GO WILD WITH ERIC PAYLOR
THERE’S nothing more exciting than finding a new bird in your garden for the first time.
Paul Charlton believes he spotted a green woodpecker in his Stokesley garden.
He said: “I was up early one morning and when I drew the bedroom curtains I saw what must have been a green woodpecker on my back lawn.
“I watched it for a few minutes and then dashed for my camera, but when I got back to the window the bird had gone.
“I’m sure it was a green woodpecker.”
Green woodpeckers are not particularly common in our area and are rather shy birds, but Paul’s ID is probably correct.
They are found in pockets in North Yorkshire, usually in low-lying tree-covered areas among the moorland.
They are larger than the much more common great spotted woodpecker and spend a lot of time feeding on the ground, where they move around with a strange series of hops. Their diet mainly consists of ants, though they also eat beetles and flies.
Places where you might see a green woodpecker include Wynyard and Eston Moor, though they are more commonly spotted in spring and autumn.
Ironically these woodpeckers don’t peck much wood. They have relatively weak bills and when excavating holes in trees, they select only the softer woods.
They are very vocal, and have a loud, laughing call known as a Yaffle, which gives the green woodpecker its other name.
Another uncommon bird that has recently been seen on Teesside is a Caspian tern, which has visited several areas usually north of the River Tees, including RSPB Saltholme.
The Caspian tern is much bigger than our regular terns, with a shaggy black crest, lighter plumage and a broad red bill. At first it gave local birders the run around but finally settled down one afternoon directly in front of the
Saltholme hide.
Julie Cope has visited the same hide, on a day when there were lots of avocet chicks mooching around in the pools.
She said: “Avocets are lovely birds and it’s great to see that they are breeding successfully here. The chicks are quite adorable and there were quite a few of them.
“Are they established at Saltholme?”
Avocets have been coming back to the North Tees marshes for a few years now, though the number of chicks does alternate. This appears to be a good year.
If you have noted any interesting or unusual wildlife sightings in and around Teesside and Cleveland lately, contact Eric on eric.paylor@gmail.com