I took the camera out at lunchtime today, not expecting too much. The sky was heavily overcast, and there were a few drops of rain threatening. And for about half an hour I was right. All I'd seen were the usual gulls and crows, and a few magpies flitting across the sky.
As I was walking back toward work, a flash of yellow/green caught my eye. I wasn't sure, but I had the feeling I'd seen something I'd been after for a while now. I headed in the direction I'd seen it go, and saw another movement. I was fairly sure by now that it was a Green Woodpecker. Approaching slowly I finally spotted it high in some trees. I was much to far away, but I didn't think I'd get any closer. From the way it had been flitting along, it was easily going to out run me if I tried to approach. So here it is… my first Green Woodpecker.
Green Woodpecker from a great distance
I took a short cut back, making my way past the dew pond. Usually it's devoid of wildlife (at least when I go there), but today there were some crows, and flitting along the edge of the water, a pair of pied wagtails. These are the tiny black and white birds that never keep still. There were at the far side to me, but there's a handy fence for resting on, and I was able to watch quietly as the pair jumped back and forth.
Words
3 Apr 2007Thanks both. It just proved to me that a dull day can be fine.
Andy: The low light probably helped the contrasts on the magpie and the wagtails. Normally the whites get blown. And the wagtails were being very cooperative by staying close to the pond edge.
Adele: I was so pleased with that woody!
Dudley
3 Apr 2007Nice blue magpie flight against a green background, a first sighting of a green woodpecker, then to finish off with – a dance of the pied wagtail :up:
SittingFox
3 Apr 2007Oooh…I'm jealous! 😉 A yaffle. Very nice! :up: And the wagtail certainly did put on a show.
I saw a GSW when out with my Tamron on Saturday, but it flew off at a rate of knots! Ditto some skylarks, another near-impossible species that I keep trying for.
sprogger
4 Apr 2007Great stuff, particularly the magpie in flight.
Flying Red Fox Blog
4 Apr 2007Beautiful photos there Words the Magpie one is my favourite:D I saw two Magpies either trying to mate or fight lol but taking a pic of them was a bit too hard as they were zig zagging in and out of trees so i stuck with theBlue Tit and Great Tit 🙂
ALLY_G
5 Apr 2007What a successful day for you!
Your photo of the flying magpie is great. :yes:
gdare
5 Apr 2007Excellent shot of magpie, the contrast is great and it is sharp so it looks like not flying at all.
volkuro
6 Apr 2007The magpie is wonderful :yes:
and like Andy, I never saw a green woodpecker before… I didn't even know they were existing!