Woody Woodpecker

Having purchased an annual pass for the Wetlands and Wildlife trust (WWT), we took a trip to their site in Lanelli, Wales. Wopandering along, a double flash made my wife jump and suddenly we were treated to the sight of two lesser spotted woodpeckers hopping their way up and down a tree. Typically, by the time I'd got my camera set up for the light conditions, they decided to take flight.

A little later we bumped into some fellow photographers who said the woodpeckers were often seen at the bird feeders so we looped back around and lo and behold, we saw a baby woodpecker creeping up and down a nearby tree. This time, I was better prepared and managed to reel of several shots of his antics. He then flew towards the bird table with us in hot pursuit. The wife had her binoculars trained sniper-like on the table and let out a yelp. Not only was the woodpecker swinging merrily from a nut feeder, but there was a pair of bullfinches, something I'd hoped to see for many years, strutting around the table top. Unfortunately, these shy little birds were scared away by a couple of errant children and didn't return for the rest of the afternoon. But sometimes, seeing something with my own eyes is enough. Life isn't always best viewed through a lens.