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07-05-2006, 12:00 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 5,688
| | | Being in the right place at the right time.
On the 26/04/06 I decided to go to Dunwich Heath and then Minsmere for the day. I went on my own because dogs are not allowed on the reserve and I wanted to spend as much time on the reserve as possible. I had a wonderful day and found many birds that were new for the year for me but the best moment was when I was walking back from the Island Mere Hide to the Bittern Hide.
If anyone knows where I mean you will know that there is a grassy area on your left as you walk back from the I.M Hide. As I walked alongside this area I watched a male Green Woodpecker feeding on the ground and it looked quite settled, so I tried for some photos. I clicked off the first then imagine my surprise when a female landed close by. I then witnessed something I have never seen before (and perhaps not many people have either) and that was a prelude to the pair mating. Talk about being in the right place at the right time but I even managed to capture them with my camera. I can't think of many people that have actually witnessed a pair of Green Woodpeckers mating never mind taking photos of it, so below are some of the photos I took.
Picture 1 is of the male
No. 2 is the female
3rd picture has the male at the back and picture's 4 & 5 tell their own story. 
What a magical moment to capture and the very next day I managed to capture a pair of Avocets mating as well, but that is another story.
John |
07-05-2006, 12:08 PM
|  | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,089
| | | Re: Being in the right place at the right time.
Bet you were grinning from ear to ear. ww |
07-05-2006, 12:19 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 905
| | | Re: Being in the right place at the right time.
Brilliant John - as you say right place, right time but nevertheless what a coup.
Tink |
07-05-2006, 12:24 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Lincolnshire
Posts: 6,415
| | | Re: Being in the right place at the right time.
An excellent series of photographs John and behaviour caught on camera that very few people will have witnessed. Thanks for sharing this moment with us and I look forward to seeing and reading more from your Norfolk holiday.
Ollie |
07-05-2006, 01:13 PM
|  | Frozen | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N.E. Lincolnshire
Posts: 4,130
| | | Re: Being in the right place at the right time.
Brilliant, and as you say, I bet not many people have seen this  |
07-05-2006, 02:44 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Crawley,Sussex
Posts: 943
| | | Re: Being in the right place at the right time.
Nice pics John.
I only ever see these birds singly so you seeing a pair and them doing naughties and you catching them on camera............not bad at all. |
07-05-2006, 04:15 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Banbury, Oxfordshire
Posts: 551
| | | Re: Being in the right place at the right time.
Many moments with wildlife seem to be about being in the right place at the right time, so how come im never there at that time?!!
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You don't need eyes to see, you need vision |
07-05-2006, 04:24 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 5,688
| | | Re: Being in the right place at the right time.
Quote: |
Originally Posted by pheonix Many moments with wildlife seem to be about being in the right place at the right time, so how come im never there at that time?!! | Well, if you were there then I wouldn't be. Can't have that can we.
John |
07-05-2006, 06:01 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N.E.SOMERSET
Posts: 6,404
| | | Re: Being in the right place at the right time.
love it but is this voyourisem?
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You cannot maintain an ecology, if you lose any of the pieces. |
07-05-2006, 06:35 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 4,179
| | | Re: Being in the right place at the right time.
I know what you mean Nightshade - I felt a bit awkward getting within a few inches of this pair! http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ga...mage-9143.html
Matt |
07-05-2006, 06:47 PM
| | Frozen | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N.E. Lincolnshire
Posts: 4,130
| | | Re: Being in the right place at the right time.
Quote: |
Originally Posted by matt_xyz | Yes but were you blushing  or grinning at the time, or were you just concentraiting on the technical aspects of the shot Matt  |
07-05-2006, 07:14 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 4,179
| | | Re: Being in the right place at the right time.
I was ever the professional and concentrated on the technical aspects of the shot. I then sheepishly thanked them, apologised for the interruption, and told them to carry on.
Matt |
07-05-2006, 07:19 PM
| | Frozen | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N.E. Lincolnshire
Posts: 4,130
| | | Re: Being in the right place at the right time.
Quote: |
Originally Posted by matt_xyz I was ever the professional and concentrated on the technical aspects of the shot. I then sheepishly thanked them, apologised for the interruption, and told them to carry on.
Matt | Them insects, ever the professionals |
07-05-2006, 07:31 PM
|  | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Staffordshire
Posts: 442
| | | Re: Being in the right place at the right time.
A very unique encounter John
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Best Regards
Paul |
07-05-2006, 07:48 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Little village called Chedworth
Posts: 4,605
| | | Re: Being in the right place at the right time.
I love Dunwich Heath and minsmere area esp slightly out of tourist season etc,
I had a right place right time moment today (but not in Suffolk sadly!) I was walking beside the Thames at Lechade with some friends and their dog, my one friend was a few steps ahead of us when he pointed out a tern passing overhead, at which point the tern um well 'turned' in mid flight wheeling a verticle 360 before plunging into the water 'gannet stylee' less than six feet away and totally vanishing beneath the surface for what must only have been a split second but was long enough for me to think ... did that really happen? is there really a tern under there... before bursting back out of the water a slippery silver fish firmly clamped in it's beak and rapidly swallowed. Amazing right there in front of me! Fab I did have my camera on me but a) it was out of battery, b) there's no way I would've been quick enough!!
Ace shots of the woodpeckers very lucky. It's those unreal bright white eyes that get me every time!  |
07-05-2006, 08:33 PM
|  | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: London, UK
Posts: 294
| | | Re: Being in the right place at the right time.
Fantastic, John.
A rare sight, and fascinating.
#3 looks like part of a display, but (if it's not too voyeuristic to ask ) was there much more to it?
Jerry |
07-05-2006, 09:37 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 5,688
| | | Re: Being in the right place at the right time.
Quote: |
Originally Posted by jerryh Fantastic, John.
A rare sight, and fascinating.
#3 looks like part of a display, but (if it's not too voyeuristic to ask ) was there much more to it?
Jerry | That was just about it regarding a display. Within seconds he was onto her and I just had time for three quick shots before it was all over and they went their seperate ways.
John |
09-05-2006, 07:06 PM
| | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: London, UK
Posts: 294
| | | Re: Being in the right place at the right time.
Thanks, John. |
09-05-2006, 08:56 PM
|  | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Nottingham
Posts: 11,410
| | | Re: Being in the right place at the right time.
Superb as usual John..What a sight! I've been lucky with some of mine, but I would swap some to have witnessed this. | |
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