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Saturday, 31 October 2009

Lucky escape for Woody

This morning I was minding my own business having a quiet coffee in the kitchen between stints of gardening when there was a loud squawking and a crash against the glass of the kitchen door. I looked up quickly and was just in time to see a magnificent male sparrowhawk do a touch-and-go on top of the bird table before flying off. Investigating the cause of the crash, I was amazed to find this male great spotted woodpecker apparently trying to get through the closed back door (no doubt thinking the sparrowhawk was still after him!). As I gently opened the door it slipped down and lay on the top step, apparently stunned. Naturally I grabbed my camera to record the event before gently picking it up. It was very placid, with eyes half closed and beak open but I could see no sign of any injury that might have been inflicted by the sparrowhawk. Over the next few minutes Woody slowly recovered so I loosened my grip and, to my delight, he suddenly took flight and flew strongly to a nearby tree, apparently not seriously the worse for wear. It was a real treat to be able to hold such a super bird.
I have a decrepit trellis by the back door and noticed afterwards that there were fresh marks on the rotten wood, so I suspect that Woody was helping me to demolish it when the sparrowhawk happened by. Whether it attacked the woodpecker or just scared it is unclear but I suspect the latter. It is just as well that woodpeckers are used to hammering on solid objects with their beaks....... Pity the sparrowhawk didn't hang around to be photographed as well.
Thinking about it, I am glad that the back door was closed as I am not sure how I would have coped with a panicking great spot flying round the kitchen!

Peter Hambrook