Our last visit to Santon Downham was to photograph the Great Grey Shrike which now appears to have moved on and is perhaps the same bird that is being reported at Ride 7 near Elveden. But today our quarry was the pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers which were beginning to show well along the Little Ouse.
We parked by the level crossing and walked west north of the railway towards the underpass. Here a Wood Lark was singing from trees south of the railway and was into the sun, but beside the path to our right was a pair of Wood Larks feeding on the scoured earth that had been prepared for them. This was ideal as the sun was now behind us and they were close enough to photograph from the path.
Well, that was a bonus and what a fantastic start to the day. We then joined the river and walked further west to the Lesser Spotted site, keeping to the footpath in accordance with the signs. They had been seen half an hour earlier, so it was just a matter of waiting and scouring the trees for any sign of movement.
While we were waiting I asked some of the gathered crowd whether Cockley Cley was still the best place to see Goshawks. The general consensus was that you can see them almost everywhere around the Thetford Forest area, even over Santon Downham itself. And then about ten minutes later, one flew over as if to prove the point. Only a record shot but that will do me.
But now on to the main quarry of the day, the Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. They did show a few times when we were there, but I only managed to photograph the male. It was interesting to note that it was ringed on the right leg.
It spent a lot of time inspecting old woodpecker holes, which judging by their size were made by Great Spots. I couldn't quite undertand this as I was under the impression that they excavate a new hole every year.
Well, that was a most successful mission and we still have enough light left for a visit to Burwell Fen on the way home, so
WATCH THIS SPACE !!!
Nice photos Alan. Yes Lessers do normally make a new hole each year. They also make new roost holes throughout the year. You say you only saw large holes this is because the small Lesser Spot nest holes are very often opened up by Great Spots either to predate the chicks or for winter roosts.
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