Great spotted woodpecker aggression

[Little Firewall]

Today I saw a Great spotted woodpecker chase and fly after a blackbird along some branches in a tree. It pecked the blackbird a couple of times and flew away a few yards then came back and did it again. I say it was a blackbird but it could very well have been a starling, although I don't think so. It was in our neighbour's garden and I was looking through the window so was not very close. I got a couple of shots of them but they are very very poor so it would not be worthwhile uploading them. Is this behaviour normal?

[Kymba]

It could possibley be a territory thing.. But am not sure. Most birds will protect their area quite aggressively..

[RobSutton]

Originally Posted by Kymba

It could possibley be a territory thing.. But am not sure. Most birds will protect their area quite aggressively..

Our Great-spotted Woodpeckers have just started drumming first thing in the morning which is a sign that they are establishing territories so you could be right.