Lesser Spotted

A rare bird spotted today.

We often go out looking for birdlife. Its usually anything that flies that catches the eye but this one was on the ground. I was trying for a second look at a Spotted Flycatcher at the time when @darkpeakbirder saw Woodpeckers on cut wood on the woodland floor. One was a Great Spotted Woodpecker but once we looked it was obvious the other was not.

Its much smaller, more like a nuthatch size and the thin striped pattern is key for ID. Red on the head means its male.

A great change to see something unusual. I am fairly certain I saw one Lesser Spotted Woodpecker once before many years ago.