Watch BBC Countryfile tonight, BBC One at 7:15. Woodpecker Network and @lesserspotnet.bsky.social volunteers, Ken and Linda Smith, will be in the New Forest talking about and looking for Woodpeckers.
Pied Sandpiper
@piedsandpiper.bsky.social
Birding noob (New Forest & West Worcestershire)
There are now two more female Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers out in the world! What a joy it’s been to share this patch of woodland with these incredible birds for the last 11 days. Thanks to @lesserspotnet.bsky.social for the guidance. The clearing feels very quiet now! #HantsBirds #NewForest
And away… I must have just missed this little one fledging this morning. She was sat in the adjacent beech for an hour calling to be fed. Soon after she was chasing her mother around further afield. One left to go! #HantsBirds #NewForest @lesserspotnet.bsky.social
Looking for the exits. The LSW chicks are very restless now - sticking their heads out the hole and yelling at their parents. Fecal sacs are no longer being removed. A chance they could fledge today at ≈22 days old. Both appear to be female #HantsBirds #NewForest @lesserspotnet.bsky.social
Two healthy chicks seen this morning - great to see both survived the Jay attack. They’re roughly 18 days old so due to fledge quite soon. The female parent seems to be visiting the nest less often now #HantsBirds #NewForest @lesserspotnet.bsky.social
I fell asleep last night with ringing in my ears. It took a moment to realise it was the sound of LSW chicks. Jaygate is over for now - still at least one chick calling today. We’ll find out how many tomorrow morning #HantsBirds #NewForest @lesserspotnet.bsky.social
The chicks are getting larger and louder now. That was until a Jay stuck its head in the nest cavity tonight. I don’t think it took a chick, at least one still calling, albeit much quieter now. Perhaps it’s the remaining younger chick or just spooked #HantsBirds #NewForest @lesserspotnet.bsky.social
In 2.5 years I had only ever seen a female LSW, even when I found a nest late on Friday as only the female seemed to be visiting. So I was thrilled to see this male turn up on Saturday morning strutting his stuff! #HantsBirds #NewForest @lesserspotnet.bsky.social
All the early February mornings trying to understand a LSW territory paid off today when I finally went looking for nests. Amazingly, this was the last tree on my list! #HantsBirds #NewForest @lesserspotnet.bsky.social
A heavily cropped photo of a Marsh Harrier food pass at RSPB Ham Wall on Monday #SomersetBirds #SomersetLevels
Great day at Shapwick Heath and Ham Wall today with 6 Bearded Tit, 6 Marsh Harrier, 4 Bittern, 4 Black-Tailed Godwit, 1 Crane, 1 Hobby, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Garden Warbler, and 1 Pochard #SomersetBirds #SomersetLevels
I noticed this fledgling Dartford Warbler staring at me from between two leaves on Sunday, so I took a quick snap, stepped back a few paces and watched as the parents stripped caterpillars from bushes and busily fed it. Seemed to be a lot of food available #NewForest #HantsBirds
I’ve seen this female LSW all three mornings I’ve gone out this week at 6:40-7:00am, drumming on a variety of different posts. No sign of a male yet. Is she perhaps an unpaired female looking for a male? Or is this normal behaviour? #NewForest #HantsBirds @lesserspotnet.bsky.social
Great to see my first fledglings of the year yesterday. This Song Thrush was invisible against the leaf litter until it was flushed into some nearby ivy #NewForest #HantsBirds
This ladderback made the early morning worthwhile today! #HantsBirds #NewForest @lesserspotnet.bsky.social
Dartford Warbler calling and pulling caterpillars from gorse bushes this morning #NewForest #HantsBirds
Definitely a male Cirl Bunting this time. Can anyone tell me if the second bird is a female Cirl Bunting or Yellowhammer? #DevonBirds
Male Crossbill at Busketts Lawn today. I love how they give themselves away by sending pine cones crashing to the floor #HantsBirds #NewForest
The Rushpole Wood area was absolutely brimming with Firecrests today. Well over 30 seen/heard on a 5 hour walk, far surpassing Goldcrests and considerably more than I have experienced in the New Forest before #HantsBirds #NewForest #Firecrest
When the sun came out yesterday thousands of insects emerged on Grimley Lakes and the Reed Buntings became very active chasing them down #WorcsBirds
Four Sand Martin dropped into Camp Lane Pits at 3:40pm and then flew back towards the river #WorcsBirds
Highlights at Clifton Pits this afternoon: 33 Lapwing, 24 Pintail, 14 Teal, 7 Tufted, 6 Shelduck, 5 Egyptian Goose, 3 Oyster Catcher, 2 Lesser Scaup, 1 Peregrine, 1 Raven, 1 Red Kite, and 1 Cackling Goose #WorcsBirds
