I spent a wet morning at the Foret d'Isseaux in mid May but no luck. Not surprising there really. This forest is absolutely huge, so a good amount of time will be needed. I hope others have better sites for you.
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white-backed woodpecker (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter Steve Babbs
- Start date
I spent a wet morning at the Foret d'Isseaux in mid May but no luck. Not surprising there really. This forest is absolutely huge, so a good amount of time will be needed. I hope others have better sites for you.
rosbifs
PutAin STOP
The birds are only usually vocal in spring and when they fledge. In mid May they are sat on chicks (they fledge the last week of May) and are silent.
I was taken to a nest in the Foret Isseaux and can quite honestly say that even though the nest was directly above a path I would never have seen the birds!! The adults came back to the nest every 10 minutes, only once together, and only made a noise maybe two or three times in about 1 1/2 hours.
The site (as of last year) noted by Gosney is no longer in a current territory. Despite saying all that around these woods White Backed are more numerous that the Great Spotted Wood. Likewise in the woods you will only see Sharpei Green (Spannish).
In short try around the woods but it depends how much time you have to commit to them and how lucky you are!!
I was taken to a nest in the Foret Isseaux and can quite honestly say that even though the nest was directly above a path I would never have seen the birds!! The adults came back to the nest every 10 minutes, only once together, and only made a noise maybe two or three times in about 1 1/2 hours.
The site (as of last year) noted by Gosney is no longer in a current territory. Despite saying all that around these woods White Backed are more numerous that the Great Spotted Wood. Likewise in the woods you will only see Sharpei Green (Spannish).
In short try around the woods but it depends how much time you have to commit to them and how lucky you are!!
rosbifs
PutAin STOP
I have one very bad photo. They are the same as Spannish birds and the same sub-species as Italy (ilfordi).
Interstingly the name has changed here from White-backed (pic a dos blanc) to Ilfordi Woodpecker (pic ilfordi) in recent years.
Yes when searching with the 'parc national' a tape was used - roche. the pattern was play for 2 mintues then listen for 10 - move on and then repeat. This year all of the woods in my valley we checked in this manner - with one contact.
I have used a mixture of roche and drumming recordings from the internet - if i'm in a wood with internet reception.
Interstingly the name has changed here from White-backed (pic a dos blanc) to Ilfordi Woodpecker (pic ilfordi) in recent years.
Yes when searching with the 'parc national' a tape was used - roche. the pattern was play for 2 mintues then listen for 10 - move on and then repeat. This year all of the woods in my valley we checked in this manner - with one contact.
I have used a mixture of roche and drumming recordings from the internet - if i'm in a wood with internet reception.
James Lowther
Well-known member
Hi Rosbifs,
isn't it "lilfordi" rather than "ilfordi"?
cheers,
James
isn't it "lilfordi" rather than "ilfordi"?
cheers,
James
Larry Lade
Moderator
Avibase - The World Bird Database has this listing, http://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/species.jsp?lang=EN&avibaseid=4633D9B477B5AA0E for the White-backed Woodpecker, Dendrocopos leucotos lilfordi .
* Note that Dendrocopos leucotos lilfordi is listed as one of the subspecies of Dendrocopos leucoto.
** I am not sure just how current Avibase is on this issue.
* Note that Dendrocopos leucotos lilfordi is listed as one of the subspecies of Dendrocopos leucoto.
** I am not sure just how current Avibase is on this issue.
James Lowther
Well-known member
lilfordi is touted as a potential future split but as far as i know none of the main authorities have adopted it yet.. maybe dutch birding association?
Jame
Jame
stevefrance64
Butterfly, bird and flora nutter
According to this site from 1911 to date ( I am a member, now logged off so do not take any notice of the header) http://www.faune-aquitaine.org/inde...tChoice=DATA&sp_FMapFormat=none&submit=Search
The the White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos) has never been seen in Aquitaine
The the White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos) has never been seen in Aquitaine
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rosbifs
PutAin STOP
http://www.atlas-ornitho.fr/index.p...iesFilter=&frmSpecies=339&frmDisplay=Affichez
http://gopa64.free.fr/index.html
the home page has a good picture of the Lilfordi - might have to wait for it to scroll through
http://gopa64.free.fr/pages/casseurdos9.html
part way down discusses the nesting characteristics of the Woody
Our bird groupd down here has adopted the name 'Pic de Lilfordi' - don't know how official that is in the birding wider world. This happened after this issue of the casseur d'os...
http://gopa64.free.fr/index.html
the home page has a good picture of the Lilfordi - might have to wait for it to scroll through
http://gopa64.free.fr/pages/casseurdos9.html
part way down discusses the nesting characteristics of the Woody
Our bird groupd down here has adopted the name 'Pic de Lilfordi' - don't know how official that is in the birding wider world. This happened after this issue of the casseur d'os...
Larry Lade
Moderator
Sorry I was not able to get too much from your URLs as I do not know French.
stevefrance64
Butterfly, bird and flora nutter
A crap translation of http://gopa64.free.fr/pages/casseurdos9.html
Characteristics of nest trees in the White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos lilfordi in the French western Pyrenees
Jean-Louis Grangé
Based on 76 nests, we analyze the characteristics of trees and nesting cavities in the White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos lilfordi in the French western Pyrenees by various parameters. The selected species is beech Fagus sylvatica (one nest found on a tree), with an average height of 20.5 m with an average diameter of 45.8 cm, 77% of nest trees are in good health condition . The cavity is drilled to an average height of 14.2 m with an average trunk diameter at the cavity 27.7 cm, predominant north and south exposures. The lodge is built in the upper half of the tree in 77% of cases. A different lodge is carved into each nest, sometimes on a tree already containing from 1 to 2. A broad literature review was performed for lilfordi taxa and leucotos on this dimension of the niche, where it appears that some elements are very stable (in particular the characteristics related to the cavity itself) in all regions, this being due to the phylogenetic proximity. Other more variable elements (especially the parameters related to nest trees) reflect adaptations to different forest environments dynamic sylvogéniques.
Re http://www.atlas-ornitho.fr/index.ph...splay=Affichez no official confirmation of a sighting for years
Characteristics of nest trees in the White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos lilfordi in the French western Pyrenees
Jean-Louis Grangé
Based on 76 nests, we analyze the characteristics of trees and nesting cavities in the White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos lilfordi in the French western Pyrenees by various parameters. The selected species is beech Fagus sylvatica (one nest found on a tree), with an average height of 20.5 m with an average diameter of 45.8 cm, 77% of nest trees are in good health condition . The cavity is drilled to an average height of 14.2 m with an average trunk diameter at the cavity 27.7 cm, predominant north and south exposures. The lodge is built in the upper half of the tree in 77% of cases. A different lodge is carved into each nest, sometimes on a tree already containing from 1 to 2. A broad literature review was performed for lilfordi taxa and leucotos on this dimension of the niche, where it appears that some elements are very stable (in particular the characteristics related to the cavity itself) in all regions, this being due to the phylogenetic proximity. Other more variable elements (especially the parameters related to nest trees) reflect adaptations to different forest environments dynamic sylvogéniques.
Re http://www.atlas-ornitho.fr/index.ph...splay=Affichez no official confirmation of a sighting for years
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Larry Lade
Moderator
Thanks for the translation Steve.
rosbifs
PutAin STOP
I don't understand the atlas saying no 'official' sightings for years. There are estimates of 300 pairs in the french pyrenees. Nests are regularly surveyed and watched by the 'local' bird groups, parc national and the 'foret' staff.
SteveFrance64 You are in White Backed central according to your map. Around Iraty, Forest Lourdios, Arudy they out number the Great Spot in any beach wood of significance...
SteveFrance64 You are in White Backed central according to your map. Around Iraty, Forest Lourdios, Arudy they out number the Great Spot in any beach wood of significance...
stevefrance64
Butterfly, bird and flora nutter
.atlas-ornitho.fr shows no breeding for the last couple of years here
Your possibly right I am 35 kilometres as the crow flies whilst my interest is Butterflies I keep my eyes and ears open but in the last 8 years have never come across this elusive creature despite regular forays at high altitude, these forests are primeval and at high angles, I reckon many areas have never been visited by humans let alone surveyed
Steve
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Simon Wates
Well-known member
According to the Spanish breeding atlas 1998-2002 the population in Spain occupies some 1,300 sq kms and holds an estimated 78-95 pairs:
StevePreddy
Well-known member
Hi
I'm looking into Pyrenean White-backed Woodpecker sites for a possible trip in March, and from this thread and others have found some useful details - thanks everyone.
I have some questions, and wondered if any of you can help?
First, the consensus seems to be that on the Spanish side, Irati is THE site. It's a big site though - over 10km long from Orbaizeta in the west to Ochagavia in the east. Is anyone able to narrow down the area I should search in? I've heard that the area around the northern arm of the Embalse is good. This is right in the centre of the forest - is it possible to drive there, or if not, which entrance would give the shortest walk to get there. Are there other areas withiin Irati which are also worth checking?
Second, while Irati is clearly in the heart of the woodpecker's Spanish range, the atlas page that Simon posted seems to suggest that the population density is higher to the west (west of Roncesvalles) and highest to the east (Larra-Belagua, north of Isaba). Does anyone have experience of searching in these areas and can you recommend any specific locations?
Finally, are there likely to be any weather-related accessibility issues in March, or are the forests low enough to escape?
I'm looking into Pyrenean White-backed Woodpecker sites for a possible trip in March, and from this thread and others have found some useful details - thanks everyone.
I have some questions, and wondered if any of you can help?
First, the consensus seems to be that on the Spanish side, Irati is THE site. It's a big site though - over 10km long from Orbaizeta in the west to Ochagavia in the east. Is anyone able to narrow down the area I should search in? I've heard that the area around the northern arm of the Embalse is good. This is right in the centre of the forest - is it possible to drive there, or if not, which entrance would give the shortest walk to get there. Are there other areas withiin Irati which are also worth checking?
Second, while Irati is clearly in the heart of the woodpecker's Spanish range, the atlas page that Simon posted seems to suggest that the population density is higher to the west (west of Roncesvalles) and highest to the east (Larra-Belagua, north of Isaba). Does anyone have experience of searching in these areas and can you recommend any specific locations?
Finally, are there likely to be any weather-related accessibility issues in March, or are the forests low enough to escape?
rosbifs
PutAin STOP
one of steve wests reports - itinaries.
http://www.birdinginspain.com/sites...nd-ori/birding-in-selva-de-irati-and-ori.html
ps take a recording of their drumming - they're not that interested in their call...
http://www.birdinginspain.com/sites...nd-ori/birding-in-selva-de-irati-and-ori.html
ps take a recording of their drumming - they're not that interested in their call...
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StevePreddy
Well-known member
Thanks rosbifs, that's useful.
