Feeling jet lagged after our travels we took a wander up the back lane to try and keep awake. We heard the insistent pleading “chook chook chook” of a baby woodpecker and tried to work out where it was coming from. We identified the tree, right next to the lane and saw a woodpecker flying away from it. So the next morning, in better light I went back to take photographs with the big lens.
This is Mum approaching the nest hole. ( Females have no red on their heads.)She was very wary so I stepped even further back to the far edge of the road. I watched her come and feed the chick.
The Dad was taking his turn feeding too. Notice the red marking on the back of his head. I wondered if it was the same male I’d seen previously at our garden peanut feeder.
In between feeds the chick was poking his or her head out the hole.
A few days later I went back up the lane for another look but there were no begging calls and no sign of the family. I reckoned the chick must have fledged. Sure enough, it was seen being fed in both my next door neighbours’ gardens. Then some drama …the youngster flew into a window and knocked itself out. My neighbour picked it up and held it in his hand as it lay stunned.
After a few minutes the fledgling began to come round a bit and sat up. My neighbour tried to put it down on the earth but it kept a tight grip on his hand. As you can imagine, its talons are very sharp, ideal for climbing trees.
Then we were relieved to see it suddenly fly off. I saw it the next day in my other neighbour’s garden, thankfully none the worse for its experience. It was wonderful getting to see this striking bird close up. Lets hope it stays striking in the aesthetic sense and doesn’t strike glass again.
Sarah's Wildlife Watch 