Thursday 19 July 2012

Rare Visitor to My Garden

Do you believer in coincidences? Only this week I was looking at Shirl's great photos and video of a Great Spotted Woodpecker family and thinking I have only seen one once in my garden and that was a very brief visit. Early this morning you could have knocked me down with a feather. There on the peanut feeder near the end of the garden was my very own Great Spotted Woodpecker visitor:

IMG_4513

IMG_4518

Hopefully I also managed to get some video of it. Talk about luck - by the time I had finished the photo session both cameras were flashing warnings that the batteries were nearly exhausted.

12 comments:

  1. Now he's tasted what's on offer, I'm sure he'll be back for more John.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe Keith. The last one never came back though it was a juvenile. Maybe I'll have more luck with this one.

      Delete
  2. Oh, what a treat John! How lovely to have such a special visitor. She is beautiful and you managed some lovely captures. I have seen them in my garden on the very odd occasion. When I commented on Shirl's post yesterday I told her I hadn't managed any photos but looking back at my blog I found I did get one snatched snap in the Spring of last year, mine too was a female. More recently, I spotted one on the feeders one evening but the light was going so no photos. I do hope yours returns and that she becomes a regular visitor...and perhaps brings her family next year...that would be very exciting!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Jan. I always keep the camera set on burst fire these days but don't always remember to keep my finger pressed down. This time I did which was helpful as these were the best of a generally blurred bunch with the feeder was wobbling all over the place. I have never heard one wood-pecking so I don't know how far she had travelled.

      Delete
  3. She is a real beauty. I have only heard them pecking in spring, I assumed they were establishing territory. They like fat balls and peanuts but are very wary. A wonderful visitor.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was great to have her visit Adrian and I was surprised she didn't spot me through the kitchen window.

      Delete
  4. What a beautiful find!!!! That's why I always keep my camera near the birdfeeding window....you never know who is going to show up.:) Nice captures!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was. I try to remember to keep a camera handy. The camcorder is always there but the act of turning it on and lining it up often scares the shy birds away.

      Delete
  5. Nice pictures John! You are indeed very lucky to have such a visitor. Hope she continues to grace your feeders and you get plenty of good views!
    J
    Follow me at HEDGELAND TALES

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you John. Pure luck to be looking at the opportune moment John.

      Delete
  6. Wow John, what a coincidence indeed! Great photos and I suspect we are in for a treat on Friday at the Flicks :-)

    Thanks for the link to my post – Sue left a comment with link to a video her husband captured and it was fat balls that woodpecker was enjoying. Perhaps you have some of them out at the moment too? Enjoy your new visitor :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Shirl. Your excellent post deserved to be linked. Adrian mentioned fat balls. Unfortunately the Starlings demolish them as fast as I put them out.

      Delete

Thank you for visiting. Hope you enjoyed the pictures. Any comment, or correction to any information or identification I get wrong, is most welcome. John

Related Posts with Thumbnails