Woodpeckers

[Sam_swfc123]

Hello. Does anyone no a good place to see a woodpecker fairly close up in Sheffield? And where can you see all three species together in Sheffield? Thank you

Sam winslow

[nigel_b]

I'm not an expert but we saw a greater spotted woodpecker on a peanut feeder in a cafe car park earlier this afternoon. Any patch of woodland could be productive to be honest. Stop still and listen out for the tapping.

The green woodpecker might be a little more difficult. They like to feed on the ground but you're more likely to see them flying away as you approach to be honest. I've found, and this is by no means scientific, that they seem to be more approachable early evening. I'm not sure why this is.

The lesser spotted woodpecker will be much harded to spot. They lurk about in the top of the canopy. Good luck with that one!

[shenk1]

Old Moor rspb Barnsley have regular Green and Greater Spotted but haven't heard lesser mentioned.(Get Greater Spotted in our garden and less often the Greens and we're not far away)
shenk1

[thebeard]

learn the calls of the birds, walk around local nature reserves/woodland and listen out for them, then its a case of going back until you see the lot! i've found i hear greens a lot more than seeing them, and its often the sound that first alerts me to their presence. same with GSWs also!

i saw greens and greater spotteds at potteric carr near doncaster when i went, you can get good views of the GSWs from the willow pool hide as they come to feed on the bird table as shown below (taken at 200mm focal length, to get an idea of how close it was) There are lesser spotted woodpeckers there too, but i didn't see any when i went, or ever in my life!

[Melus]

If you don't mind travelling 20 miles its worth a visit to Sherwood Forest NNR, Edwinstowe, North Notts. Plenty of GSW and Green Woodpecker and one of the best places in Notts to see Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. GSW are drumming like mad at the moment and I heard a LSW drumming yesterday. A 15 minute walk from the carpark at Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre will get you onto Budby South Forest for Woodlark, Crossbill and Stonechat. Green Woodpecker is almost a certainty on the heath.

Regards
Gary

[SheffieldLass]

Woodland near Agden Reservoir and around Dale Dike Reservoir - greater, green are usually around and about, you shouldn't need to search too hard (just keep your ears open) and if you are very lucky, lesser. Lesser are there, just very discrete. And Loxley Valley and Wharnecliffe Woods have all three. And I think all three are found around Broomhead Reservoir too - certainly greater and green are there. If you can get your hands on a copy of one of the recent Sheffield Bird Study Group (SBSG) booklets it will give you places where they can be found. Not sure if the SBSG Breeding Bird Atlas has been published yet, which will be much more comprehensive.

[Sam_swfc123]

Thank you for all your comments they have been a great help, thank you.

Sam