One more woodpecker species

 Heard and seen, and I even imagined one flew right past me when I was on a trail hunting for a winter visitor, or did I?

So when I heard familiar cries and knockings that morning, the race was on, a frenzy to search for the Orange-backed Woodpeckers, a pair I knew had been teasing birders around that area.

And then the male was spotted first but relatively deep in but no matter, together with a few birders present, we rushed from one spot to the other to get the best shot, and me, my 'lifer' for the bukit!  Finally!

The Orange-backed Woodpecker (Reinwardtipicus validus) could be found in forest from  lowlands to hills and montane areas and is of Least Concern status, yet comparatively not so commonly sighted.  It's one of the bigger woodpeckers, an adult can grow to almost 30cm.

It looks like the bukit is slowly gaining a reputation as a woodpecker haunt in view of the increasing number of species sighted, this being the fifth, and the woodpecker population set to increase going by the current breeding activities.

It's no surprise why this woodpecker is called orange-backed!

Birders were indeed in for a treat this particular morning as the pair spent almost an hour in the area although they kept largely away from ideal open views.  But trust birders to attempt the best, so ascended the slope swiftly to approach the pair that did not seem too fazed about human movements metres away.

The male was down at a rotting trunk and was then joined by the female that was more sensed than seen at this point.

Scored with a big fat grub!

Throwing off a pretty large chunk of soft pulp with its powerful beak that could only have excavated that!

The female that was loitering behind the trunk finally emerged when the male moved to the other side, but unfortunately did not seem to make any catch, I supposed that portion already thoroughly covered by the male.

Another successful dug-out by the male!

This is indeed a handsome couple, with distinctly different colours, the male more outstanding with its reddish crest and orange breast.

The male displaying its tongue, ready to dig in again.

At a lower spot.

Hoping for better images of the female we decided to stake out at an anticipated spot, and patience paid off.

The female finally appeared to check out an existing hole, perhaps a future cavity nest?

Almost camouflaged if viewed from afar.

The female displays its distinct white back, nonetheless a stunning looking bird.

This bird is said to love forest with rather open under-storey which could explain why it has been seen to come down to ground, pecking at an exposed root.

And this female eventually descended to ground level momentarily, then going up this low tree stump.