David Element

Wildlife Photography

and Digital Video Images

_________________________________________ Birds 8

            GREAT-SPOTTED WOODPECKER Dendrocopos major (m)

          LESSER-SPOTTED WOODPECKER Dendrocopos minor (m)

                                     GREEN WOODPECKER Picus viridis (m)

                                                LITTLE OWL Athene noctua

• Of the three native British woodpeckers the Lesser-spotted is by far the most difficult to locate. This small and normally inconspicuous bird spends much of its time foraging amongst the higher branches and twigs of tall trees and it is becoming increasingly rare. The male in the photograph was feeding on an Alder Alnus glutinosus at not much above head height, so this was an unusually privileged view. Quite why this species is in decline is something of a mystery as both Great-spotted and Green Woodpeckers appear to have increased their numbers in response to more enlightened forest management practices (i.e. the retention of some dead wood and protection of native species) during recent years. Adult male woodpeckers of all three species have more red markings on their heads than the females and this makes the process of identifying the sexes relatively easy.

• Little Owls were artificially introduced to the UK. They are predominantly diurnal and rather small when compared with the more familiar Tawny Owl Strix aluco. As may be seen from the photograph they can be difficult to spot when perching close to the trunk of a tree.

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