Great Spotted Woodpecker

Rainbowsend

Hear a whisper that a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen in the Tinahely area of Wicklow, would be great if they bred and settled here.

Judgement Day

Irishbirding.com is the place to check for recent sightings of Great Spotted Woodpeckers - and other species - there is increasing evidence that these beautiful birds have bred in Ireland over the last couple of years. The oak woodlands of County Wicklow should be fertile ground for them and I'm hoping that the surviving oak woods just north of Sunny D.G. will also prove enticing to them. Some nice photos of Great Spotted Woodpeckers taken on St.Patrick's Day from Irish Birding.com are at this link.

http://www.irishbirding.com/birds/web?task=Display&sighting_id=10295

Rainbowsend

Thanks Judgementday, had a look on those sites very informative and fingers crossed that numbers will increase, I dont know if it is that I am taking more notice of birds in general, but there seems to be an awful lot of rarer birds appearing, I know I cant keep the feeders full with the amount of visitors I get on a daily basis. Great to see.

gerky

I don't have a link to a story yet but here's a link to an rte news clip.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0604/6news_av.html?2556858,null,230

The great spotted woodpecker a former resident and uncommon visitor has been confirmed to be breeding in Ireland again.

Fredrick

gerky wrote: »

I don't have a link to a story yet but here's a link to an rte news clip.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0604/6news_av.html?2556858,null,230

The great spotted woodpecker a former resident and uncommon visitor has been confirmed to be breeding in Ireland again.

Cool thats great news Nice looking bird would lake to take some shots in the future. Rte's streaming video is crap or is it just my machine?

OpenYourEyes

Saw this today aswel! Great news alright! Like the man in that clip, i was disapointed as a kid to learn that we didnt have woodpeckers like this over here! Hopefully in a few years time it will be safe to say thats not the case

Kaldorn

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article5213456.ece

my mate found one of the nests in wicklow..a total of 9 nests where found..give them a few years and they'll be all over the east coast..its crazy that they colonised all on their own..

Judgement Day

Kaldorn wrote: »

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article5213456.ece

my mate found one of the nests in wicklow..a total of 9 nests where found..give them a few years and they'll be all over the east coast..its crazy that they colonised all on their own..

Helloo! It's called nature. Collared Doves did it in the 1950s and Little Egrets in more recent years. It's a hell of a more satisfactory way of increasing bird species than a lot of the reintroduction schemes.

cuddlycavies

Judgement Day wrote: »

Helloo! It's called nature. Collared Doves did it in the 1950s and Little Egrets in more recent years. It's a hell of a more satisfactory way of increasing bird species than a lot of the reintroduction schemes.

No need to be a smart ass about it. In the other two cases you mentioned, expansion was due to population explosions elsewhere as with Buzzards expanding from their original Antrim strongholds. This is different. Often(as with eagles,ospreys) suitable habitat exists but things dont just happen.

tricky D

There was a pair nesting in my aunt's backgarden in Sutton 3 years ago. There's 2 in the Deer Park at the moment which I'd like to spot. There was a sighting (May 10th 2008) listed in last year's autumn edition of Birdwatch Ireland's magazine Wings.

Judgement Day

cuddlycavies wrote: »

No need to be a smart ass about it. In the other two cases you mentioned, expansion was due to population explosions elsewhere as with Buzzards expanding from their original Antrim strongholds. This is different. Often(as with eagles,ospreys) suitable habitat exists but things dont just happen.

Chill out! I was only emphasising my amusement that the poster should think it so amazing that birds could colonise an area of their own volition!

Morganna

great news

Judgement Day

A visit to the Irish Birding.com website tonight reveals more - the spread is quite dramatic and pics of actual nest holes etc.

http://www.irishbirding.com/birds/web?task=Display&sighting_id=12418

snowstreams

How long will they take to recolonise the west of ireland too I wonder?

Judgement Day

Probably could do with a few trees first.

Judgement Day

It's that time of year when the elusive Great Spotted Woodpecker starts to appear on a few privileged garden feeders and becomes more visible to the casual observer so I wonder if anybody on the boards knows where I might be able to see one? I am not a twitcher, not even a serious birdwatcher any more, but I have always wanted to see this bird in the flesh. I heard a woodpecker (species unknown) drumming in Hampshire in 1979 and that's the nearest I've got so I'm getting desperate! I am looking for sightings in the South East but Dublin would also be OK. According to Irish Birding.com one was observed at Courtown Wood near Gorey on the 3rd November so I may try my hand there if nothing else comes in.

Into Everything

There was one seen today in Tomnafinnoge Wood, Shillelagh. I caught a glimpse of one here last year. It was flying between the tree tops. Be prepared to spend a lot of time but just to hear the drumming on the trees is fantastic. Will be spending a lot of my free time travelling up to wicklow over the next few months trying to get a good look at them this year.

Best of look:D

recedite

Rumour has it that one was knocking around Kilruddery Estate which is near Woodies in Bray. Nice place for a walk even if you don't see one, but stay clear of the private areas near houses.

Feargal as Luimneach

An interesting article for those of you interested in irish birds. An estimated 15-20 pairs in Wicklow this year:) and will hopefully increase further!
Here's the link!

http://www.birdwatchireland.ie/Publications/eWings/eWingsIssue10July2010/GreatSpottedWoodpeckerupdate/tabid/1015/Default.aspx

Birdnuts

It will be interesting to find out if these new Irish breeders are of British or Scandanavian origin:)

LostCovey

Birdnuts wrote: »

It will be interesting to find out if these new Irish breeders are of British or Scandanavian origin:)

I think they have been DNA fingerprinted and it confirmed these invaders are UK soccer fans (not Vikings)

LostCovey

ThunderCat

After playing golf last Sunday, I was loading the clubs into the boot of the car and I heard a woodpecker. It was in one of the trees skirting the car park and although I couldnt see it, the noise it made from banging on the tree was unmistakable. Dont ever remember hearing one before. I presume it was the Greater Spotted Woodpecker rather than the lesser spotted.
The golf course was close to Dublin Airport.

Mothman

Just had a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Was quite near house at first, but had flown away to near top of oak tree before I got it on camera. No interest in feeders.

sables2

Mothman wrote: »

Just had a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Was quite near house at first, but had flown away to near top of oak tree before I got it on camera. No interest in feeders.

Well done Mothman! SUPERB stuff. Your one lucky man to spot this beautiful bird. Never knew we had any great spotted woodpeckers. How the hell did you set your camera up SO quick and get a reasonable shot. :rolleyes:.

Feargal as Luimneach

Mothman wrote: »

Just had a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Was quite near house at first, but had flown away to near top of oak tree before I got it on camera. No interest in feeders.

That's a mega for the Garden Mothman:)
You should report it to birdwatch Ireland, they are very interested in monitoring the species re-colonisation of Ireland. Putting up a great spotted woodpecker nest box could encourage them to breed at your place. Here is contact detail:
http://www.birdwatchireland.ie/News/GreatSpottedWoodpeckersNewtoIreland/tabid/568/Default.aspx

Mothman

sables2 wrote: »

Well done Mothman! SUPERB stuff. Your one lucky man to spot this beautiful bird. Never knew we had any great spotted woodpeckers. How the hell did you set your camera up SO quick and get a reasonable shot. :rolleyes:.

There are quite a few breeding pairs in Wicklow now. There may be vague details on BWI site.
As for camera, just a little point and shoot, but it has a 10x zoom. Amazing camera and a real point and shoot! Panasonic TZ5

The bottom of tree is probably about 40m from house and the bird was about 15m up the tree and the shot was taken through a triple glazing.

My 2nd sighting this Autumn/winter but I had one 5 years ago for a week that twitchers from all over Ireland came to see. This was before of any known breeding and they really were rarely seen.

BTW my brother saw one in his garden couple days ago, 600m from my garden.
Although I haven't reported today's sighting yet, I'm in regular contact with personnel monitoring the recolonisation.

A good idea with regard to nest box

Feargal as Luimneach

Mothman wrote: »

There are quite a few breeding pairs in Wicklow now. There may be vague details on BWI site.
As for camera, just a little point and shoot, but it has a 10x zoom. Amazing camera and a real point and shoot! Panasonic TZ5

The bottom of tree is probably about 40m from house and the bird was about 15m up the tree and the shot was taken through a triple glazing.

My 2nd sighting this Autumn/winter but I had one 5 years ago for a week that twitchers from all over Ireland came to see. This was before of any known breeding and they really were rarely seen.

I remember hearing about that bird. You had set hours for viewing of the bird I believe:D

Mothman

Feargal as Luimneach wrote: »

I remember hearing about that bird. You had set hours for viewing of the bird I believe:D

What a week!!
Yes I opened garden up for a week. More than 50 twitchers passed through :eek: and everyone who came from a far got a sighting.

It was lucky that although my first sighting was a Friday, it wasn't really confirmed to be still around till Monday and because of work not everyone could come immediately and the visitors were nicely spaced throughout the week.

Trizo

Would love to see one , hopefully in a few years Ireland will be full of them , i travelled down to Wicklow earlier in the year to try and get a photograph but didn't see any. they prefer suet feeders i believe.

bogtreader

Excellent news on having the Great spotted woodpecker in your garden
Mothman.My friend and i reckon we heard one knocking in Kilmacurragh
arboretum about two years ago but couldnt locate him.I think we are in exciting times in the bird world:D

Birdnuts

Well done Mothman - GSW appears to be here to stay which is great news in that it rights a historical wrong.:)

PS: One was seen in the Phoenix park only last week which suggests suburban environments will soon share in the joy:D

Feargal as Luimneach

Mothman's other GSW from 2005:)

snowstreams

Was that a Juvenile GSW in 2005? (i.e. the red cap?) If so it looks like they were already breeding here then so.

Mothman

Yes and it was early September which was probably too early for a immigrant.

wildlifeman

I spotted on beside the ordinance survey in the Phoenix Park.

Smartypantsdig

wildlifeman wrote: »

I spotted on beside the ordinance survey in the Phoenix Park.

I don't want to dismiss your sighting but could that have been a jay? I was misled by one in the Park a few years back...:o

wildlifeman

I am sure. I ws with an expert who has been chasing them for years, same guy that showed me the Snowy Owl in Belmullet.

cuddlycavies

Smartypantsdig wrote: »

I don't want to dismiss your sighting but could that have been a jay? I was misled by one in the Park a few years back...:o

Reports on the Irish Birding site of Woodpeckers at Pheonix park are almost daily lately.

Smartypantsdig

I better get meself back up to the Park again !!

Thanks folks, for the clarifications.

Smartypantsdig

Well, I'm just back from the Park and I had a very nice sighting of the great spotted woodpecker! watched it for the best part of five minutes.

Also saw a buzzard, sparrowhawk and quite a few jays, as well as the usual song and garden birds. What a great resource the city has!!

Mothman

Smartypantsdig wrote: »

Well, I'm just back from the Park and I had a very nice sighting of the great spotted woodpecker! watched it for the best part of five minutes.

Also saw a buzzard, sparrowhawk and quite a few jays, as well as the usual song and garden birds. What a great resource the city has!!

Many days you loose, but days like this more than make up!
Well done!

Birdnuts

Smartypantsdig wrote: »

Well, I'm just back from the Park and I had a very nice sighting of the great spotted woodpecker! watched it for the best part of five minutes.

Also saw a buzzard, sparrowhawk and quite a few jays, as well as the usual song and garden birds. What a great resource the city has!!

Great stuff - and you didn't even visit the zoo;)

sables2

Smartypantsdig wrote: »

Well, I'm just back from the Park and I had a very nice sighting of the great spotted woodpecker! watched it for the best part of five minutes.

Also saw a buzzard, sparrowhawk and quite a few jays, as well as the usual song and garden birds. What a great resource the city has!!

Hi Smartypantsdig,
Well done on the sights! Whenit's good, it's GOOD . PS: Which park can i ask did you spot the GSW?? (Great Spotted Woodpecker)

Smartypantsdig

The Phoenix Park. I spotted one up by the OSI buildings and may have seen another one near the Chapelizod gates. The buzzard was down here as well, perched in a chestnut tree.

Into Everything

One spotted in Cabinteely Park, Dublin 18 today. Stuck in Wexford and won't make it up until after Christmas. Typical

sables2

Into Everything wrote: »

One spotted in Cabinteely Park, Dublin 18 today. Stuck in Wexford and won't make it up until after Christmas. Typical

Hi Into Everything,
Cabinteely Park is a 'stones throw' away from me. I'v NEVER though you'd see a GSW there...(or was it the buzzard you meant'?) of all places...Which part: Like, near the park house at the top, or near the football pitches?? You NEED your camera and binos ALWAYS.;)

Into Everything

Follow this link http://www.irishbirding.com/birds/web/Display/sighting/29134/Great_Spotted_Woodpecker.html Not to familiar with the layout of the park

sables2

Into Everything wrote: »

Follow this link http://www.irishbirding.com/birds/web/Display/sighting/29134/Great_Spotted_Woodpecker.html Not to familiar with the layout of the park

Ok, Thanks for that!

cameramonkey

great to here that these birds are spreading spreading rapidly across the country .

Do people think this sudden colonisation in so many places is unusual? I suspect but have no information that some of these birds must have been released by people rather than spreading naturally.

A case of guerilla reintroduction perhaps?

Ditch

While a search on " Great Spotted Woodpecker " brought up a good few threads related to or mentioning them, I think this is the biggest one, on post count?

So, I thought I'd mention here that I've now provided information about nest boxes for GSW.

Please check post # 36. Nest Boxes

boneless

Saw one up near Kilmashogue a while back. They are spreading well.