Great Spotted Woodpecker Behaviour and a patch walk (1 Viewer)

Yesterday on my patch walk I encountered two very agitated Great Spotted Woodpeckers. They were in a small wood and, obviously not very happy with me, kept flying round and round shrieking, returning to the same spot several times. In my experience GSW's usually fly off when approached. The only time I have seen something similar was last spring, we we disturbed a pair feeding young in a nest. One of the birds I met yesterday was definitely an adult but the other could have been juvenile or adult. Is it much too late for GSW chicks still to be in the nest? Was this a still-dependent youngster? The GSWs in my garden all appear to have lost their red crowns.

Thoughts appreciated.

The other highlights of my patch walk yesterday, in glorious sunshine, were two Treecreepers, two Kestrels (one chased out of a tree by Rooks), a Sparrowhawk soaring like a Buzzard (had me fooled for a while because we have some locally), four Green Woodpeckers and the first Brambling of the season.

Hi Pat.
I've no answer for you re the strange activity of the GSW's, but I would like to say what smashing birds you managed to see. Who wants quantity when you can get quality like that. Thanks for making me envious. LOL!!

Baz.