Norfolk - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

There have been many visits made to Santon Downham to catch up with lesser spotted woodpecker but without any real success.  Motivated by recent sightings, it was wise to keep the faith with this popular Suffolk site.  Visits here rarely disappoint given the selection of typical breckland species that can be found here.  

A tree pipit flew across the railway line and landed in a tree by the bridge.

A couple of woodlark were flighty by the path leading from the car park.

Crossbill were conspicuous amongst the woodland with good numbers flying overhead along with siskin and redpoll.  A goshawk made a brief appearance disappearing over the woodland and out of site.

The main draw was the woodpecker - it took a while to catch up with it but with prolonged views of this scarce species feeding within the alders and birch tree on the north of the river.