In article , Peter Crosland
writes
All through the winter and into mid-summer I have the pleasure of seeing
several greater spotted woodpeckers visiting my nut feeders each day. About
the end of July the adults and their youngsters disappear. Yesterday I the
first one I have seen for two months appeared. A friend who lives about
twenty miles away has noted the same phenomena year after year. We both live
in Somerset in areas with mature woods and old orchards. Is this some sort
of short distance migration or has anybody got another explanation?

It is quite normal behaviour, and not just for woodpeckers. The birds
have moved out into nearby woodland to take advantage of the usual
summer abundance of natural foods, and haven't needed to visit your
feeders. Great Spots are largely insectivorous in summer but take
increasing amounts of tree seeds especially from pine cones as they
become available in the summer and autumn. They sometimes feed on the
cones while they are green.

--
Malcolm Ogilvie