woodpeckers feeding

[pusskin]

our resident woodpecker normally comes into our garden just once a day!
All this week, he has taken to our fatballs, and today he has been in here 7 times so far, so maybe he is feeding his babies?
Normally he has always only scoffed peanuts. Its such a treat to watch his comings and goings

[CuriousKittyKat]

Hi, I once saw a programme that said woodpeckers love lard - and to get a block and rub it all into the tree bark near where the woodpecker enters the garden. Maybe this will help fatten up the babies?

[redman41]

Is it a green Woodpecker or Great spotted that you have pusskin ?

[rowanwitch]

fat = high energy food for the little ones

[carrust]

fat = high energy food for the little ones .....That's an old saying from Barnsley...:-)

[pusskin]

thats a brilliant idea curious, but our woodpecker comes onto our long pole near our tree, where we hang all the nuts, wild seeds , fatballs. They've never gone onto our smallish tree believe it or not. Thanks for the tip and reply x

we cant believe that he's been here 9 times now as we watch him run up and down around near the perches, so much fun!

[mrs_overall]

You are very lucky. I've never seen a woodpecker :-(

[rowanwitch]

a plastic one mrs O...
bet you've heard them though even if you haven't seen them

We buy special feeders like a plactic log wth holes in that you push fat cylinders into...they are a high energy seed and insect mix.... and we hang it away from the other feeders as woodpeckers will drive off other birds

[pusskin]

our is a great spotted woodpecker --beautifull.
He has only been coming in the garden this year, and other birds dont put him off, but if he spots us -- he normally flies off. Our 9--10 ft pole is next to what we call our bird bush, as all the sparrows congregate and chatter away and hide inside. Its a brilliant hide away for them , as they all dash in the bush when they see danger.

[pusskin]

on our camping hol in isle of wight last week, we saw a woodpecker most days on a giant telegraph pole knocking and knocking on wood. we could see him so clearly. never seen that before , so we were lucky.
I must try and get one of them logs to put seed and grubs inside to put on our long pole.

[redman41]

This Woodpecker is a plucky devil !!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opPf1PMOYVg

[pusskin]

oh my god redman, how brave and amazing is that !!! thanks for that brilliant link

[mrs.chappie]

What an amazing clip! Quite sad though really.....I bet the snake has eaten the woodpecker's young/eggs. The woodpecker's willing to fight to the death to save them but I reckon Woody's far too late.... :o(

(I know, it's nature and all that).

I've seen a woodpecker hanging from my nut-feeder twice within the last couple of days.

[Maydup]

How lovely to be watching the woodpeckers so regularly, we haven't seen so much of our this year they must have gone over your way!!

But keep looking and any time soon they will bring the babies with them. That's very special!

Do you know that the male has the distinctive red patch on the back of the head, while the female has no red on the head at all. The young will have almost completely red heads to start with.

[pusskin]

since my last post, the woodpecker has been coming 6--7 times a day , at least. its been amazing, and i am over the moon. Since buying extra fatballs , this one w/*** hasnt stopped gobbling up as much as he can handle. he is so greedy, and i bought another 12 fatballs in the £ shop yesterday so i dont run out. (£2)
Also woody has even been here till late in the evening !!!!
Fingers crossed that he/she will bring their babies with them one day. whooppee.

[mrs.chappie]

How fab. Nature's wonderful. Hope you get to see the wee babies.

[pusskin]

I will be watching out for my fatballs every minute i get! I more or less live in the conservatory so no problem for me there. I cannot imagine for one minute that i will be lucky enough to have the the woodpeckers babies eating my fatballs lol