, highlight it then click on the chain to create a live link, it *should* work... ;-)
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
My photos on Flickr
Hi Tony,
Lovely photos, and your video is excellent. Well done for working out how to upload it.
You are right, it is a vibrant bird, and no wonder he had to keep a watchful eye out for predators with that colouring. He is clearly digging for something, but didn't seem to have been very successful!
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Yes, just had a look at the video! Nice one! Great pics too! I love their blue eyes!
Wow, that was quick. Thanks Marjus. Have edited it and it seems to work.
T
Hi Tony
Excellent! Loved your photos and your video - you captured your GW really well. They are wonderful birds to see up close - thanks for posting this. Brilliant!
He's back (I thnk I can see some red in the 'tache)
He really was giving it the full beans this afternoon - there was just enough of a thaw to let him hammer his beak into the "lawn" (LOL) and get his lunch - there was grass and bits of mud everywhere!
Shot through the window so apols for image quality