Woodpecker and masonry bees

[Stephen de Vere]

I saw a great spotted woodpecker this morning on a wall pecking briefly and half-heartedly at the soft lime mortar in between the stones, a few meters from where we have some bee nests in the wall by the front door. We also have masonry bees nesting in the front wall of the cottage and another house across the road is need of repair because so much mortar has come out on some walls affected.

Up until I saw this woodpecker this morning I hadn't even considered that they might be digging out the bee nests in the walls - I had just assumed the mortar was falling out due to the bees tunnelling in in the first place but it makes much more sense that the woodpeckers are involved too.

Anyone know anything about this ?

[Dogghound]

They are very adaptive and this behaviour is of no suprise to me. I have seen them smash the small cane bee nests off walls to get to the grubs inside.

[Stephen de Vere]

Thanks, that's interesting to know.