Finally! Snapped a pic of a Woodpecker!

[Horsewhisper]

For Spotty, Stiff, DJK99, KrazyKat, Lueann and everyone else enjoying the bird and animal posts - a Woodpecker has been swooping down every evening to grab a few nuts and then disappears quickly. It stayed for a while giving us enough time to click the iPhone into a zoom lens and snap away! It’s magnified 36 times through a window, so not great picture quality. We think it’s a lady Woodpecker! Hopefully a few more types of birdie will come and visit so we can snap them too. Enjoy!

[happytulip]

Amazing photos!!

[Horsewhisper in reply to happytulip]

Thanks HT - lots of pleasure derived from the garden at the moment xx

[DJK99]

Oh wow! How cute is that! I’m guessing it’s quite rare to have these in gardens? Thanks so much for posting - please keep them coming! xx

[Horsewhisper in reply to DJK99]

Hi D! I think the numbers have increased over the years and they are becoming more and more attracted to garden feeders. We’ve had both green and great spotted Woodpeckers in the garden over the years, but it’s only during lockdown that we’ve noticed and taken more of an interest - plenty of time to sit and look out of the window! They are also incredibly quick and seem quite shy, so tricky to pap them. Hope you are doing ok? Xx

[DJK99 in reply to Horsewhisper]

That's great to hear you've had so many! I'm sitting here just off my terrace with the doors open watching our town's Swifts screaming by - they're so close to my terrace! I think they love the heat.. and considering they come all the way from Africa to breed I hope it's good for the babies too. They've really declined in recent decades too - I remember them from 1976 (the hot one!) when I moved to the country from London with my folks and was mesmerised by them every night as I watched them scream round the house during the amazing sunsets they often have in that locality. If I've told you this before,please forgive.. it's hot!

I'm OK I guess - lots of health things going on annoyingly - my hernia has come out again after and op a couple of years back and it's much worse/painful, just above my tummy button - this is all due to my GI tract stuff. It's pretty bad... I look pregnant most of the time... with a grimace! Buscopan prescribed on phone by lovely GP the other week helps as I was up all night in major pain most nights for weeks.. but only marginally. Waiting for urgent appointment from the Gastro team.

And today... (tada!!)..I'm going OUT for the first time for an urgent eye hospital assessment due to "severe narrow angles/risk glaucoma". My pa had glaucoma and the optician was quite worried when she saw the er, angles, last September.. the referral got lost in between GP's in my move last October so had to be rereferred. Anyway apparently there are only12 patients a day at the hospital - usually 250! I'm going by hospital transport thankfully as they'll be wearing PPE and disinfect the cabs each day (hopefully each journey!) but I'm guessing not... who knows. I have to go anyway as this will probably need urgent procedure which a friend of mine who has had it said isn't too bad at all. Fingers crossed. I guess will have to go back for that but hey ho.

I've also noticed a lot more rashes on my trunk,like I get on my hands - and nasty ones on my arms now, and weird things too - red dots... I think that's been on one of the posts.. very strange.

My back/hips (and all over) is awful - spasms majorly off and on throughout day - with a loud "uggggh!" from me.. the MRI said something about bone marrow coming out all over the place and C this and C that and the other issues but amazing to be still walking...well barely half the time! I'm lucky really, could be so much worse I know -it's up and down. My knee seems to have gone too - on theright hand side of my left knee - I thought I had knelt on a large piece of glass the other week when getting up from doing my stretches but couldn't find anything! Now it happens all the time so I have to be very careful when bending/getting in an out of bed/dressing etc. i looked it all up and think I know what it is - will talk to my rheumy about it. Presume it's all related?!

This heat is a bit challenging eh? How are you coping? My hands are not happy at all in the day, and well, at night...awful, but that's the usual for me. I keep waking up feeling my elbows, forearms and hands have been crushed ie the bones and muscles and tendons. I have to take more pain killers and wait for it to get easier. I guess it's just because we use them more to do things? I don't know.

How is your sjogrens in this weather?! My eyes are quite bad at night... several applications carbomer each night as wake up and they're all sticking to eyelid. I keep meaning to leave a wet rag by my bed as it might help. Drinking even more too! Gasp! I take it you are still doing the 2litre regimen! I think the bod gets used to it and you'd really feel it if you stopped. Are the family still doing it?

Oooer -I've gone on again. Well, I hope you are managing as OK as possible... I know it's pretty difficult for you now...I hope the methotrexate does wonders...I'm a huge fan. It's clear how much it does when I come off it...!! Good to hear the fam' are stepping up to the plate with tons of help..

Right -I better get ready as the hospital transport could come soon. Please keep posting the pics -it cheers many of us up no end! xx

[Horsewhisper in reply to DJK99]

Hi D - sorry to hear you've had a time of it on the health front, it seems you have a lot to contend with at the moment. So much to juggle all at the same time - it's almost like a part-time job sorting out prescriptions, dosette box (yes I have succumbed!) noting down appointments, planning the logistics to attend them and then taking on board the outcomes and what it all means in the overall health picture. No wonder we suffer from fatigue! Certainly not helped by the restrictions and caution we have to exercise when attending a medical appointment. I hope the eye appointment goes ok - always such a worry, no matter which part of the bod is affected. I'm still squirting the carbomer in at night - otherwise I wake up looking like I've slept face down in a pile of sand! As for the water, we are still chugging back the 2L flagons daily - even more so in this hot weather. Teen daughter has noticed a difference with her skin and her PMT bloat, so shes happy to keep downing the H2O. I am wondering whether this whole lockdown thing has affected us Lupies a bit more than usual - the long term effects of uncertainty and what the future holds for us in terms of getting back into normal life. It has knocked me for 6 with an almighty great flare, so I have just had to "stop" and yes that means disappearing for a sleep whenever I feel like it and doing the things that are essential and activities that give me pleasure - so housework has taken a back seat, ( I can live with a bit of dust and dog hair around the place, don't have any visitors anyway!) But in it's place a lot of bird watching and general animal and plant care is going on. All good for well being and all self-prescribed!! Anyway, keep us posted as to your progress, I do hope you get some respite soon enough, big hugs xx

[svfarmer]

What a brilliant picture - when ever the woodpecker comes for nuts in our garden by the time you get your phone out to take a photo they fly off - a couple of years ago we were incredibly lucky to have witnessed a Woodpecker with her baby woodpecker- the baby one was clinging onto our parasol ☂️ and the mum would fly into the nuts and then back again to feed the baby - I’ve never seen anything so amazing in my life x

[Horsewhisper in reply to svfarmer]

What a lovely story! We think this is a lady as she doesn’t have the red markings on her head - so maybe she will bring a baby out one evening too! They are so fast and in true twitcher fashion, we have the iphone lens permanently set up on the dining room table ready to pap whoever flies into the garden! We need to stock up the bird table and spread some seed on the ground so that we can attract some different types of feeders. Will keep you posted! Xx

[svfarmer in reply to Horsewhisper]

Perhaps that’s what we need to do x

[stiff19]

Wow fantastic you got a pic, we have woodpecker but always too high to photograph 😂 that’s a great pic lovely to see closer and well done for getting it as they are real shy normally, or our one here is👍 I’m sure you will get many more types, be prepared 😂👍 and look forward to what comes next 👍

[Horsewhisper in reply to stiff19]

Thank you stiff! It was really exciting to see her spend so long (well about 5 mins) on the feeder. This has definitely brought out the twitcher in me - that I never knew I had! Will post some more birdie pics as and when we get them! Would love to snap the buzzard - too high and too far away - but maybe one day..just one day... xx

[Krazykat26]

Thank u for sharing HW 🤗

What fabulous pics!!

I lived in a horsebox for a few years n I used to hang a bird feeder just outside our window..hanging off the side of the truck..n I was very fortunate to have a spotted woodpecker visiting at one particular spot (we were staying in a wood at the time)..it was a regular visitor n so close I could see all of its markings!! So thank u again for sharing coz it's bought back a fond memory for me!!

Happy twitching!! 🌈😽😽Xx

[Horsewhisper in reply to Krazykat26]

Thanks KK! I never realised lockdown had an upside! Definitely will twitch some more! Gosh you must have been so close to the woodpecker, whilst in the woods, what a treat! Xx

[dunwoodyrex]

Great photo. Yes Mrs. Great Spotted Woodpecker (no red on nape). Had a family of 6 Blue Tits in garden this morning, youngsters chasing the adults, persistently begging for food. I love the animal/ bird posts as well.

[Horsewhisper in reply to dunwoodyrex]

What fun to watch the little ones chasing the adults - we have really noticed the different behaviours in the birdie community! Courting pigeons on the roof ridge and finally Mr Blackbird won over his lady with an elaborate dance! So funny to watch! Will try and snap some more!

[KayHimm]

Love these woodpeckers! I don’t get to see them. Thanks you.

XK

[Horsewhisper in reply to KayHimm]

Thanks Kay - they have such beautiful plumage - I’ll see if we can snap the green woodpecker too xx

[KayHimm in reply to Horsewhisper]

Thanks. I need all the photos of beautiful birds I get. They are such a contrast to the unrest in my city. Xk

[Horsewhisper in reply to KayHimm]

Yes indeed - it is staggering what is going on in the world at the moment. I'll see what I can do! Hope you are keeping well amongst all of the unrest. xx

[KayHimm in reply to Horsewhisper]

Yes, thanks so much. Doing fine. I have the COVID antibodies so let’s hope it means immunity. This unrest is very scary.

Going out for coffee and a walk.

You stay well too. 🌷

XK

[maggielee]

Hi HW

We too have had visits from a magnificent woodpecker to our peanut & fat ball feeders...what a treat....

Asked (texted) my neighbours who are intune with their birds & have the trees to support woodpeckers & they said the bigger, brighter ones were the females & the less colourful the male...Ours was very vibrant so assuming a female, they have 2 females & 1 male...so ours is probably theirs just feeding...

A good said that the swallows about her easel in a barn have given birth & the geese nearby, so exciting time...m

[Horsewhisper in reply to maggielee]

Sounds like you have a lot of birdie activity going on around you too! I let the swallows nest in the stables in the summer, I really don’t mind the mess they make as I would rather they had a safe place for raising their young. Are they Canadian geese or domestic ones? Xx

[maggielee in reply to Horsewhisper]

The picture sent by my friend was of Canadian Geese, the pair had four and are down to one size of a duck now(picked off by birds of prey, I assuming not foxes, not sure where they were staying at night but big enough to be out & about)...

I know that they are not good for our local geese population, but love to hear their call & see their flight formation....I am a sucker for the film 'Fly Away Home' maybe on this afternoon 🙂....a happy story....

ml

[Horsewhisper in reply to maggielee]

I'll look out for that birdie film - be nice to watch one with a happy ending at the moment!

xx

[GloomyEeyore]

Great photos! Had a lot of birds visiting here but no woodpeckers. Mainly starlings, sparrows, blackbirds and pigeons. Oh and Russell, the crow that comes daily for his little bit cheese! Did have a chaffinch the other day but haven’t seen it again. Really great watching them in the birdbath! Starlings go in in multiple numbers and they are so funny to watch! Eight at once yesterday! Six times the birdbath had to be refilled!

[Horsewhisper in reply to GloomyEeyore]

Thirsty birds - especially in this weather! Love your crow’s Christian name! 😂Is he ruggedly handsome?! Crows apparently can become attached to people and they can recognise faces? We had one called Mr Edelweiss who followed me about outside for years, he sadly became unwell (and he was probably quite old) so he knocked on the front door with his beak, we let him into the porch and he settled down to sleep for the night. The next morning he hopped out, headed for his favourite bush and passed away. We felt so blessed that he spent his last night close to us and in the warm. Lovely to hear your stories xx

[GloomyEeyore in reply to Horsewhisper]

Wouldn’t say ruggedly handsome, bit ragged maybe! 😂 There is another one who sometimes appears with him. Called that one Cheryl! Such a nice story about Mr Edelweiss. Must have felt very safe and secure with you to settle down in your porch. Sad that he passed away but at least he spent his last night safe and warm. Xx

[Horsewhisper in reply to GloomyEeyore]

Loving the Crow names! Xx

[Spotty-ewe]

Well done Horsewhisper. 👏🏻👏🏻 Smashing shots of the greater spotted woodpecker, I think a female as I can’t see a red spot on the back of the head, unless it can’t be seen at that angle, in which case it would be a male. Sorry, you’ll know all that already, just thinking out loud.

Your iPhone zoom lense has done a brilliant job! 👍🏻👍🏻 Thanks for posting, and I hope to see many more to come. 🤗x

[Horsewhisper in reply to Spotty-ewe]

Thanks everso Spotty - yes quite pleased with the zoom lens and hoping to get some more!

xx

[Spotty-ewe in reply to Horsewhisper]

Looking forward to it! 🤗😘x

[maggielee]

Tried to photograph our woodpecker hanging upside down on the fatball feeder...my shot was too blurry to share...

But lovely to see while I was cooking dinner 😁....ml

[Horsewhisper in reply to maggielee]

Great! They are a bit tricky to snap as they move so fast! A nice distraction from cooking dinner I should think! That's my excuse for sitting at the table for longer and to let the rest of the family clear away, so I can watch the birdies! xx

[Willow1414]

So lovely to see , I have woodpeckers in the woods opposite my house .

I hear them , not yet seen any of them .

Might see if I can get hold of some second hand binoculars .

I have a woodland view , lots of oak and silver birch . I seen all sorts of wonderful birds this year while sat in my shady porch .

🦋❤️

[Horsewhisper in reply to Willow1414]

Great to sit and watch them - I think with lockdown they seem to be more in abundance, or is it that we have more time to notice them? A bit of both probably! xx

[honeybug]

👏👏👏♥️♥️♥️🥰🥰🥰

[Ieuann133]

Oh my word, that has made my day!!! Sorry, been AWOL... getting into healthunlocked is such a faff that I gave up but the lovely DJK99 got in touch.

That is a stunning bird... we heard one in the garden about two weeks ago but I couldn’t see it....

Isn’t it bizarre to think this lockdown started at the end of March. Hope that you are well! Now I am here, I will select a photo to bring a smile to your faces

Love to you all xx