Unfortunately I don't have any pictures, it all happened too fast!
I was walking across some farmland and looking over a large, recently cut field and in the distance I saw medium sized bird take off that seemed to have the woodpecker shape. It was too far away to see any colours properly, but I know that Green Woodpeckers are often seen on farmland or lawns, so I instantly thought it might be one.
Do you think it was likely to be a Green? If I had seen the colours I would have been able to identify it accurately, but it was a shame it was so far away.
It could have been, although even at distance I would be surprised if you didn't see at least some colour as they are very colourful. Was it getting dark?
It sounds like the kind of environment you would find a Green. I don't know how territorial they are but it might be a good idea to go back there every now and again to see if you can get another glimpse.
You will have to go back riana with camera in hand to see if it appears again. I would so like a pic as I have never seen one.
We can never say conclusively whether it is a green woodpecker unless you have a picture or even a better view of the colours. If you go back there you may see it again, they often have quite a large territory if I remember rightly but if you walk around the fields where you saw it there is a reasonably good chance you will see it again.
Oh, and make sure you bring a camera!
The green woodpecker, like the greater spotted, flies with an undulating flight - quite distinctive. The back and upper wings are yellowy green. One other bird which could be mistaken for it is the golden oriole, which also has the undulating flight, but while it has the brightly coloured back, has black wings. I recently saw an oriole in Norfolk for the first time and until I got the binoculars on it thought that it was a green WP. Do you often hear the yaffling call in that area?
I'm at work right now, but will find a pic when I get home and post it.
As promised, here is a pic of a green woodpecker - digiscoped by my wife at Weeting Heath in East Anglia.
Great picture, I love their colours of the bird.
Wow, isn't it a good looking bird. Thanks for that pic Richard much better than looking in books. I have never seen one before. Good Luck Riana.
Yesterday while cycling on the downs link I turned a corner and about 20 feet in front a pair of green woodpeckers took off just ahead of me. Very exciting! They are great birds to look at. From seeing these, I think you would have recognised the distinctive woodpecker body shape if you had seen one, but it depends how far away it was.
You lucky man!
Green woodpeckers remind me of the Northern Flickers found here in the US. Not the same colourng at all, but the same habit of sitting on lawns. They also have a distinctive body shape, but even better, they have a white rump patch which is quite diagnostic.
Kingfisher
I was quite excited when I saw them! It was only for a short second as I had disturbed unfortunately. If I was walking I would have had a brilliant photo oppurtunity but it was not to be!
Last night I saw another Green Woodpecker while out cycling. This time I distrubed it from a bush by the side of the path an it flew across in front of me making its distinctive call.
That's three in a week after rarely seeing them at all before. I feel very lucky!
Lucky you! Three in less than a week is pretty good going, were they all in the same place? If so it was probably one of the ones you have seen already.
Although I have to say, where are your quick fire photo taking skills Xeract? We want photos!
Although I have to say, where are your quick fire photo taking skills Xeract? We want photos!
Perhaps Xeract will perfect his photography skills whilst on holiday (as if I should talk 
).
Kingfisher
I'm very jealous Xeract! I still have not seen the woodpecker again despite being back to the area many times, so maybe it was a one off. I'll keep looking though, you never know when I might get lucky.
As for photos, don't expect any from me either! The bird I saw was up and gone so quickly that I wouldn't even have had time to turn on the camera let alone take a picture.