Clever Greater Spotted Woodpecker

[nigel_b]

I found this clever female woodie last week and went back for some photos today. She's using a cleft in a dangling branch to hold pine cones while she pecks away in them for grubs.

I had the great priviledge today of watching her bring a new one in, trap it against the tree with her breast, pick the old one up and literally throw it over her shoulder before jamming the new one in the cleft.



Hopefully my new lens will be here in a few days and I can get some better quality pics.

[Dogghound]

This is actually quite common behaviour for GSW it is known as a woodpecker anvil. They feed on the seeds within the cone not insects, these seeds form a large part of their winter diet. They work on one side then turn it around and work on the other side, they are very clever birds, its great behaviour to see, well observed.

[nigel_b]

Seeds. Not grubs. Glad I posted it, thanks.