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.

My Sunday Photo... The Greater Spotted Woodpecker

With spring on it's way (hopefully) the sound of local woodpeckers reverberats all around our garden and nearby woods. 

It really is an incredible sound!

Here's on enjoying the peanuts from one of my feeders.

About blackbird-sized and striking black-and-white. 

It has a very distinctive bouncing flight and spends most of its time clinging to tree trunks and branches, often trying to hide on the side away from the observer. 

Its presence is often announced by its loud call or by its distinctive spring 'drumming' display. 

The male has a distinctive red patch on the back of the head and young birds have a red crown.

Great spotted woodpeckers can be seen in woodlands, especially with mature broad-leaved trees, although mature conifers will support them. 
They can also be found in parks and large gardens. 
They will come to peanut feeders and bird tables. 
Not found in the far North of Scotland, although we have four woodpeckers visiting us. 
Only a handful of pairs nest in Ireland, but numbers are increasing. 
Common in England and Wales.

The sound of the woodpecker

(courtesy of James Taft Published on Jul 6, 2008)

I'm linking up as usual with My Sunday Photo over at Photalife.com

I hope you have a wonderful weekend

Thanks for visiting and I hope to see you again soon.

My Sunday Photo & Sunday Sketches... Firecrest

As I mentioned in my post yesterday, it's been a rather busy week with lots of appointments, hence I haven't been able to get out and about with my camera.

What I have managed to do though, was to complete my watercolour painting of a Firecrest. 

Click here if you'd like to know more or to see the various stages of my painting.

It seems appropriate that I should show photographs of birds this week, as I will be taking part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch later today. 

Anyway here's my painting... (it was rather late when I took this photo so it appears a little darker than it really is. I may take another photo when it's lighter and replace it so that you can see the real colours)

I saw a brilliant photograph on the BBC's Winterwatch programme this week, which inspired me to want to paint a Firecrest.

(Credit: Photo by Ian Redman)

I've also managed to snatch a few pics of some of my bird visitors, but I hope to see far more later when I fill up the feeding stations.

Unfortunately, this shot of the Bluetit was taken through my kitchen window. 

We are lucky to have three Greater Spotted Woodpeckers around our garden... there used to be four, but I'm not sure what happened to the fourth. 

Best not dwell on that.

If you are taking part in the bird count... good luck and I hope you have lots of amazing visitors.

Have fun.

Once again I'm linking up with Photalife

and Alexandra's Sunday Sketches
If you'd like to see lots of more great photography or art, then just click on the links above. 

Thanks for visiting my place. 

I'm aware that not everyone loves art and birds so I promise to bring you something a little different soon. Like for instance the two foxes frolicking and having fun in the field next to our garden this afternoon. They were completely oblivious to me watching them.

Could this be the start of spring shenanigans? 

Enjoy your Sunday and I hope to see you again soon.

My Sunday Photo... The Greater Spotted Woodpecker

We are having an abundance of bird visitors right now. 

I'd love to show you them all up close, but unfortunately I need to purchase a zoom lens first. 

It's been on my 'to do' list since Christmas, when I was presented with a new camera. 

One visitor that I'm particularly pleased to see returning this summer is the Yellowhammer. 

I haven't managed to obtain a decent photo yet, but here's the RSPB website if you'd like to see details plus a little video... click here

Yesterday I thought that we had lost one of our Greater Spotted Woodpecker friends, because I found one little fella on the floor looking slightly dazed. 

(I'd cleaned my windows the day before and as usual the birds seem to want to wreck my handy-work by flinging themselves straight into them, leaving a perfect imprint on the glass). 

I checked the little chap hadn't broken his neck or wing and retreated to watch, whilst ensuring that the neighbours cat didn't come calling. 

After quite some time when he hadn't moved, I thought he might need some water, so I carefully approached... which made him take fright and he flew away... off to the woods.

Note to self: Don't bother cleaning windows... that way I'm doing my bit for nature! 

That'll do for me

Here's he is or possibly one of his relatives!

As usual I'm linking up with  'My Sunday Photo' with Photoalife, Wordless (on Tuesday at image-in-ing)and Mersad over at Through my lens

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, full of fun.

Thanks for popping by and I hope to see you all again soon.