This is another colourful bird, and one that you will hear more often than you see. Listen out for it knocking on the trees.
The great spotted woodpecker is about the same size as a blackbird, but is very colourful. It has a white, cream, black, and brown body with a red undertail. Males and younger birds have a red cap on their head. It can be seen - if you are lucky - at any time of year. You may sometimes see the related green woodpecker.
The woodpecker feeds on insects, seeds, and nuts. It can typically be seen clinging to the trunk of a tree. As its name implies, it pecks at the trunk with its sharp beak to get at the insect larvae that live just under the bark. This pecking creates the persistent drumming sound by which it can be identified. It is, however, a very shy bird and will often hide on the opposite side of a tree from anyone watching. Woodpeckers can be attracted into the garden if offered fat balls and peanuts in a bird feeder.
The bird nests in tree cavities and the female lays 4-6 eggs in the spring. The drumming sound that they make while pecking is thought also to be a way of testing the suitability of the wood for nesting.
Did you manage to see or hear one? Don't worry if you didn't, but keep a look out while you continue along the river. You may see a kingfisher as well. Look out while you walk to the next post.
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