Country diary: green woodpecker makes his annual flying visit

Stamford, Lincolnshire: For the past three years, this green woodpecker has appeared in our garden in the same fortnight of December. After a few days, he is goneA flash of green and red against the lawn's matt white stubble: striking colours at any time of year, startling at this one. It's December, and the little alien is back.This male green woodpecker, the largest species of Britain's three, has been visiting the garden for three years now. By that, I mean he has visited three times, each within the same calendar fortnight. Continue reading...