An Ancient Sound



It took me a long time to realise that greater spotted woodpeckers don’t have a song like the warble of a wren or bubble of a skylark – instead they drum on dead wood to establish their territories.  In Cobham the other day we heard what sounded like several different woodpeckers coming from every angle, but was probably only two.  The sound is very ancient – I can imagine our ancestors hearing the song like a sort of primitive drum, pushing through the silence of trees after a storm.  Years ago when I was recovering from a back operation I used to see a greater spotted woodpecker come to our birdfeeder about 5am or 6am every morning to feed on nuts and seeds before the madness of sparrows and blue tits later on.  Its call is short, sharp and surprised-sounding.  This is a painting I did back in 2014.

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