Lesser Spotted Woodpecker by Andrey Gulivanov, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons  

‘The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker: A Herefordshire Icon in the making? ’  a talk by Toby Fountain and Ella Curry.

To be held at The Globe in Hay on Wye, Sunday 15th November, 4-6pm

‘The Lesser Spotted woodpecker (Dryobates minor)  has a mythical reputation amongst wildlife and bird enthusiasts; a bird which is widely regarded as one of Britain’s rarest and arguably most mysterious breeding bird. But Herefordshire has a very special relationship with this fascinating species, due to it’s nationally significant abundance of several textbook Lesser Spot habitats; in particular traditional orchard, ancient woodland and well wooded riparian corridors. In this talk locally prolific ornithologists Toby Fountain and Ella Curry will delve into the extraordinary complexity of this bird’s ecology and why the county of Herefordshire, due it’s abundance of suitable habitats, may prove to be a national stronghold for this remarkable species.’

Toby and Ella are looking for more traditional orchards, ancient woodlands and well wooded riparian corridors to survey this Winter and next Spring, so if you have any of these habitats, please come along and learn more about these wonderful birds, and how you can help conserve and protect them.  You may well be eligible for free Lesser Spotted woodpecker surveys as part of their project.

To book please email Louise, or contact us if you aren’t already a member.