Friday 8 August 2014

Male Great Spotted Woodpecker at Bearshank Woods.


One of our more enigmatic birds and very flighty which makes them difficult to photograph, but when they are around it is always a delight to hear their '' kick kick '' call alerting you of their presence, if disturbed they will either fly away or spiral around the trunk of the tree they are climbing to hide themselves on the lee side.

On occasions you can however catch them out if you are static and well concealed as was the case with this image.

GSW's use their tongues which are very sticky to probe cavities in the bark of trees to detect and withdraw insects and grubs from their chambers in and below the surface. 

Their tails are fairly  stiff and have a very important function applying leverage and supporting their body movements as they probe for food or drum their beaks on  trees.




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