Woodpecker sighting

The first ever sighting of a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER took place well over a year ago.  Sadly, this special moment was not captured on camera.
Imagine my delight as I peered out the window this afternoon and saw this beautiful bird feeding away at one of the feeders.
Although not the greatest of pictures - I have managed to capture him this time......

Great Spotted Woodpecker (dendrocopos major)

I'm calling him a he because as he flew away - I was able to see a red colouring on his head.  Only male or juvenille woodpeckers have a red patch of feather on their head.

A few days ago I gave mention to Blacky the Blackbird and the fact that he had returned.  The Blackbird seems to have been a very elusive visitor to the garden this last few months.  Yesterday afternoon, as Blacky stood proudly on a neighbour's shed - another blackbird hopped around the borders in search of food.  It was difficult to tell whether it was a a female or a juvenille as both are very similar in colouring.  So the question is - was he watching his prospective mate or keeping an eye on one of his brood?

Blackbird (turdus merula)

Disguised in amoungst the SPARROWS was a young rather tubby ROBIN hopping it's way around the base of the bird feeder.  Yet to have matured enough to show off it's red breast, it was a bit harder to spot in a sea of brown feathers.

There has been a couple of fleeting visits from a female bullfinch this week - she didn't stay long though. Being rather secretive birds - it's not often I see them around the garden picking for food amongst the other birds.

I must say that I am rather pleased that my new bird feeder - which allows me to put out a bigger variety of goodies for the birds - is enticing in these 'strangers'.

Apologies again for the quality of the pictures - the best I could do being indoors as I did not want to take a risk in chasing them away before I was able to record.

  

Woodpecker Wednesday!

First visit of the year from the Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major).  He is not a regular visitor, I am lucky if he appears on more than 2 or 3 occasions during the winter.  He is always alone and has never brought his mate with him.  We call him Woodrow.

He always takes me by surprise and has me scrambling about like a mad woman for the camera, which inevitably, is always minus the memory card at the exact time he appears!

For more information on this UK Native bird, the link above will take you to the RSPB website.

Don't forget the RSPB's Big Garden Bird Watch 2015 will take place on the weekend of  24-25 January 2015.  You can find out more and register here.  It's a fun activity for the kids too!   Take an hour from your day, count the birds and learn about the birds visiting your garden. Last year over half a million people took part and recorded over 7 million birds.