|
|
Post by Psamathe on Dec 16, 2022 19:43:23 GMT
 Juvenile? I have had one (pair on occasions) around quite a lot over the last few months. Harder being black and white but beak was what made me think woodpecker, hunting on ground is what I've seen them doing most (occasionally hopping up and down trees but most often poking the ground) and pattern on head juvenile. Trouble is I on't have other ideas to check (i.e. what to Google and ask if it looks like "this"). Image from traincam in ditch with hedgerow either side. Many thanks Ian |
|
|
|
Post by Tringa on Dec 16, 2022 20:08:45 GMT
Sorry to disappoint you but it is not a green woodpecker.
Green woodpeckers are great birds, but this is, IMO, even better - it is a woodcock.
Over winter many arrive from continental Europe.
Dave
|
|
|
|
Post by aeshna5 on Dec 17, 2022 7:03:10 GMT
Agree with Dave. A Woodcock- a terrestrial wader. Great find. sometimes in the autumn they get found in strange places like city streets where they've got lost & sadly a few get fatally injured flying into windows. Yours has found some reasonable habitat.
|
|
|
|
Post by Psamathe on Dec 19, 2022 16:37:12 GMT
Many thanks all. (I can only get to this board occasionally as I have to link through Canada as my normal IP is blocked by ProBoards - they are blocking the entire IP range for my internet connection! everything on AS9009 - a massive international gateway to the internet). So sorry for slow response. Difficulty when you don't know what something is is knowing what to Google beyond what you "know". Excellent to find one (and I've logged it to my accumulating spreadsheet to NBIS). Recorded on tiny village outskirts (basically open countryside) bottom of ditch with hedgerow either side at 08:30 (am). For NBIS (Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service) I gradually accumulate interesting things seen/recorded and once a reasonable things logged, send it it (with verification photos where available) and start a fresh one. NBIS are meant to keep their own records and forward records "up" to nbnatlas.org but there seems to be a lot of updating delays/issues everywhere at the moment. Thanks again. Ian |
|
|
|
Post by Psamathe on Dec 26, 2022 19:52:51 GMT
Related Question: I see that the Woodcock is on the Red List and subject to legal protections. A section of the hedgerow the above where the woodcock was recorded in in due to be cut back by the company that keeps power lines clear. They are only cutting a small section as the High Voltage lines cross at maybe 70 deg (not quite right angles) and they are cutting to the 3 m clearance from the power lines. Part being cut is maybe 20-30 m from where I recorded the Woodcock.
1. Should I notify the company doing the cutting about nearby recently recorded protected species?
2. Should the company be doing anything particular when they do the cutting?
The trees were due to be but back over a year ago but they did a "no show" and haven't bothered to get round to it until now and thus they are now having to cut the HV power which means disconnecting the entire village - and given they have already cancelled and re-scheduled once I can't see them delaying again.
Thanks
Ian
|
|
|
|
Post by Tringa on Dec 27, 2022 10:03:13 GMT
This is based on my reading and understanding of the legislation and therefore might be utter rubbish.
Woodcock are on Schedule 2 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and may be killed or taken outside the closed season.
The closed season for woodcock is 1st February to 30th September and therefore now, and until the end of next month, is the open season so they can be killed or taken.
As they can be killed now I think any disturbance caused by the action of the electricity company is likely to be minor in comparison and therefore is also likely to be allowed.
I'm guessing but I think any birds will just leave the area while the work is going on, although I think woodcock are more likely to sit tight.
At least the work being done isn't in the breeding season.
Dave
|
|
|
|
Post by Psamathe on Dec 27, 2022 11:13:49 GMT
This is based on my reading and understanding of the legislation and therefore might be utter rubbish. Woodcock are on Schedule 2 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and may be killed or taken outside the closed season. ... Many thanks. I'd forgotten about the two "categories" of protection. I am very mistrusting of the company doing the cutting - one previous year they claimed they needed to cut back a tree to prevent it interfering with the power lines except the tree was dead (so hardly going to grow close to power lines) ... and they removed the entire tree to ground level and took it awa. Taking the entire tree annoyed me given how good dead trees are for wildlife - seen it said half of a tree's use is after it has died). Tree in no danger of falling and no danger if it did fall and plenty of space to leave dead trunk on the ground to rot away. I dislike the "scorched earth" policy many of the utility companies seem to adopt. Ian |
|
|
|
Post by accipiter on Dec 27, 2022 11:35:57 GMT
You may find the link I’ve provided interesting Ian. Although I don’t support blood sports myself neither does any other member of WAB I wager. As for dead trees, I always leave them where they fall providing, they don’t block the foot paths. In such cases I merely move them to one side. Alan www.fieldsportschannel.tv/woodcockwildjustice/ |
|
