Pecking Wood

The Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos major, is a wonderful bird. This is a female coming in search of food at the WWF reserve Lago di Alviano:

Great Spotted Woodpecker - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

The signs here have a picture of the male on them. How do I know? Just look at that patch of red on his head:

Picchio Rosso Maggiore - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

I’ve managed to get this close to Great Spotted Woodpeckers before in the UK. Here they are with my photographs and the Ladybird Book of British Birds and their Nests in my previous post:

The Second Ladybird Book of British Birds #12 – The Great Spotted Woodpecker

I love the huge and powerful feet, the long neck and that stiff tail. A magnificent bird to watch in action:

Great Spotted Woodpecker - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Being this close to nature is a privilege.

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