Topic
Topic ID 6438
21/02/2012 by Arty
Woody Woodpecker
Heard a Woodpecker hammering away at some distant, defenceless tree this morning in Bengeo. Shouldn't it be sunning itself in warmer climes during February, or has global warming affected migration patterns this year?[8D]
Replies
Reply ID 86461
21/02/2012 by Golden
Arty the woodpeckers are resident in the UK. As you heard the drumming sound its more likely to be a greater or lesser spotted woodpecker. I've been feeding a pair who visit my garden for many years and they're generally getting more common.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/families/woodpeckers.aspx
Reply ID 86462
21/02/2012 by Marilyn
We have had a Green Woodpecker in and out of the garden all winter. He has been trying for something, grubs/ ants etc in the lawn .
Reply ID 86463
21/02/2012 by Louis M
quote:
Originally posted by Marilyn
We have had a Green Woodpecker in and out of the garden all winter. He has been trying for something, grubs/ ants etc in the lawn .
I though that when they peck they are making holes to place seeds etc into ready for winter. Dont they do this with acorns and then hammer them into the tree?
Reply ID 86465
21/02/2012 by Drama Queen
From my Girl Guide Birdwatching Badge days I can tell you woodpeckers are trying to get grubs out of dying or decaying trees... Thus the importance of not always chopping down dead trees if they are not endangering anyone. I have the common woodpecker and the Lesser Spotted both hammering at some dead dutch elms at the bottom of my garden.. must be something there they like [:D]
Reply ID 86468
21/02/2012 by CSP
... and if I'm not vigilant the green woodpeckers will peck nice round holes in my hives and eat my bees.
Reply ID 86469
21/02/2012 by SallyB
The woodpecker in the Temple Fields Copse started weeks ago. It is early - he normally waits until March as far as I remember.
Reply ID 86470
21/02/2012 by Razor
I thought the hammering was a territorial thing?
Reply ID 86475
22/02/2012 by Marilyn
They may be pecking holes to bury things but I have never seen them with anything to bury and it is usally winter rather than autumn. Don't really know just that he turns up!
I thought the hammering in trees was to get bugs etc from the trees and also terratorial and to impress the opposite sex but that could all be wrong as well. Need to do more research on them. Just love the colour that green body with the splash of bright red.
Thinking about it he is probably digging for the nuts buried by the squirrel's
Reply ID 86481
22/02/2012 by Roddy
quote:
Originally posted by Marilyn
They may be pecking holes to bury things but I have never seen them with anything to bury and it is usally winter rather than autumn. Don't really know just that he turns up!
I thought the hammering in trees was to get bugs etc from the trees and also terratorial and to impress the opposite sex but that could all be wrong as well. Need to do more research on them. Just love the colour that green body with the splash of bright red.
Thinking about it he is probably digging for the nuts buried by the squirrel's
Hitting your head against a tree is normally the effect of the opposite sex......or is that just me!
Reply ID 86485
22/02/2012 by Marilyn
quote:
Originally posted by Roddy
Hitting your head against a tree is normally the effect of the opposite sex......or is that just me!
It def is for the green woodpecker.................he is making a hole for his partner!!
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/g/greenwoodpecker/index.aspx
Say it is ants they are after in our lawn............
Reply ID 86507
23/02/2012 by spacepirate
Heard one yesterday in Blakemore Wood.
11 replies