Great Spotted Woodpeckers In The Ash Tree

Great Spotted Woodpecker (Male, Red Patch On The Nape)

By the bridge the Ash tree has some new holes in it made by a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers. Since the beginning of the year the sound of woodpeckers drumming on a number of trees have been heard around the gardens but it is the hollow section at the top of the Ash tree that they have settled in to rear their brood. Both birds were involved in chiseling out the nest chamber and have both been incubating their eggs, a number of shift changes have been seen in recent days, one bird leaving through the hole as the other one flies in to take its place. The incubation time is 14-16 days on a clutch of between 4-6 eggs and, one hatched, the young will fledge after 18 days. So, if you are walking by the tree over the coming few week, listen out to the sound of hungry young woodpeckers demanding to be fed! These two photographs, taken by Ali, show the pair on the Ash Tree by the entrance hole to the nest cavity.

Great Spotted Woodpecker (Female)