Green Woodpecker

[chunkychambers]

Terrible shot I know........I've had these birds M+F coming to my garden most days for a couple of years now.
This one came today and was feeding happily and then struck this pose and didn't move for at least 10 mins.......
I thought BOP or cat but none to be seen......after a while it continued to forage, probably for ants, quite normally.
I found the behavior strange so I thought I'd post it and see if anyone had any thoughts.

Paul

EDIT..I didn't realise the shot was this poor!!
The bird is pointing it's bill skywards

[Alan]

Like you say, could be a freeze reflext to a predator. It may have been sat out of site and you couldn't see it!

Also how about listening for other woodies, or its food - ants etc. A long time to listen for them I know, but woody might be hard of hearing

[chunkychambers]

Originally Posted by Alan

Like you say, could be a freeze reflext to a predator. It may have been sat out of site and you couldn't see it!

Also how about listening for other woodies, or its food - ants etc. A long time to listen for them I know, but woody might be hard of hearing

It was the length of time that puzzled me Al........mind you if the preditor was sitting low down, as you say, that might explain it.

[henrya]

Cramp?

henrya

[chunkychambers]

Originally Posted by henrya

Cramp?

henrya

Never thought of that........

[lol geoff]

Used to do that as a kid in the high street after saturday morning pictures....Surprising how quickly a crowd would build up without a clue at what they are looking for.

[glsammy]

I've never seen this behaviour; I wish I could, it might give me a better chance to get nearer! Yesterday was the nearest I've managed so far, here's the best shot I managed. (don't hold you breath, it's rubbish! )

[mrs fish]

Thought I'd join in
Your shot isn't too bad Glsammy.

[Garden Carpet]

Originally Posted by glsammy

I've never seen this behaviour; I wish I could, it might give me a better chance to get nearer! Yesterday was the nearest I've managed so far, here's the best shot I managed. (don't hold you breath, it's rubbish! )

You jest sir!.. I would be most grateful for the chance to take such a pic... you lot are so good you expect too much methinks
jaki

[Ollie]

I think you have all done well to get a shot at all. I often hear them at Messingham reserve, but usually only get a fleeting glimpse as they dissapear into the distance.
Roger

[glsammy]

To give you some idea how close I was when I first saw the bird, you can just about see it in the centre of the frame! Here's an uncropped full frame at the maximum 500mm:





and here's the full frame shot of the flying bird I first posted:




Considering the distance, I don't suppose the close up's too bad, but certainly not good enough for the Gallery.

[Alan]

So did you spot the moorhen before the yaffle Graham?

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by Alan

So did you spot the moorhen before the yaffle Graham?

No! I first spotted the GW as it landed by the moorhen, you can't mistake that coloured rump. Even though I was a long way off, as soon as I took one step nearer it was off, as usual.

[ianrose82]

I can never get near Green Woodies either..this is the best I have: -

[John]

Well I have seen that pose prior to mating, as the next image shows. I took these at Minsmere in May this year. Obviously it's nothing to do with mating in chunkychambers image as there will be no mating going on yet.


Followed by one of the actual mating.


John

[ianrose82]

I will get the hang of posting images here eventually
[IMG][/IMG]

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by John

Well I have seen that pose prior to mating, as the next image shows. I took these at Minsmere in May this year. Obviously it's nothing to do with mating in chunkychambers image as there will be no mating going on yet.


Followed by one of the actual mating.


John

That's just showing off John..
I must admit though, digiscoping is the way to go to get good ground shots of these birds. I did once get a half decent pre DSLR tree shot:

[henrya]

I think chunkychambers' shot shows the GW freezing at some threat (maybe a BOP flew overhead). BWP says a Grey-headed Woodpecker was once observed to freeze for half an hour on a tree trunk and in the behaviour section for GW often says "see account for Grey-headed". Doesn't say much about what they do on the ground for either species.

henrya

[chunkychambers]

Originally Posted by henrya

I think chunkychambers' shot shows the GW freezing at some threat (maybe a BOP flew overhead). BWP says a Grey-headed Woodpecker was once observed to freeze for half an hour on a tree trunk and in the behaviour section for GW often says "see account for Grey-headed". Doesn't say much about what they do on the ground for either species.

henrya

Interesting Henry.....also Johns pics and suggestions were helpful.....
The reason I made the post was that I had never seen this sort of behavior before, even though I see these birds most days.....
The bird froze for approx 10 mins with its bill pointing skywards.......
If, as Henry suggests, a preditor was overhead the GW would have had a cocked head....so the preditor may have been at ground level as Alan suggested, or perhaps another GW in the area prompted the "courtship" pose as John suggested???

Paul.

[cannylad]

I have posted an image of a Green woodpecker in an unusual habitat to bird photographs, hopefully so i could link it to this thread. It does not seem to have appeared anywhere if there was a problem could someone let me know?

[chunkychambers]

Originally Posted by cannylad

I have posted an image of a Green woodpecker in an unusual habitat to bird photographs, hopefully so i could link it to this thread. It does not seem to have appeared anywhere if there was a problem could someone let me know?

Hello mate.....did you post to bird photos or forum??
If you want to use your pic immeadiatly place it in forum otherwise you have to wait until the pic is OKed by a mod

Paul

[henrya]

Originally Posted by chunkychambers

Interesting Henry.....also Johns pics and suggestions were helpful.....
The reason I made the post was that I had never seen this sort of behavior before, even though I see these birds most days.....
The bird froze for approx 10 mins with its bill pointing skywards.......
If, as Henry suggests, a preditor was overhead the GW would have had a cocked head....so the preditor may have been at ground level as Alan suggested, or perhaps another GW in the area prompted the "courtship" pose as John suggested???

Paul.

I'm not sure the freezing posture is intended to keep any eye on the threat, just meant to avoid notice by not moving.

Courtship display would be a bit out of season, but on the other hand I heard Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in my garden on Monday, which seems out of season as well. Has the world gone mad?

henrya