Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers in the Wyre Forest - 1st chicks of 2025
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LesserSpotNet volunteer organisers, Ken and Linda Smith, were delighted to visit the Wyre Forest National Nature Reserve in Worcestershire on 2 May. We were guests of Natural England who employed an expert contractor, Craig, to survey Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers this spring. The forest, mainly Oak woodland, is a stronghold for Lesser Spots and much other wildlife and is estimated to hold at least 15 pairs. Craig had found four Lesser Spot nest sites so far this year.
The first nest had a female LSW incubating seven eggs, this is an above average clutch size, which is good. Note: in the photo some of the eggs are hidden under the bird.
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Workshop March 2025
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Woodpecker Network was pleased to organise a workshop to discuss the monitoring and conservation of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker on 19th March 2025. Understanding the drivers and arresting the decline of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is a nationally high conservation priority.
March 2025 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker update
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Lesser Spots are most active in March and April, calling, drumming and displaying. So a sunny morning now is the best time to find them.
So far this year LesserSpotNet volunteers have recorded LSW in Dartmoor and Exmoor, The Quantocks, New Forest, West and East Sussex, North Kent Blean woods complex, Essex, Berkshire, Derbyshire, the Wyre Forest and more.
Kent Ornithological Society are carrying out a county wide Lesser Spot survey with good results so far, see their website for more details.
Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers 2024 Report
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Sadly 2024 has been one of the poorest breeding seasons for Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers since Woodpecker Network was started in 2015. Only eleven nests were found, some at a very late stage and, on average, only just over one young fledged per nest. This is probably not enough to sustain the population. Read the full 2024 report
Is that a Lesser Spotted or Great Spotted Woodpecker in your garden?
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Don't get confused! At this time of year, if you see a Woodpecker with a bright red cap in your garden, it will be a young Great Spotted Woodpecker not a Lesser Spot.
This photo shows an adult male Great Spot with its youngster, note the young Great Spot has a bright red cap.
Note that Great Spots have long white shoulder patches and red unter the tail, Lesser Spots do not have these and are much smaller.