“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” ....Oscar Wilde

Saturday 28 April 2018

My Sunday Photo... The Greater Spotted Woodpecker

The weather has taken a dip during this last week, which has probably come as a sharp shock to all the wild birds who have been preparing to rear their young. 
I've seen many birds visiting our bird boxes and fear that if any of them have produced eggs already then they may well be an added difficulties in rearing their young.
With this in mind, I've made sure that all the feeders and various food have been replenished daily.
This handsome chap (Greater Spotted Woodpecker) is a frequent visitor to the peanut feeder, as well as the suet and mealworm coconut.
 The great spotted woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker with pied black and white plumage and a red patch on the lower belly. Males and young birds also have red markings on the neck or head.
It was very kind of him to unfold his wings in order to show you his impressive plumage.

I'm linking up once again to Photalife with My Sunday Photo.
Have a great weekend and thanks for your visit.

37 comments:

  1. It must be very disorientating for animals. Hard to believe how drastic a change in weather we have seen from one weekend to the next.

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    1. Absolutely Tim, we've even had a hail shower today. A day when I've just spotted the first swallows! They'll be wondering why they never packed their thermals!

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  2. Hi Denise, I've been hearing all about the weather from my Mum who is holidaying over there at the moment. She seems to be ahving no problem finding food though (at every oppertunity). I love that second photo down, the colourings areso obvious. Hope the weather settles soon.

    xx

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    1. Hi ChirpyDebs, I hope your Mum continues to have a great holiday although the weather is still playing up. Hopefully the food availability will help. We have rain this morning, but can't complain as we haven't seen much rain all spring... unlike some parts of the country.
      Thanks for popping by my place. Have a great week :D

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  3. What wonderful photos of that beautiful bird. Sure he is thankful to your hospitality.
    Have a happy Sunday ❤

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    1. He decided to take the peanut option this morning for breakfast. It's a wet morning so at least it gives them a helping hand until the weather warms up a little. Apparently, this weekend will be better! Have a great week :D

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  4. fantastic photo of the woodpecker with it's wings outstretched #mysundayphoto

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    1. I couldn't believe it when he stretched out his wings. It's great to see his amazing plumage.
      Enjoy your week :D

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  5. Great captures, I don't think I've ever seen one in the wild

    Have a good Sunday.

    Thank you for linking up to #MySundayPhoto

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    1. You've possibly heard them, but they can be difficult to spot...even though they are called The Greater Spotted Woodpecker! Haha couldn't resist sorry.
      I'm lucky that we have had nesting woodpeckers in an old tree in our garden and have had four visible all at once so I know I didn't double count. I feel very lucky to have them.
      Thanks for hosting once again and I hope you have a great week :D

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  6. What beautiful photos, he looks very happy with his find.

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    1. We have three feeding stations dotted around our house with lots of options in the way of food for all types of birds. It costs quite an amount but I love to see so many different types come in so close. It can be very entertaining.
      Thanks for your visit :D

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  7. How utterly beautiful. We heard a woodpecker last weekend but none of us could spot it!

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    1. Thanks Victoria, that's brilliant... they can be difficult to spot. We have our own resident who lives in an old tree in our garden, but I also see them come flying across the farmers field, from the woods to visit our feeders.
      I feel very lucky to have them ;D

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  8. Stunning! You are right about the birds, time to replenish the fat cakes

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    1. Thanks Catherine, I normally feed my birds all year round... which could account for the numbers that visit. I read an article once that said it is helpful to the adult birds trying to feed their broods as it gives them a quick fix of energy so that they can use the energy to find the right food/insects for the babies.
      It seems to work here :D

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  9. My goodness his plumage is impressive. Beautiful

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    1. They certainly catch the eye when they fly in to feed!
      Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a great week :D

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  10. What a beautiful bird...He really is a stunner x

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    1. Isn't he just... and I think he might possibly know it Kim!
      It's great to have them visit and I love to hear them call by their unique tapping on a tree trunk. It reverberates all around. A fantastic sound :D

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  11. His little wingspan is gorgeous and I don’t think I’ve seen this type of woodpecker before. Do you stand very very still to take them?

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    1. I'm lucky to have their trust in visiting our feeders. I have three in total, but this one is at the back of the house overlooking farm fields. My kitchen window is quite near and with my zoom lens I can capture his image. It's a pity its through glass, but there's no way he would stay still if I ventured out to try to photograph him. They are very flighty!
      Have a great week :D

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  12. Stunning pics today, Nessie! He's a handsome guy. Love that shot of him opening his wings! We've had dip in temps also last week. One day 86F next 68F. Mother Nature doesn't know if she's coming or going. Have a wonderful week. Hugs

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    1. I'm glad that you like my little visitor Nan.
      Our weather is up and down like a yoyo! Today we have rain, but it is the first that we've seen for quite some time. The flowers and trees will be grateful. I hope you have a wonderful week too :D

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  13. Gorgeous photos. We have a woodpecker in our nearby woods...Well it certainly sounds like one but we've never seen it yet. A bird feeder is a great idea to spot them close-up.

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    1. You could even put a feeder in the woods for him. You may get lucky.
      We have one living in an old tree in our garden... which is pretty special, but I've also seen them flying all across the farmers field from our nearby woods to our feeders. So it might work to lure them nearer to you. They do say provide the environment and they will come. Good luck and please let me know if you're successful :D

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  14. He is a beauty, what a lovely pair of photos

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    1. I have more Fiona, but I thought these two would just give the amazing plumage of the woodpecker :D

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    2. It certainly shows him off beautifully

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  15. Replies
    1. Happy that you like them Debra,
      Have a wonderful week and thanks for visiting :D

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  16. Gorgeous bird and what great photo captures!
    Happy spring. :)

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    1. Thanks Rita, I was thrilled to get his wind stretch.
      He's a frequent visitor to our feeder. I feel very privileged to have him come to visit.
      Happy spring to you too... we're rather wet this morning, but it's the first rain we've seen for quite some time... so I'll not complain :D

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  17. the weather cant seem to make ups its mind :/ gorgeous bird :D I do hear them sometimes up on the hill but can never see them

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    1. Thanks Jennifer, maybe if you tried putting out a peanut feeder they might come down the hill to visit you. I see some of mine fly right across the farmers field to my feeder. It is quite a distance, but it's obviously worth their while.
      Good luck if you do try :D

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    2. i want to put up a bird feeder, but there just way too many cats on this street for me too :/

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  18. I did not miss our mountain home until I saw this - we had several different sizes of woodpeckers - birds galore but we had to take the feeders in every night because of the the bears. I also planted tons of daffodils in front of our house. Every fall I would put out more - what a glorious show of different hues of yellow. we also had laying hens and like yours - they wee so pretty. They lived in a fenced in yard with out goats.
    Sandy xx

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