Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (1 Viewer)

[mark clements]

Female, in garden of house on Holt Road, between Dereham and North Elmham, this AM at 6.00 ish. Just north of Gorgate lane.
It flew off as I stopped, towards Hoe Common, but I could not relocate.
Definite on ID, it's a species I grew up with in New Forest, only seen one in four years in Norfolk.
Harry

 

[Boogieshrew]

Nice find. Good to hear there still in Norfolk. Haven’t seen one for years but I haven’t been seeking them out either.

 

[Louis_P]

ooooo, I will look next time I head that way. Thanks for the tip off.

 

[mark clements]

So, has anyone else seen similar?
I have been out but not retraced it.
I am genuinely familiar with the species, from age 8 or 9, and saw the distinct black and whitey / buff ladder back with red patch on head. about 2/3 size of GSW.
Even through certainty I am now doubting myself. What else could it have been?
Cheers
H

 

[PYRTLE]

Only you can determine your sighting I'm afraid. The surrounding habitat is perfect for the species if it is still hanging on. Given you wrote that it was a female, you must have seen the bird well. All I can offer to support your report is that about ten years ago I saw one on a garden feeder in East Berkshire at the end of June, well away from any known sites - the County recorder had seen one in flight less than a mile away, only a few hours earlier that day, whilst birding Slough Sewage Farm.

 

[Louis_P]

I've always thought a Lesser Spot or two could hide in the Wensum Valley. Some of the habitat I've seen along the valley looks good for them (although I am yet to see a Lesser Spot in my life) and occasionally one or two appear at Sculthorpe.

 

[dwatsonbirder]

A female LSW doesn't have red on the head, only the male does. If seen from a moving vehicle could you safely exclude a juv GSW?

I've only seen the species in direct comparison with GSW once, in Poland, but I would ascertain they are approximately just over half the size, certainly considerably smaller. I'm a bit out of date with the distribution in the county as it's nearly a decade since I moved away, but I understand the species is confined primarily to the Brecks, with a few territories in the Wensum/Yare and possibly Glaven valleys. Certainly a difficult bird to see in Norfolk away from the Santon Downham area.

It could be worth staking out suitable areas in Feb/March next year to locate a drumming bird.

 

[mark clements]

A female LSW doesn't have red on the head, only the male does. If seen from a moving vehicle could you safely exclude a juv GSW?

Thats a good point:
a) it was from a car, and
b) when I wrote up on Monday, I was defo for female
c) memory is shouting red head, so can't have been female or misremembering

Defo too small fo GSW, we have quite a few around and the juveniles all look bigger.

Will keep looking.

 

[mark clements]

Only you can determine your sighting I'm afraid. The surrounding habitat is perfect for the species if it is still hanging on. Given you wrote that it was a female, you must have seen the bird well. All I can offer to support your report is that about ten years ago I saw one on a garden feeder in East Berkshire at the end of June, well away from any known sites - the County recorder had seen one in flight less than a mile away, only a few hours earlier that day, whilst birding Slough Sewage Farm.

Old age and doubt... both b*st*rds ... kicking in. 8-P

 

[Louis_P]

As far as I know, there's only been a maximum of two pairs in recent years, a pair in the Brecks and occasionally a pair elsewhere.

 

[Hornchurch]

So, has anyone else seen similar?

I am yet to see a Lesser Spot in my life) and occasionally one or two appear at Sculthorpe.

A female LSW doesn't have red on the head, only the male does...

'


Mark, et al....

I've had a Male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker climbing my balcony rail, less than 4ft from my 7ft tall plate-glass (double-glazed) balcony bedroom doors/windows, just 12 days ago !

(Feb' 2020)

I was looking out (across the fields), towards the bird-feeding station on my balcony.

To my utter surprise, this cheeky-chappie came slowly climbing-up the wrought-iron decorative railing

(On the straight, upright, 100% vertical section)

It was around 8.00am & he'd clearly seen the other birds using it
(feeding station - It's attached firmly to the 15-16ft long wrought-iron rail)

No curtains, just straight-glass, so I had a truly FANTASTIC view.

He was there for about 2-mins, just under, but well over 90-seconds upwards.

I've got two Great-Tits there now, as I type this.

Incidentally, yeah, I'm in North Norfolk & just further down the A.148 from Sculthorpe, but it's far more wooded, here.

My Father has a wooded acre, which backs onto the back of the house...

Have seen several here (curiously, always Male), ascending both Silver Birch & Scots Pine**
**(at the back, because the front, overlooks extensive farmland & wooded lanes)

Laughably, one fine viewing, was after (Ahem), 'losing weight' !!!!!!

Leaving the bathroom, I merely opened the louvres & there he was (another L.S.W).

So, they're NOT an uncommon sight here, but sightings CAN be patchy.

The Male who appeared 12-days ago, was SO close, I literally coulda reached-out & touched him !

I've had Goldfinch & Bullfinch here, too - But he's THE first L.S.W I've seen this year.

Wish I'd had my camera to hand, as his appearance just caught me totally off guard.

If I see any more, soonish, I'll holler.

(P.S, I was at Sculthorpe this time last week, as they held an IPMS show, by the Exhibition-Hall)

.

 

[SueBryan]

'


Mark, et al....

I've had a Male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker climbing my balcony rail, less than 4ft from my 7ft tall plate-glass (double-glazed) balcony bedroom doors/windows, just 12 days ago !

(Feb' 2020)

I was looking out (across the fields), towards the bird-feeding station on my balcony.

To my utter surprise, this cheeky-chappie came slowly climbing-up the wrought-iron decorative railing

(On the straight, upright, 100% vertical section)

It was around 8.00am & he'd clearly seen the other birds using it
(feeding station - It's attached firmly to the 15-16ft long wrought-iron rail)

No curtains, just straight-glass, so I had a truly FANTASTIC view.

He was there for about 2-mins, just under, but well over 90-seconds upwards.

I've got two Great-Tits there now, as I type this.

Incidentally, yeah, I'm in North Norfolk & just further down the A.148 from Sculthorpe, but it's far more wooded, here.

My Father has a wooded acre, which backs onto the back of the house...

Have seen several here (curiously, always Male), ascending both Silver Birch & Scots Pine**
**(at the back, because the front, overlooks extensive farmland & wooded lanes)

Laughably, one fine viewing, was after (Ahem), 'losing weight' !!!!!!

Leaving the bathroom, I merely opened the louvres & there he was (another L.S.W).

So, they're NOT an uncommon sight here, but sightings CAN be patchy.

The Male who appeared 12-days ago, was SO close, I literally coulda reached-out & touched him !

I've had Goldfinch & Bullfinch here, too - But he's THE first L.S.W I've seen this year.

Wish I'd had my camera to hand, as his appearance just caught me totally off guard.

If I see any more, soonish, I'll holler.

(P.S, I was at Sculthorpe this time last week, as they held an IPMS show, by the Exhibition-Hall)

.

Hi Kevin

I live at the back of you and have often seen Great Spotted Woodpeckers here over the last 20 years but have never seen a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker here. Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers are now extremely scarce in Norfolk. If you could take a photograph of it next time you see one that would be fantastic as I would love to see it.

Thanks Sue