Wishing you all the happiest of New Year's and wonderful birding days in the year to come. After a brief trip to the U.K. for Christmas, we are back in Alvor and looking forward to another couple of months here in the Algarve. On most New Year's Days, I would be attempting to get my Year List off to a good start but not so this morning. There was a real treat in store for me, as our friends Chris and Sue have recently found a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker preparing a nest hole - in their garden! This is a great bird to have in any garden and the prospect of a breeding pair is excellent news, particularly in this part of the Algarve. All the work is being carried out by a female bird with only occasional visits from the male, although he can be heard 'drumming' not far away. This female 'Lesser' is preparing the nest hole for anything up to four hours at a time, continually chipping away, with only the shortest of rests in a nearby tree. There is a little wear on the woodpecker's back feathers as it reaches further into the newly formed hole. The female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker lacks the red crown of the male and is entirely black and white. From a different angle, the woodpecker pauses to assess the construction so far! A real delight, watching this small woodpecker at work.
Cheryl Hewins
1/1/2022 09:48:39 pm
Really enjoyed reading that Nigel. Lucky you Comments are closed.
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