On this warm but misty morning in the woods of the lower slopes of the Albères, I was delighted to come upon three - or possibly four - Great Spotted Woodpeckers, all at the same time. Although I had no binoculars or camera with me (naturally), I did get reasonable views of two working their way up the same tree. At times, in between sounds of drumming, there was an almighty commotion - and racket - as they flew off in pursuit of one another.
The call they made surprised me, because it wasn't the tchick...tchick...tchick that I'm used to, but a fast, chattering rattle I've never heard before. I suppose it's the equivalent of the Green Woodpecker's laugh or 'yaffle' but, from memory, it more closely resembles a Great Spotted Cuckoo!
You can click on the 'video' below to hear it. I assume a dispute was in progress - over territory or a mate.