Saw this stunning bird today in Oud-Heverlee Noord (northern marsh), a conservation area about 15 km from Tervuren. Didn't even know it was there - I went to see Cetti's warbler and other marsh birds, but apparently i was in for an even bigger treat!
As I was watching a beautiful male reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) eating seeds off a tall reed, I saw a crow-sized black bird take off from a willow tree. At once it struck me as a strange-looking bird so I didn't look away, and how fortunate was I to make that decision. Microseconds later I saw the ivory bill and red crown, and at that moment my jaw dropped and my eyes almost popped out of my head. It was the Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius)(Wiki file shown)!
Interestingly, I might not have seen the Black Woodpecker if I'd stuck to the path. I'd decided to explore some fields nearby where I heard some birds vocalizing, and that's when the woody woodpecker flew by. If I hadn't been standing in just that spot at that time I might have missed it. Funny how life drops little jewels like this when we allow ourselves to "let go" of our expectations and just enjoy being in the here and now.
By the way, a Cetti's warbler did eventually sing, once I decided to get back on the path.
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