At Moore, perhaps no bird is more appropriately named than the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus minor), for indeed it is not spotted often compared to its larger cousin, the Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus major). Yesterday, word got out that a female LSW had been seen near the Feeding Station and predictably enough, this drew a small crowd early doors.
However, we were treated not to its demure delights, but instead, to cracking views of its much much commoner cousin, the Unspotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus absens). The eight or so birders that were already on site when I arrived around 8:45, had been treated to spectacular views, as too, was I for the next hour and a half.
We paced in teams around the little triangle of trees by the boardwalk enjoying its silent invisibility from all angles and I even snapped it flitting about (below).
Nobody was confident enough to sex it, but I reckon the small silent flock feeding voraciously on homeopathic bugs and grubs in the treetops, among the singing Goldcrests and Treecreepers, numbered perhaps 6-7, mostly males judging from their weight (male Unspotteds are much heavier than females and so make the trees move more...). Regardless, and of course we could debate the validity of the latter assertion, I left the now 16 birders enjoying the sunshine, happy with my three year ticks - Greenfinch, Collared Dove and Sparrowhawk.
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