A few days ago I heard a plaintive 'ki ... ki ... ki ...' type noise coming from outside. Not dissimilar to the buzzards who often circle above but much louder. Walking into the kitchen Niall asked me what the racket was. Having no idea I opened the kitchen door to look up and try and see whatever bird was making the noise.
It wasn't up in the air. Instead, more or less straight ahead, close to the back door and sitting on a pine branch was a large Black Woodpecker [Dryocopus Martius]. They are large, the size of a crow, and have a beak that can drill machine gun style into dead pine wood to look for ants and other insects. She - it was a female, as she had a much smaller red cap - produced the very plaintive cry again. It was definitely penetrating!
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[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dryocopus_martius_Sopot_1.jpg]
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Sadly we had no camera to hand. I stood in the door for a bit and the woodpecker gave me ample time to admire her while she made a few distracted pecks at the branch before flying off making her more energetic "yip,yip,yip" type call. If you want to listen here's a link to recordings [xc157197 & xc155975] made in France of both
calls.
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[http://foropenforests.org/en/species/Black_Woodpecker]
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She flew off into the small copse on the west side. As they are resident birds in our area of France we're hoping that she's one of a pair and that they have set up house here.
Meanwhile our bats have arrived for their summer with us. The small pipestrelles have reclaimed their regular summer roost behind to south-side shutters and the
horseshoe [greater we think] we first found last summer in the barn is back as well.
17 comments:
I just found your blog through Perpetua's blog. Your woodpecker looks very much like one we have in our woods in British Columbia. They are lovely to watch, but also do a fair amount of damage to homes. They have been known to drill holes right through the wood roof shingles and siding!
It would be super if a pair set up home nearby... if you buy earplugs!
She's a lovely bird.
@Kristieinbc - welcome :-) I think the European version is very similar to yours. Looking at the size of their beaks I'm not surprised! Here, timber built houses are rare so it's the trees they'll go for.
@Fly - LOL! it can't be worse than a 3 way nightingale competition going on all night.
But, it's true they can drum really loudly.
Wow! That's fairly special! I don't think they are very common. I've never seen one.
@Susan - As far as I could tell they aren't which is why we hope there is a pair. [The Touraine bird guide does indicate that they have a record for nest/nests in our commune though]
Just wish we'd been able to photograph it ourselves.
I love woodpeckers. I do hear them here from time to time but they tend not to fly up onto the farm but stay down in the woods. But we are building a lovely flock of starlings, who are now roosting in the bay tree hedge just outside the courtyard. Their chatter in the evenings is a delight!
@Vera - starlings always sound cheering I think. They're such gossips.
Sticks thumb on end of nose, waggles fingers...
blows large raspberry...
BLUUUURRT!!
Jealous....
moi??
Non!...
he says through tightly gritted teeth.
Great spot....
If they are in residence you'll have certain of us round yours for what will probably be some of the quietest "apero" sessions ever imagined!!
@Tim - we'll certainly be listening out for them.
Ah but you've seen a golden oriole....
What a find. Like you, We do so hope that you have a pair. Look forward to you hearing and us seeing the evidence.
@Gaynor - we'll certainly let you know and who knows we may be lucky enough to get a photo!
How wonderful. I do hope they take up residence. I love woodpeckers too, but rarely see on. :-( But we do have bats in residence in Normandy, just like you.
@Perpetual - we have quite a few green and spotted woodpeckers. We see the greens the most as they hop along the ground looking for food.
May I post your observation on Faune Touraine? WE've seen them here once or twice passing through, it would be lovely to have them nesting. Agreed nothing beats nightingales for racket.
@Pauline - sure no problem. :-)
We have the greater spotted woodpecker up here and it is always a good day when it comes to the bird feeder. Never seen a black one though!
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