Nature post of the day 18-4-16 Green woodpecker

@Fleura (32001)
United Kingdom
April 19, 2016 3:10pm CST
Yesterday when walking in the woods I was struck by the number of green woodpeckers around. I couldn’t see them among the trees but I could hear their distinctive laughing calls all around. Even if I had had a camera available I couldn’t have taken a photo as they are really difficult to see in the trees except when they fly away, when it’s too late of course. They spend a lot of time in the open though as they don’t actually peck the trees in their search for food; they mainly eat ants, and the field next to the wood is covered in ant-hills. Even on the ground they are difficult to spot if the grass is long due to their green colour. I do sometimes spot one on the ground but can never get close enough to take a photo before it flies away with a distinctive undulating flight. You can see pictures of them, and hear their call, here: All rights reserved. © copyright Fleur 2016.
Our largest woodpecker spends most of its time on the ground, hunting for ants. Did you know that Professor Yaffle (from Bagpuss) was a green woodpecker?
3 people like this
2 responses
@jaboUK (64350)
• United Kingdom
19 Apr 16
I've never actually seen one of those - you seem to have some lovely walks near you.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (357875)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr 16
I always think getting decent photos of birds is very difficult. They rarely stay still long enough either on the ground or in the trees.