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Woodpecker Chicks (Big Bro and Titch).

alanb

By alanb

43 comments


A week or so ago, Wendy and I were lucky enough to see two Greater Spotted Woodpecker chicks feeding in our garden. Chick 1 was out of the nest a few days earlier than chick 2. Chick 1, initially can be seen with the larger red cap, on the left in photo below.

Chick 1 (Big Bro) and chick 2 (Titch) … stare it out, who is Dad going to feed first? Dad is out of picture on the nut feeder.

Big Bro not impressed by Titches “fly past”.

Titch watches Dad and Big Bro on the peanuts.

“Great view from here”.

Titch still relies on Dad for his food.

“Please Dad, I would like some more”.

“Please Dad, I would like some more”.

“Please Dad, I would like some more”.

“I’m still hungry Dad”.

Big Bro tries to go it alone …..“This isn’t as easy as it looks Dad”.

Dad helps out, until Big Bro gets the hang of it.

Big Bro goes it alone…. on the fat balls this time.

“Dad this coconut shell is rock hard”, “try the other side Big Bro”!

Big Bro looking pensive.

“Time for some exploring, me thinks”.

Oh how exciting!

Nice up here as well. Great view of the mirrors in the garden. Lovely shaded tree, started to rain though.

Big Bro finds a secret food supply, but doesn’t tell Titch.

Thirsty work this exploring.

“Hope you enjoyed the blog…. Happy Gardening everyone.”

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Comments

 

Brilliant photos Alan.

8 Jun, 2014

 

Thanks Treetop.

8 Jun, 2014

 

Fantastic blog, pictures and humor going on my favourites now ;0))

8 Jun, 2014

 

Thanks ever so much Carole. Made my day that you like it.

8 Jun, 2014

 

Smashing photos Alanb, you are lucky to have such interesting birds in your garden,

8 Jun, 2014

 

Stunning photos Alanb

8 Jun, 2014

 

Thanks Snoopdog, Siris and Denise, thoroughly enjoyed the last two weeks watching and photographing the woodpeckers. Glad you liked the blog.

8 Jun, 2014

 

Brilliant photo's Alan, we had one in our garden a few years ago but haven't seen him since, it's a brilliant blog...

8 Jun, 2014

 

love the photos :-) you can see through the photos your enthusiasm which is a joy :-) your attention to detail unique and showing the affectionate nature of these birds
(in feeding) i find very refreshing these birds look very contented and at peace in your garden :-)
thank you very much :-)

8 Jun, 2014

 

You've witnessed something special Alan - something that some of us will never see in a lifetime. Amazing. A real big thank you for taking the time and sharing them with us.

8 Jun, 2014

 

Wonderful photo's so lucky to see that going on in your garden .

8 Jun, 2014

 

Great photographs and love the humorous storyline.

8 Jun, 2014

 

I love this blog too,Alan,and your photo's are fabulous..as are your captions,to tell the story..It's on my favourites too..thank you for posting this.I would never have seen anything like this otherwise..:o)

8 Jun, 2014

 

Just wonderful to see, Alan. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience; we are privileged. As Scottish says, many of us will never see something like this for ourselves. Your commentary makes the blog all the more fun too - going into my favourites now.

8 Jun, 2014

 

Love these, especially the baby's little red hat!

8 Jun, 2014

 

Thank you all for your very kind comments. This is the first year we have witnessed this. Wendy and I realise how lucky we are being able to watch this, for several days on the run. Just to give you an update. The chicks are now self sufficient and look after themselves. I think we will see them one at a time now, for a few more days and then after that, who knows. I am so glad to have been able to photograph events and share them with you. "Happy Gardening" and looking forward to seeing your photos and reading your blogs.

8 Jun, 2014

 

What antics ! Wonderful :o))

8 Jun, 2014

 

Thanks Hywel.

8 Jun, 2014

 

Oh yes I do agree, the photo's are fabulous and your storytelling adds that special touch, very amusing Alan, its gone in my favs as well, its grand having a family like that to watch...Thankyou Alan...

8 Jun, 2014

 

Thanks Sue, glad you enjoyed it. It's been great fun taking the photos and writing the blog.

8 Jun, 2014

 

Lovely blog Alan. Great to watch young birds prospering under dad's careful watch. I wish the blackbirds in our garden were as careful or able to defend young. We don't see woodpeckers, but we do see magpies often and very predatory on the blackbirds.

10 Jun, 2014

 

Brilliant blog. Loved it!

10 Jun, 2014

 

Thank you Dorjac and Digginfit, glad you both enjoyed it.

<]:-))

10 Jun, 2014

 

Great pics Alan. who needs television with entertainment just outside in the garden. I'm so envious:-)

10 Jun, 2014

 

Thanks Bornagain. I quite agree, like any event, much better live, than on the TV.

10 Jun, 2014

 

We've just had a rain storm here ... I would prefer it on tv:-)

10 Jun, 2014

 

Great pics, don't know how you got them - the ones on my balcony fly off at the slightest movement from me inside and I never manage to catch them. Two were having a scuffle on the balcony railings at one point here.

11 Jun, 2014

 

Beautiful beautiful birds how clever to capture them on camera, thanks for the pictures really lovely :O)

11 Jun, 2014

 

Thanks Bamboo and Oliveoil.

Our kitchen window is about 4 metres from the feeder, initially the woodpeckers would disappear at the site of any movement. I found if I left my camera ready to use on the kitchen worktop, I could take some photos without disturbing them. Glad you enjoyed the blog.

11 Jun, 2014

 

Wow!! Wonderful pics. You should really show these on
'I SPY A BIRD' They would really be appreciated, as I really do. You have both made yourselves a wonderful haven for these lovely visitors. Good on you both. We always reap our rewards on doing so. This is the first
pics I have looked at so far of yours, which I viewed with my jaws open as they are amazing.

Well done to the both of you.

24 Jun, 2014

 

Thank you Freesia. Glad you liked them. When I get a little more time I will have a look at the 'I SPY A BIRD SITE'.

26 Jun, 2014

 

Wonderful pics Alan, the best I have ever seen of this lovely bird; for several years we had them as regular visitors to our bird-feeder, I tried to take some good pictures, without much luck, as at the slightest movement, or twitch of a curtain, off they flew!
I did you use a long lens, hiding in the bushes?

David

12 Jul, 2014

 

Thanks for your kind comments David. The feeder is about 4 metres from the kitchen window. My wife has a new digital camera with a good zoom. So when I originally saw the parents coming 30 or 40 times a day, we were hoping that the chicks would come and feed. The rest is history. The chicks are used to movement in the kitchen and are still happily feeding each day as we carry on as normal. It's just fabulous, I know we are really lucky. I must have taken 200 - 300 photos in total, these were just the best. I am hoping to pick three of them and send them off, to see if I can get one of the photos in the Countryfile 2015 calendar.

14 Jul, 2014

 

Thanks Alan, when I looked through the pics again today, my first thought was, they are so good, they
should be be on the Countryfile calendar; I'm glad you you will submit some for this competition. You have so many good pics, you will have a problem chosing one to send!
Good luck
David

15 Jul, 2014

 

Thanks David. Apologies for the delay in replying, I have been at the OPEN golf at Hoylake, for a few days.

18 Jul, 2014

 

Wonderful photos Alan :o)

14 Aug, 2014

 

Oh wow! What beautiful images

14 Aug, 2014

 

Thank you Annie and Wendy.

14 Aug, 2014

 

Wow!!!! Are they on the tame side now? I never see them locally ...just hear them.......3 -4 times in 20 yrs....

18 Aug, 2014

 

Yep, they all visit us everyday, taking it in turns on the nut feeder. They don't even fly off when I tap on the window to chase the pigeons... amazing really.

18 Aug, 2014

 

Well done you ! What a treat to see them feeding babies !
We get them feeding with us in The New Forest and I never get tired of watching them ..
Great pics ..look forward to more in spring !!

11 Jan, 2015

 

Thanks Heucheraholic ... sorry I've only just noticed your reply. Parents and one chick came this year. One at a time though, nothing as fabulous as last year to photograph unfortunately. They still come and feed regularly each day, it's a delight to watch.

3 Jul, 2015

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