On sunny mornings I route my walk so that we follow the tapping of Woodpeckers; they don’t bother tapping if it’s raining or damp. If they don’t tap they are very difficult to spot despite their being bigger than a Thrush and brightly coloured. This is one of the dead trees they tap on and I noticed a new hole about twenty feet up it.
I estimate it to be 50mm diameter which doesn’t seem big enough for a Woodpecker. It’s a very neat job, an excellent hole.
I didn’t find any Woodpeckers this morning, I may have been too early but we did find this Crow or possibly Raven irritating a Buzzard.
I don’t really know the difference between a Crow and a Raven…..I’ll look it up but these don’t sound like Crows but maybe Bugger Off in Crowish is a different sound to normal Crow cawwing.
It’s frosty here but bright and sunny so with a bit of luck I’ll get some seeding video. I have decided that if I stand in front of the camera and clap my hands I should be able to sync the sound perfectly…We’ll see.
I estimate it to be 50mm diameter which doesn’t seem big enough for a Woodpecker. It’s a very neat job, an excellent hole.
I didn’t find any Woodpeckers this morning, I may have been too early but we did find this Crow or possibly Raven irritating a Buzzard.
I don’t really know the difference between a Crow and a Raven…..I’ll look it up but these don’t sound like Crows but maybe Bugger Off in Crowish is a different sound to normal Crow cawwing.
It’s frosty here but bright and sunny so with a bit of luck I’ll get some seeding video. I have decided that if I stand in front of the camera and clap my hands I should be able to sync the sound perfectly…We’ll see.
As a RAven is a MUCh bigger bird than a Raen, its call is deeper and this is a link that might help you ID which bird you are listening too. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Raven/sounds Have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, I suspect that there are a mixture of crows and Ravens. This one was making a very deep croak.
DeleteThat hole just has to be a woodpecker's. I hope that you spot him /her on one of your constitutional walks and get a couple of pictures to share with your adoring public.
ReplyDeleteYP, I did get some pictures a few weeks ago but not on this tree. If they nest it will be easy to watch them coming and going.
DeleteI don't know the difference either. I think one has a dark beak and the other a light beak, but ...
ReplyDeleteJohn, they both have black beaks the Rook has a grey beak. Side by side it would be easy to tell as the Raven is twice the size.
DeleteSounds like you need to employ a clapper guy or gal.
ReplyDeleteJohn, an extra pair of hands wouldn't go amiss. I have tried clapping and it seems to work.
DeleteLol. You made my day! Hope it's a good one for you!
ReplyDeleteMarie, I can't help being a bit daft.
DeleteSi tienes sol estás bien Adrian. Por aquí lleva todo el mes de abril lloviendo :((
ReplyDeleteBuen fin de semana.
Un abrazo
Laura, es frío, pero el sol y el granizo. Podría ser peor.
DeleteI take the easy way out, and call them all crows... VERY smart birds.
ReplyDeleteBill, I am a useless birder....I think I will do likewise.
DeleteThe hole looks pretty much perfect for a Woodpecker Adrian, keep an eye on it. Ravens aren't much smaller then a Buzzard, have you ruled out Rook?
ReplyDeleteDouglas, I found another hole which is even better as it has a steep bank behind it and I can get level with it. I'll keep an eye on them both.
DeleteThere are very few rooks here but I have seen the odd one.
Hi Adrian. I can't tell from the image but the call of a Raven is usually described as a relative short 'cronk' rather than a longer 'caw'. If you see that it's very large and has got a kite-shaped tail, rather than flat-ended or rounded-ended, it's a Raven. I hope this helps!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to some Woodpecker images from you!
Best wishes - - - Richard
Richard, these sound like Ravens but I'll have to get closer for a good look.
DeleteI did get some pictures the other week but am hoping for better ones when the eggs hatch.
All I know about crows is if you see several, then they're rooks, and if you see one rook then it's a crow. Or so I'm told...
ReplyDeleteFrances, that is about right Rooks are bigger and have a greyish beak.
Delete