Derbyshire Ornithological Society

DOS survey methodology for Lesser Spotted Essential requirements: ability to identify Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers by sight, call and drumming – familiarise yourself with identification features thoroughly if you have no previous experience of the species.

The Lesser Spotted is now a rare breeding species in Derbyshire with a maximum of three proven breeding records per year in the county over at least the last 20 years. As such, it is important not to publicise the location of territorial , to avoid increased disturbance when they are setting up territories and nesting.

Sites worth checking include broad-leaved woodland including small copses, open woodland, parkland with plenty of rotting timber, old orchards, shrubberies, gardens, avenues of ancient trees, trees alongside streams, hedgerows with mature trees, golf courses, and ponds, lakes, gravel pits and reservoirs with wooded margins. In particular, it is worth checking sites where you know Lesser Spotted Woodpecker have occurred before to see if they are still present.

This methodology should not disturb birds establishing territory because observation is done from the ground and does not involve visits to nests.

Ideally, you should aim to undertake three visits between the beginning of March and mid-April.

The survey should be within the period of one hour after sunrise and mid-day.

You should avoid periods of precipitation and winds greater than Beaufort force 4 (15 mph, 24 km/hr, small branches move).

Ideally, you should aim to walk within 50m of every point within the survey area. This will often require you to have permission from the landowner. You will not be as likely to detect all birds if you have to stick to public paths.

Walk at a comfortable pace as quietly as possible, paying particular attention to movement in the tree canopy. They may be amongst a flock whilst feeding, but more obvious when territorial calling or drumming. Listen out for their call (like a more rapid and prolonged yaffle of a Green Woodpecker, potentially confused with the call of a ) and distinctive drumming (longer duration, about 2 seconds, and more rapid than Great Spotted Woodpecker – listen to drumming here).

Stop to scan branches and scrub every 50 paces. Be aware that they might hide behind branches if they detect you.

This survey method should allow you to survey roughly 10 hectares every hour (or 0.5 km square in 5 hours, which is probably as much as you can comfortably do in a session).

Once you have detected Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers during the survey period, you can send records to DOS with breeding activity codes, as evidence of breeding. Three visits between the beginning of March and mid-April using this methodology should give a 96% probability of detecting any birds present, so you can be fairly confident that, if you have not detected any birds in this time, the area is unoccupied. If you are able to find a nest, it is worth reporting to www.woodpecker- network.org.uk. They may be able to monitor the nest as part of an ongoing conservation initiative.