Well today its annual Feed the Birds Day and yesterday my kids and I got our clean full feeders into position (i feed the birds during the winter till end of spring). We have 9 feeders to offer a wide variety of food to attract as many types of birds as possible.
- there are nyjer feeders - which in the past have attract goldfinches, redpolls and siskens
- fat feeders - which before have attracted longtail tits, blue and great tits, robins, house sparrows great spotted woodpeckers and starlings.
- mixed feeders with and without mealworms - which normally attracts greenfinches and chaffinches
- the birds that will normally come to clean up spilt seed and enjoy the odd apple and bread are the magpies, collard doves, blackbirds, song and mistle thrushes, wood and feral pigeons.
so we can hardly wait to see who returns this year. there are others that will come to the garden but not to the feeders but I'll keep it a secret to share when and if they return with the visiting flocks.
I really love bird watching but during the winter it easier due to lack of leaves on the trees, plus the entertainment value for myself and the kids are priceless when there is not much else going on to do at home.
When we have exhausted the varieties to be seen at home, the desire to see more species gets us out and about in all sorts of environments during what i deem as stay at home weather ;).
Well this morning so far considering the wet dreary weather which normally keeps the numbers down, i have seen:
- our resident robin,
- two blue tits,
- two great tits
- and a goldfinch :o (they normally take a few days to make an appearance after the feeders are put out again).
PS i also observed 8 geese flying above this morning. ah! bliss they bird watching season for me at least has truly begun :D.
our robin, blue tits, great tits, greenfinches, can't count them as they take a peanut and fly into the hazel bush..plus, loads of starlings came for the bread, the blackbird for the worms where I'd moved the leaves..also, the bl**dy 'collared doves' ;D
Yesterday I was digging on the allotment, and female kestrel swooped down into the tree above me... it then hung a round for about 10 minutes, and had a wander around the allotment next to mine. Best views of a kestrel I've ever had!
Chaffinches have been coming into the garden a lot more lately, which is great. Otherwise, it's the usual - robins, blue tits, great tits, blackbirds, magpies, collared doves.
just as im writing this i have had a sparrowhawk fly right into my back window chasing a great tit off my feeders (it got away) but the sparrowhawk was dazed for a few mins but managed to compose its self and flyaway before i could get my camera, ive had long tail tits, blue and great tits,a robin and thrush three black birds,2 collared doves and about 7 green finches and more sparrows and starlings than i can count on my feeders today and what ever else was hungry while ive been on the lottie.
Not seen anything, as I've been indoors working this morning; but can hear the pleasant chirping of sparrows, and the loud sqeaks of the local parakeets. Big green parrotty things that live around here in south London - 40,000 of them, apparently! You hardly ever get a good look at them as they're so active and fast - but you hear them regularly, they sounds like squeaky toys... :)
Quote from: hellohelenhere on October 26, 2008, 14:04:31
Not seen anything, as I've been indoors working this morning; but can hear the pleasant chirping of sparrows, and the loud sqeaks of the local parakeets. Big green parrotty things that live around here in south London - 40,000 of them, apparently! You hardly ever get a good look at them as they're so active and fast - but you hear them regularly, they sounds like squeaky toys... :)
There are loads of green parakeets in North London too. They are roosting in Coldfall Woods, at the back of our allotment site, and make a terrific noise especially at dusk when they swoop around. There are lots of them around Hampstead Heath and Highgate Woods too. Their proper name is ring-necked parakeets. I'm told there are various urban myths about how they got into London in the first place - e.g. escaped from Shepperton Studios during the filming of "The African Queen" in the 1950s, escaped from London Zoo during the great storm of 1987, or were set free by Jimi Hendrix (in a purple haze?).
My apple tree:
[attachment=1]
I feed the birds all the year round.
At the moment regular visitors to the feeders and the garden are
Blue Tits, Great Tits, Coal Tits, Chaffinches, House Sparrows, Robins, Greenfinches, Siskins, Goldfinches, Magpies, Jackdaws, Collared Doves, Wood Pigeons, Blackbirds, Starlings occasional Wren and Great Spotted Woodpecker, but others will come as natural food supplies reduce. There were on average 25 different species on any one day last winter.
i just looked outside and was wondering how come the collard doves had visited already, considering there had not been enough visits to the feeders to warrent lots of spilt seed, then noticed a big white patch on the lawn with a big grey eater next to it. yep you guessed Mr squirrel broke my feeder >:( causing all the seeds to fall to the ground and of course the collard doves in the area decided to not miss out on the action, not that i blame them. i have got some oldish seed that i was going to get rid of, but i think tomorrow i will knock together a feeder just for the squirrel fill it with the old feed seeds to encourage him to stay away from my feeders this year.
oh ceres i am so jealous i would love to see the ring necks in my garden. at the moment i can see an african grey parrot sat on my knee lol ;D
Quote from: debster on October 26, 2008, 15:07:18
oh ceres i am so jealous i would love to see the ring necks in my garden. at the moment i can see an african grey parrot sat on my knee lol ;D
Honest, you don't want them in your garden! They're noisy, aggressive and voracious feeders. Until this year they always stayed on the other side of our site but this year they appeared over my side when the horse chestnuts formed on the trees at the back of my plot. They stripped the trees of chestnuts and have now started on the apple trees. They seem to have adapted well to UK living acquiring a taste for horse chestnuts. They flock in such huge numbers I'm sure they're out-competing native species in our area.
I donned my cap and wellies to venture out in the pouring rain to the horticultural society's hut to get bird food, then on to the plot to replenish the feeders. As I went through the gate onto the site I could see a handful of magpies squabbling on and around them!
That was all I saw as I didn't stay long, not surprisingly. There are parakeets here as well, which seem to roosting in the trees alongside the site. I hear them but rarely see them.
Quote from: thifasmom on October 26, 2008, 14:58:58
Mr squirrel broke my feeder >:( causing all the seeds to fall to the ground and of course the collard doves in the area decided to not miss out on the action, not that i blame them. i have got some oldish seed that i was going to get rid of, but i think tomorrow i will knock together a feeder just for the squirrel fill it with the old feed seeds to encourage him to stay away from my feeders this year.
If only...if bloomin only. >:( Hope it works for you - it never has for me :'(
We have a variety of birds visiting our feeders. The usual robins, chaffinches, loads of greenfinch, blue tits, great tits, the occasion goldfinches (not seen so many of those recently), blackbirds, magpie. The collard doves have forgotten they are supposed to be ground feeders and insist on balancing on my feeders, they are getting quite good at it. Also we have a pair of wood pigeons, one of which thought he would try the unconventional way of feeding :D
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v168/gardengirl2004/DSC01157.jpg)
I was on my plot the other evening just before dusk and watched a bat for about 10 minutes. It came within a couple of feet of me and swooped over the dog a few times. Lovely to watch.
with the night rolling in earlier today :'( we were treated to the site of a coal tit on the feeders a couple hours before dusk. we've had them around before but never to stay more than a day or two. he was quite brave venturing to the ground to feed on the spilt seed as well. hopefully he'll stick around. a pair of magpies also visited but thats no surprise as there are quite a few in the area.
I spotted a nice female sparrowhawk flying over the other day. We've got resident kestrels, but sparrowhawks have never stopped long, which is a pity. It's an ideal habitat for them with all the trees and hedges, so I live in hope.
Last week I sneaked up to the pond over the fence and got within ten yards of a heron.
Pretty as the parakeets are, I hope they're not too numerous round West Reading! I wouldn't fancy the chances of any crop they took a liking to. They're very agile, tough birds and they go round in gangs. Could strip a sweetcorn patch in ten minutes, I'm sure.
There does seem to be evidence that they are out-competing native birds, and it's not surprising, when you see them in action. Bands of thugs, really! Not their fault of course, one can hardly blame them for doing what comes naturally, but not good news, either...
Quote from: hellohelenhere on October 27, 2008, 01:31:14
Pretty as the parakeets are, I hope they're not too numerous round West Reading! I wouldn't fancy the chances of any crop they took a liking to. They're very agile, tough birds and they go round in gangs. Could strip a sweetcorn patch in ten minutes, I'm sure.
There does seem to be evidence that they are out-competing native birds, and it's not surprising, when you see them in action. Bands of thugs, really! Not their fault of course, one can hardly blame them for doing what comes naturally, but not good news, either...
I've always thought parakeets were always a tropical bird. Will these survive your winterfreeze? Whenever we hear "parakeet" our family remembers our son who had one as a boy and thought he'd let it fly around his bedroom- forgetting he'd left the window open a crack- and out it went into the winter skies.
Quote from: GrannieAnnie on October 27, 2008, 11:54:44
I've always thought parakeets were always a tropical bird. Will these survive your winterfreeze?
They are tropical but they've been surviving the freeze here for nearly 40 years! There are a lot of stories as to how they came to be here, the most popular is that they escaped from a film set at Shepperton Studios during the filming of the African Queen. There are over 30,000 of them now mostly in the south-east UK. The biggest roost is at Esher Rugby Club, a couple of miles from here, where around 7,000 birds spend the winter. They compete with starlings, owls and woodpeckers. There was a debate in the press last year about culling them but I don't think it happened.
Quote from: ceres on October 27, 2008, 12:12:28
Quote from: GrannieAnnie on October 27, 2008, 11:54:44
I've always thought parakeets were always a tropical bird. Will these survive your winterfreeze?
They are tropical but they've been surviving the freeze here for nearly 40 years! There are a lot of stories as to how they came to be here, the most popular is that they escaped from a film set at Shepperton Studios during the filming of the African Queen. There are over 30,000 of them now mostly in the south-east UK. The biggest roost is at Esher Rugby Club, a couple of miles from here, where around 7,000 birds spend the winter. They compete with starlings, owls and woodpeckers. There was a debate in the press last year about culling them but I don't think it happened.
Interesting! What is that area's lowest winter temp usually?
they're from the Himalayas
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6478911.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6478911.stm)
In the last 20 or so years I think the lowest at Heathrow was -12c but that's quite unusual. Nowadays we get mainly light frosts around 0c, a few times over a winter it'll get a couple of degrees colder. It just shows though that when they arrived initially the birds must have been very hardy to cope with any degree of freezing at all. The current generations have been bred here so presumably they have adapted over the years.
Two Blue tits in my back garden today looking in a bird box :)
They will be looking for somewhere warm to roost in during the winter months. Thats why we are encouraged to replace any old nesting material with clean dried grass or whatever.
;D
today we had a repeat of yesterday blue and great tits, a goldfinch and collard doves with addition of the wood pigeons but they stayed in the vege patch, a starling also made himself welcome, more will probably show up tomorrow. also there were two coal tits instead of one and the robin was being quite aggressive with all the tits today ::), he normally waits till early spring before fighting everyone, he must be getting some early practice in :).
Quote from: Rhubarb Thrasher on October 27, 2008, 12:54:40
they're from the Himalayas
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6478911.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6478911.stm)
[/quote
Interesting article. It must be nice looking out and seeing a bright green bird fly by!
No such thing here.
a jay, up to no good
a goldcrest, minding it's own business
an owl in the early hours of the morn, heard it then saw it fly off, a treat :)
Had my usual gaggle of Chav sparrows & they've started turfing out "rubbish" onto my yard from the swift box some of them inhabit. First ever coal tits, next doors blue tits as new neighbours next to them have lots of cats. The blue tits were also scoping out my robin nest box - don't birds ever read the labels on these boxes! fat mouse from other next door is getting cocky and shimmying down the honeysuckle to stuff it's pouches and then back up the clematis. The buzzards are circling above as ever & on my walk yesterday I annoyed a young heron by "chasing" it every time it settled a few wing beats upstream - difficuly not to as I was walking the canal tow path.
Could spend hours watching them all.
Got a feeling Mrs sparrowhawk is about an hour ago there was great & blue tits,a black bird a dozen or so goldfinch's,a female chaffinch,a wood (beautiful birds when not on the allotment) pigeon,sparrows and a dunnock, but now not a thing sure sign shes about.
So it got dark about ten minutes ago so i cant see anything else.
Woke up to a lovely sunny and fairly warm day. The first visitors I spotted in the garden was Mr. squirrel hoovering up the spilt seed and Mr robin in the apple tree, there was also some tits (query which I did not get to see them properly, will be glad when the apple trees lose all there leaves) visiting the sunflower feeder. I also noticed a couple of jays flying overhead to an oak tree at the back, they have been around since mid September gorging themselves on the acorns there are at least three of them and they spend the day moving from oak tree to oak tree of which there are many in my neighbourhood.
Looked out the window mid morning and saw that the chaffinches have returned two females counted so far :).
At 11.00am a large flock of longtail tits visited, they have been around since mid August. They were zooming and chasing each other in and out of the apple and pine trees very much like dragonflies. Some male blackbirds and wood pigeons also made an appearance a little earlier.
At about 7 am this morning the blue tits were cavorting around in the silver birch at the bottom of the garden, but then they vanished. Then nothing much to report until this evening on the allotment, when a grey heron flew over pursued by a flock of parakeets, making their terrible screeching noise. They appeared to be dive bombing the poor creature. They really are some of the worst yobs in the bird world.
Today has been quiet but had a few great, coal and blue tits, few goldfinches, couple dunnocks, 5 blackbirds, starlings, couple robins and Mrs Sparrowhawk sat on the usual branch eating. For the rest of the morning all was quiet on the feeding front.
Someone mentioned seeing an owl.
We rarely see them but hear them saying, "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you aLL-LLLLL?"
(That's the Barred Owl call). What do your owls sound like?
(Brrr it is supposed to snow tonight!)
Our tawny owl goes "twit twoo", except according to the web, the tawny owl never goes twit twoo, rather it goes "ke-wick hoo-hoo-oooo". Iknow which I prefer
not sure what our variety is round here but the males are twits ;D and the females screech
I've just got back from the allotment where, for the first time, I saw a ring-necked Parakeet on the nut feeder. There were a flock of about a dozen Magpies in a nearby tree two of which were performing low-level, close formation aerobatics.
It's good to see all the birds again after their notable absence the past few months.
We had about 3" of snow last night. I had to clear some of the feeders so the birds could get to the food this morning. Had a fleeting visit from a Jay. A lovely bird with the bright blue flashes on its tail. Haven't seen one around here for ages.
Quote from: Flighty on October 29, 2008, 11:05:14
It's good to see all the birds again after their notable absence the past few months.
This disappearance was explained last night on autumn watch. during the late summer months the adults molt their old feather and while they are growing in the new ones they are less able to fly well so keep themselves hidden so as to stay out of harms way.
but i have to agree its great to see them return :D.
thifasmom thanks for that, I was watching it but the phone rang so only half heard what was being said.
I shall enjoy walking to the plot, which is only a few minutes away, most days over the coming months looking for blue tits, robins, wrens and all the other birds.
we get a huge variety:
sparrows, dunnocks, blackbirds, robins, chaffinches, starlings, blue tits, coal tits, great tits, long-tailed tits, collared doves, wood pigeons, jays
and more occasionally:
spotted woodpeckers, greenfinches, goldfinches, sparrowhawk, goldcrest, ducks!
yesterday morning I was in the garden when the long-tailed tits arrived for their 8:45 a.m. snack. I think they're my favourite, and if you miss them in the morning they're back around 6 p.m. ;D
Quote from: Gardengirl on October 29, 2008, 11:16:37
We had about 3" of snow last night. I had to clear some of the feeders so the birds could get to the food this morning. Had a fleeting visit from a Jay. A lovely bird with the bright blue flashes on its tail. Haven't seen one around here for ages.
3", good grief, whereabouts are you, gardengirl ?
we had about 2 cms ;D
We are in Hertfordshire manicscousers. Couldn't believe it when I saw it last night, coming before November :o Really ruined some of our tall conifers which border our property, parts of them have completely collapsed under the weight of the snow, absolutely beyond repair :'(
can't believe it, hope it's melted now...shame about the trees :(
our highlight of the year was a pair of reed buntings that came in the garden a few times
The birds are definitely becoming aware that there is a feeding station in my garden. At 7.45am there were a pair of collard doves and a magpie in the pine tree, swiftly followed by at least two female chaffinches and a male on the sunflower seed feeder and on the ground under the apple tree. They were joined by two female house sparrows and a male and female blackbirds who were eating spilt seed and discarded apple cores, the female also enjoyed a splash in the bird bath.
The blue tits were are also feeding on various feeders and Mr robin was also in attendance.
10.00am and in the last half hour the new visitors to the feeders have been a male house sparrow, two coal tits, two starlings and two goldfinches. There was sightings of a jay in the oak tree as well.
11.00 and I have counted three blue tits altogether and two robins which of course meant a fight for territory ensued!! Then a crow visited it walked around for a while then flew off. Though the crow population is good in this area they rarely land in my garden, I normally see and hear them in the surrounding oak trees and on the green in the front of my house.
At midday the girls and myself went to the river Lea to do some dipping for aquatic life. On the way there we saw jays, magpies, crows and a green woodpecker flying over head.
At the river we found fresh water shrimps, water boatmen and various nymphs. Just as we were leaving we saw a pair of mallard ducks male and female.
On arriving home the garden was alive with lots of bird activity. The chaffinch numbers were up to two males and two females, many house sparrows were feeding and the coal tits and blue tits were squabbling over the feeders. They also made us smile with their upside down acrobats on the homemade fat feeder which is made from a half a coconut shell.
A great day really even though i froze my fingers at the river ::).
The messiest feeders of all, nuthatches, came and had a good ferret on the feeders. Threw out all they didn't fancy until they got to that which they did! Never mind, the ground feeders like the blackbirds had a good feast. Blue tits, great tits, coal tits, the bossy robin, a wood pidgeon who couldn't balance and gave up when the squirrel chased him off, all around today. Could hear the magpies and crows up in the oak but they rarely come down, and the starlings who usually nest in the fascia in front of the bathroom were pacing up and down checking out their winter quarters ;D
Not seen any sparrows or dunnocks for ages now though :(
Ninnyscrops
Yesterday morning i saw 5 goldfinches, two bluetits, a robin, a pair of collard doves, a male blackbird, approx 5 chaffinches (flew off before I could count them properly), approx four house sparrows and the gold crest has come back, it was seen foraging in the pine tree, which is it's usual haunt.
Later in the day my daughter called me to look out her bedroom window to see a female green woodpecker on the green in the front of the house :D.
Quote from: ninnyscrops on October 29, 2008, 23:42:43
Not seen any sparrows or dunnocks for ages now though :(
they're the bird we get the most of, up to two dozen in the hedge on the bird feeders sometimes! despite the national decline people talk about, they seem to be doing very well in Norwich :) and as long as the sparrows keep coming, the sparrowhawk keeps strutting up and down the top of the hedge trying to flush them out - I actually saw her catch one a few weeks ago.
Quote from: norfolklass on October 31, 2008, 09:34:45
Quote from: ninnyscrops on October 29, 2008, 23:42:43
Not seen any sparrows or dunnocks for ages now though :(
they're the bird we get the most of, up to two dozen in the hedge on the bird feeders sometimes! despite the national decline people talk about, they seem to be doing very well in Norwich :) and as long as the sparrows keep coming, the sparrowhawk keeps strutting up and down the top of the hedge trying to flush them out - I actually saw her catch one a few weeks ago.
Norwich is a very special place. You're lucky to live there (speaking as an ex-Norwich boy).
our sparrows are back , noticed them this morning, noisy lot, perched on the peanut feeder ;D
our biggest success with wildlife is persuading the house sparrows from the front of the house to come in the back garden. The cheep cheep cheeping is just such a lovely sound
I counted at least 30 sparrows in my garden this morning. They come to my feeders but also fly in and out of the chicken house hatch to eat the layers pellets.
09.00 to 09.30am the feeding station was visited by a dunnock ground feeding (nice to see him back), four wood pigeons were also eating spilt seed, they were joined by a male and two female chaffinches. On the feeders there were two great tits, a blue tit, three goldfinches, a robin and a male house sparrow. Then just before moving from the window two squirrels and a male blackbird appeared.
Just around lunch time I disturbed at least three longtail tits that were foraging in and around the plants in the flower beds, later I saw a wren (another regular who has returned) scampering up and down the apple tree trunk. The goldfinches numbers got up to five for the day.
What a wet day its turned out to be but the birds aren't put off.
08.05 and on the feeders there are 5 goldfinches, they were quickly followed by house sparrows 3 males and one female, a robin and some blue tits.
the rest of the very wet day the garden was visited by woodpigeons and a dunnock feeding under the apple trees. A great tit and coal tit also visited the sunflower feeder a lot.
The squirrel has been up to his usual destructive self and has caused the wastage of yet another feeder full of seed arrgh!! It attracted a magpie though. blackbirds also were about.
With just the regular visitors to the feeders and the garden, there wasn't much to report, but this morning a female great spotted woodpecker was also here on the apple tree trunks searching for a meal. We normally see a male and sometimes a female during the winter months, so it was nice to see the female as she is much shyer.
Sunny clear blue skies with mild temperatures to start the day.
Lots of birds in the garden this morning: blue tits, up to six goldfinches, greenfinches, house sparrows, starlings, collard doves, a dunnock and a robin, blackbirds, wood and feral pigeons, great tits and a goldcrest. when i went to top up feeders, i also saw a pied wagtail on the roof :D.
the coal tit and a chaffinch has just made an appearance.
Lots of activity on the feeders as per usual this morning, so far seen a family of eight goldinches and ten or so greenfinch,and chaffinch. The coal tits are active and the robin adores his little basket tray with his special supply of food that I supply just for him but he thinks hes the boss of the garden! ;D
The blue tits have moved back into the box on the side of the house that they raised their family in, in earlier months, its good to know they are all safely tucked up for the winter.
We also have blackbirds and songthrush who tend to viist together and are quite happy in each others company
Having a lot of visitors this week. I think the birds know something we don't know i.e. bad weather approaching. Have had loads of Tits, a lot of coal tits, more than previous years, they must have had a good breeding season. Great Tits, blue tits and the Long tailed tits paid their first visit this week. They are lovely birds. Robins, loads of blackbirds eating up the rotten apples, dunnocks, starlings, woodpigeons, pheasants (2). Only 1 tree sparrow and no goldfinches. I think the sparrowhawk has eaten up all the goldfinches which is a shame and I just wonder where the tree sparrows have gone. Had loads during the winter and summer. Chaffinches, greenfinches and wren!!! probably more than that oh and a couple of collared doves. I used to get up to 12 of them in a visit, now we are down to 2. Again, think the sparrowhawk has had a few feasts.
;)
I was at the allotments this morning and for several minutes watched a ring-necked parakeet on my nut bird feeder only about ten feet away. Wonderful!
Also saw robin, magpies, dunnocks, gulls, blackbirds, crows and starlings.
Not a bird I know but a young fox sauntered across the plot as well.
had a mistle thrush visit today, it enjoyed a bath in the water provided :D. last year this time we were inundated with mistle and song thrushes along with blackbirds with even one visit from a redwing in February but then the old apple tree was groaning with fruit, the best its ever fruited in the five years we have been here and so the birds were very happy last year. it even attracted three bullfinches and a female blackcap last winter.
this year not one fruit survived the summer to see the autumn further more winter and so the thrush population has been pretty nonexistent since early September.
i have been putting out apple core scraps on the lawn for the past few weeks, but don't think that will be enough to keep the thrushes around :(.
(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk187/thifasmom/IMG_1074.jpg)
I haven't yet seen *any* small birds in our new garden. There only seem to be starlings, crows and gulls around here. Very odd! There aren't a lot of trees and bushes in the immediate area so that may be part of it. I put up a bird feeder, but it hasn't been found yet; will have to put some more enticing foods out, and construct a bath and a bird-table as well when I can. Perhaps I can lure them eventually - I hope so!
Always see a robin but I too have seen a parakeet on one ocassion.
More parakeets
.
http://flightplot.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/dscn0851.jpg
nice shot flighty
Thifasmom thanks. Yesterday I stood even closer and watched one on the nut feeder for several minutes. Unfortunately my hands were dirty and the camera was in the shed!
The gardeners' friend,the robin kept me company in my customers garden today.Perched on the handle of the wheelbarrow. :)
Spent a couple of hours at Exceat in East Sussex early yesterday taking some pics. This chap was a little shy and wouldn't let me get too close
(http://i430.photobucket.com/albums/qq24/louisejayne_photos/heron.gif)
and this one didn't hang around long
(http://i430.photobucket.com/albums/qq24/louisejayne_photos/kingfisher.gif)
Bit blury but I wanted to snap him quick before he flew away again. I sat watching him for about 10 minutes diving into the water.
Looby Loo I think that you're so lucky to see a kingfisher like that. All I've ever seen is a flash of colour as one has flown past me!
oohh lucky you Looby Loo, i'm jealous.
Hurray! Having seen no small birds at all except for starlings, in the 3 weeks since we moved in, I finally saw a wagtail and a robin within 1 second of each other. The robin came to investigate after we moved a fridge out the garden, exposing lots of woodlice and stuff, I imagine.
It also figured out my impromptu bird table (a board laid on top of a bin) so I hope it will become a regular. It's very tame - happy to be within a few feet of us.
We have red kites here, I was amazed to see. I haven't seen any other birds of prey yet, but the kites are quite in evidence.
managed to see a woodpecker in my daughter's garden, first time I've seen any birds there, apart from the normal collared doves and magpies ::) ;D
Herons aren't easy to creep up to. I remember kingfishers around Sandford Lock on the Thames years ago, they're surprisingly hard to see until they move!
on the walk home today saw three pied wagtails ;D
Just seen a Great spotted woodpecker on my peanut feeder and pecking at my whitebeam tree. It was a male one with a bright red patch on the back of its crown. I've never seen one in my garden before in the 20 years we've lived here. What a thrill! Didn't have my camera to hand though - sod's law.
a big fat thrush, special because we haven't had them in the garden for several months
After bemoaning (like you do) to the missus that I hadn't seen a Goldfinch this year yet, I've been putting out Niger seed for ages - and what happens - one arrives, BLESS IM!
we had a visit from the local sparrowhawk this morning. I thought it was quiet, normally lots of sparrows having their breakfast, then I saw a big flurry of wings and she landed on top of the trellis and sat surveying the area for a couple of minutes before swooping off. stunning!
Ooo I had the sparrowhawk as well, caught the lady flying off. It has been very quiet in the garden the past couple of days. Maybe she has paid quite a few visits and has spooked them again.
>:(
A jay visited to day :D
I am mainly seeing Robins at the moment,the occasional blue tit.Where are they all?
yes i know what you mean cause although I'm seeing birds every day its no where the number i was seeing last year and i started feeding at approx the same time ie last weekend of Oct.
nor am i seeing the variety i was seeing last year either ???.
We have blackbirds and sparrows chirrupping in the hedgerows at the moment. In our garden the trick is to spot two robins at the same time (yes - it does happen quite often in winter!). My favourite visitors are the long tailed tits. I love the way they do acrobatics from the tree branches!!
... and we get flocks of goldfinches at ths time of year too!
The bird box in my mums garden had two blue tits going in and out of it yesterday.
Strange for this time of year???
I hav'nt seen one today but in the past over at Rutland Water I have seen the Osprey's,
Hectic feeding today. Temp is still at -3 midday. Have had all the tits calling, dunnocks, 3 robins and not fighting today, 10 blackbirds at least going for the apples I have put out along with the cheese. Woodies, collared dove and ONE goldfinch, now that is sad after last year having loads. No Tree sparrows yet and not seen a house sparrow either. Plenty Starlings and a pheasant sat on my front door step this morning. Quite wintery out there with the frost hanging on the trees and bushes. Oh and I saw a few greenfinches and half a dozen chaffinches. Winter is here!!!
You are lucky Carol. Nothing in my North London garden today except my friendly robin, the occasional blackbird and the usual pigeons, collared doves and magpies.
A magpie got trapped under a car outside my house last night and some well-meaning people chased it out and took it away in a box - it seemed much the worse for wear after they had caught it.
So Carol its you that have all my birds, well give em back!! >:( ;) :D
No way hosey, I like me birdies. I could spare a blackbird but they are locally reared see, so maybe they would get lost down your way. ::) :)
;) :D
Small birds are still looking thin on the ground here, but I'm glad to say that I do have a resident robin, and very magnificent he/she is, too - also very tame. Turns up whenever I'm out doing stuff in the garden.
However, other than that, I've only seen one blackbird, and one wagtail. I think that the bushes and trees round here are just too few. I'm really going to have to work hard to entice birds here, and get some bushes so they'll feel a bit more secure. I was thinking of putting up nesting boxes on the cherry tree, in the hope they might use them for roosting, but not sure they'll like it with no leaf cover. Might try to make a few little roosting boxes and shove them into the conifer hedge. Plus I'm going have to get mealworms I think, or other major bribery for the bird table.
It's cold, wet and windy here so all I saw this morning when I refilled my plot feeders were a couple of magpies and a crow.
Hellohelenhere once your garden gets established during next year you'll find that more birds will visit. A robin is always a welcome gardener's friend.
Well, I have had a busy day feeding the birdies. Again temperature never got above -3c here so they were all cold cold. I bought stale buns yesterday and topped up the usual feed with that and managed to de frost a couple of watering places. My extra visitor today was 1 Bullfinch. But, i seem to have an excess on Blackbirds, they were everywhere today and for once weren't chasing each other about. Too cold for that, they just wanted food and water.
Quote from: Carol on November 29, 2008, 17:17:12
No way hosey, I like me birdies. I could spare a blackbird but they are locally reared see, so maybe they would get lost down your way. ::) :)
.....And they can play the bagpipes too! ;D ;D
Mr & Mrs Nuthatch in residence today :)
I've moved all the feeders up to the penthouse apartment now so the squirrels will have to work for their peanuts!
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t87/ninnyscrops/DSCF1461.jpg
^^ Blimey, look at that! The birds must love you and be queuing around the corner ;D
We've had our blue tit couple in the garden most mornings this past week and this morning whilst sitting in bed, I could hear a grouple of long tailed tits in the bushes outside the front of our house (I couldn't see them though!) Other than that, all quiet on the western front.
I was walking round the site the other day when I saw a bird I didn't recognise at first. It was brown, the size of a large thrush, and was flying wrongly for any of the expected species. It went past not ten feet away, and it was only when I saw the long beak that I realised it was a woodcock.
A Kestrel at work today, it was doing a lot of talking today, keeps the winged rats away from my work area. ;D ;D ;D
Not today, but yesterday, I saw a couple of Barn Owls. One was quartering a field at 3pm. I expect the hard frost had sent it out early because finding voles would be hard to spot. A bit later as darkness fell saw another one just outside our village crossing over the road.
:)
Carol I'm just a tiny bit envious as I'm fascinated by owls but have only ever seen one on the wing in the wild!
not on the birdtable but a Redkite soaring the skies
s72 area s yorks.
Just had a Thrush visit the garden sadly the first I've seen in months.
It's a cold but sunny day so this morning I went to the plot then on to the park/playing fields across the road.
Saw blue, coal and great tits; parakeets, robins, gulls, pigeons, crows, magpies, starlings, blackbirds, dunnocks and wrens.
There were also a couple of foxes sunning themselves on the allotments.
Pair of great tits (ahem, scuse me) in the garden this morning. Made me feel all guilty as they were scouting about for food and I haven't put any out for a while. I could hear a few protests going on out there! ;D
When we first saw this bird we thought it was young chaffinch because of its white wings. It did seem strange that this one and another one the same were coming to feed with the sparrows. It is definitely a sparrow. Difficult to take a pic cos everytime I went outside they all flew away
The white on its wings and underside look too prominent for a sparrow, as you say, but I suppose it could be a male - they have stronger markings than females - or perhaps a tree sparrow rather than a house sparrow, or was it too large for that?
Looks exactly the same as an ordinary female sparrow except for the white on the edge of its wings
I think its just an anomaly, last year we had a male chaffinch with a completely white tail, made it easy to identify day after day, not seen him this year, but then the chaffinch numbers this year visiting the garden have been low.
Here are some pics taken earlier in the year but thankfully we still have the same old visitors, now considered friends :)
I do love and enjoy so much the many (some pictured, some not) visitors to my garden :)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/Honeybee3003/Vistors%20to%20my%20garden/4-1.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/Honeybee3003/Vistors%20to%20my%20garden/6.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/Honeybee3003/Vistors%20to%20my%20garden/Blackcap.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/Honeybee3003/Vistors%20to%20my%20garden/3.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/Honeybee3003/Vistors%20to%20my%20garden/2.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/Honeybee3003/Garden/DSC00064Small.jpg)
You lucky person having bull finches on the feeders. I had one in a bush last week but would love to see them feeding with food provided. I havent seen a Siskin this winter yet or a tree sparrow. Hopefully they will turn up soon and I have spotted 2 goldfinches now. Tomorrow will be hectic outdoors if all this snow arrives as promised. I had best go and get set up for the morning. I am out there in my dressing gown and boots!!! sight to see I tell you. At least I don't do curlers now!!!
Quote from: Carol on December 03, 2008, 23:29:20
Tomorrow will be hectic outdoors if all this snow arrives as promised. I had best go and get set up for the morning. I am out there in my dressing gown and boots!!! sight to see I tell you. At least I don't do curlers now!!!
:D you aren't the only one i often wonder what my neighbours think of me :-\ :).
honeybee you are so lucky, we had bullfinches for one short hour last winter (and luckily it was the same hour we were doing the RSPB bird watch/ count) they were after buds on the apple tree which i don't mind as we only kept this very old tree for shade as the apples are a bit so so in taste and always full of bugs, etc.
Honeybee, what lovely photos, you are so lucky to have a bullfinch visit. I have never seen one on our feeders. Having said that, we are having our fair share of birds at the moment all frantically building themselves up for the winter. One question....do long tailed tits require a different food from blue or great tits. I think I spotted about half a dozen of them in a nearby tree but they did not come to my feeders.
Quote from: Gardengirl on December 04, 2008, 10:14:28
One question....do long tailed tits require a different food from blue or great tits. I think I spotted about half a dozen of them in a nearby tree but they did not come to my feeders.
in my garden they mainly go for the fat feeders with the odd peck at the sunflower feeder.
Thanks thifasmom. I do put sunflowers hearts & fat balls out amongst other things so I don't know why they don't come to my feeders. We do have a lot of larger birds, ie: collared doves, wood pigeons, starlings and the occasional magpie, maybe they don't like mixing with them :-\
Quote from: Gardengirl on December 04, 2008, 10:23:22
Thanks thifasmom. I do put sunflowers hearts & fat balls out amongst other things so I don't know why they don't come to my feeders. We do have a lot of larger birds, ie: collared doves, wood pigeons, starlings and the occasional magpie, maybe they don't like mixing with them :-\
if your fat feeder is mobbed by starlings they may be a bit wary, i only had success when i got a caged feeder for the fat balls. now all the small birds happly feed without being chased/ scared off.
the one i have is like this:
http://www.haiths.com/product-Caged-Fat-Ball-Feeder-BFFADFATCAGE/ (http://www.haiths.com/product-Caged-Fat-Ball-Feeder-BFFADFATCAGE/)
but the starlings were persistant and so i raised the floor of the feeder using thick wire scrunched up in a crude ball shape (to stop the starlings from getting to the balls from the bottom of the cage) and i also made the bottom hole half the size they were by wrapping thick wire around the middle like this:
0 the longtail and blue tits can still fit through and as the upper holes haven't been tampered with the great tits can use those (although they rarely eat in the cage feeder). i also don't put more than two fat ball at a time as the starlings could then reach one through the top hole. the resident woodpecker uses it though cause its beak is longer, but he isn't a bully (except to chase the starlings) and doesn't create a problem.
As predicted and despite the BBC Weather saying Scotland had no snow,. we had about 2 inches or more and I have been busy all morning scraping away snow and feeding the birdies. I think birds are odd though. I put out feed and has anyone noticed that they seem to stand back and look and come down to feed but peck in the snow for food and not whats in front of them. I am inundated with Blackbirds. I know it was a good breeding season but come on Blackies, next year go on the PILL LOL. I have at least a dozen trying to get in there mostly picking up what has been spilt. I also counted 4 Robins mostly fighting but they did get some food. No additional visitors just the usual. I agree that Long Tailed tits go for the Fat Balls and other Fat Food. They have been eating the Sunflower Hearts an all though.
;)
Thanks for the link thifasmom, the cage looks good, maybe I will try one :)
Blue tits and great tits are flocking all over the garden this morning, dashing from tree to tree and in and out of the feeder. Never ever seen so many at once (the Northern Line runs past our back fence and tends to deter them a bit). What's the collective noun for a load of tits?
A couple of new visitors this morning, not seen them this winter until today, 2 Red Legged Partridges. They must have been hungry with the fields frozen. First time I have seen them eating off the ground feeding table.
We've had a thrush visiting recently but the blackbirds keep chasing it away. Also a siskin yesterday & today.
Janet,
Surprise of today was a group of long tailed tits called why I was filling the feeders and one landed on the feeder despite me being there. They don't seem to be afraid of humans. wow, made my day. ;D
yes i have noticed they are the only birds that will stay in the tree if i suddenly enter the garden. last winter i also noticed the redpolls also seemed pretty fearless, but i haven't seen them yet this year :(.
Any ideas what I could put in a pot to attract the birds to my patio? I bought a feeder and they don't go to that I bought peanuts and they don't go to that and yesterday I bought some fat balls but they have nothing I can hang them up with ::)
I would love to see some birds here anything but pigeons would be fine. I have seen the pied wagtail and that's all.
Sinbad
Quote from: Sinbad7 on December 10, 2008, 09:41:58
Any ideas what I could put in a pot to attract the birds to my patio? I bought a feeder and they don't go to that I bought peanuts and they don't go to that and yesterday I bought some fat balls but they have nothing I can hang them up with ::)
I would love to see some birds here anything but pigeons would be fine. I have seen the pied wagtail and that's all.
Sinbad
what about an evergreen shrub like holly but not grown as a standard ???
Hi Sinbad,
if you put your fatballs on a plantpot tray the groundfeeding birds may come and peck at it on your patio.
Also something that could act as a birdbath - a seedtray or something. We have the top half of an old concrete birdbath that just sits on the patio and the birds love it. They need to bath to keep their feathers in good condition.
Also the most popular birdfood here by a long way is sunflower seeds so you might find it worth getting some to attract the birds. Also the birds like to feed in the open so they can see predators coming eg cats! They need to feel safe.
Good luck
T.
Sunflower hearts in a feeder are by far the most popular food source in my patch. Any that drop to the floor are immediately eaten by a wide range of birds. Then probably a good quality mixed bird seed (no wheat) scattered on he ground. Whole peanut in a feeder are regularly taken by blue, great and coal tits. Breadcrumbs scattered on the lawn eaten by a wide range of birds. Niger(Nyger) seeds ignored by goldfinches but very popular with siskins and red polls when they arrive. Whole black sunflower seeds mostly taken by coal tits and any that drop to the ground are rarely picked up so quite a lot of waste. Homemade fat balls are a demolished very quickly by starlings
I get about 19 different bird species at various times in the day at present but this will increase to 25-30 as winter advances.
Many thanks for your replies.
I put a fat ball on a pot saucer with some cut up peanuts and bird seed and saw Mr Crow eating the peanuts today, so hoping this is a start ;D Well it's better than the pigeons, I hope.
A huge grey heron landed next to my pond this morning. I've seen a few in the area but never in my own garden before. Fortunately there are a few fish left!
Sorry about the pathetic pictures.
[attachment=1]
[attachment=2]
Bloomin' cheek eh? Poor thing must be hungry though... hope it didn't get any of your fish. Did you hide behind the curtain to take that pic. Thats the only way I can take a pic of a Heron, they spook so easily. Well done.
;D
Quote from: Carol on December 14, 2008, 14:05:59
Bloomin' cheek eh? Poor thing must be hungry though... hope it didn't get any of your fish. Did you hide behind the curtain to take that pic. Thats the only way I can take a pic of a Heron, they spook so easily. Well done.
;D
Thanks Carol. I took the pictures through the french window. As soon as I opened the door the heron flew away, pursued by magpies, and I wasn't quick enough to photograph it in flight.
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g261/nippie1/001-1-1.jpg[/img]](http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g261/nippie1/001-1-1.jpg) (http://[img)
Here is the sparrow hawk that visits our garden occasionally. The garden is always devoid of birds for about an hour after his visits, he obviously frightens them away.
He would not turn around so I only have his back view!!!
I've had such fun today! There are quite a few blackbirds around and they have been feeding on the worms in an open bag of horse manure, tossing the manure onto the path (which I then have to sweep up >:( )while they get at the worms .. SO....I moved three bags into the middle of a plot I wanted manured....and waited :P Sure enough they've been working for their supper all day 8) ;D
Thrushes are enjoying the broken up suet blocks, etc. I put onto straw in hanging baskets. Pleased about that.
Saw a couple of Wrens, they usually stay out of sight.
:)
i'm sure it was a Lapwing . dont often see one of those. Saw a coulpe of the pesky ring necked green parrots that infest our site,a couple of great tits and the usual assortment of blackbirds and sparrows.Also got to go 'boo' to the pigeons.
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/lowrieT/003.jpg)
cheeky lad nicking the little uns feed.
that pole is falling over
Handsome chappie like that, Carol, I'd forgive him :D
I saw a magpie flying along with twigs in its beak. Strange thing to be doing in a cold December; I'm sure its not nesting time!
Around mid-day there were over 40 crows on the roof of the block of flats over the road. They were there for about ten minutes then flew off in small groups.
At the allotment - ten blackbirds eating windfall apples under my tree. Two crows, seeing off a magpie. Two robins, a flock of long tail tits and what I think was a female chafinch. Also heard, but couldn't see, the green woodpecker. In the garden, three ring doves eating from my bird table, and a wren on the fence. In the carpark at the supermarket, several pied wagtails.
Keep looking out for fieldfares, as we usually get some on the allotments, but not seen any yet. Has anyone seen any this winter?
Not yet, I keep looking and I put out halved apples just in case one passes by and fancies one.
The blackies eat them up.....
I saw some Fieldfares in the orchard next door yesterday, feeding on the fallen apples. In the Breckland they call them "Fulfers".
We have a flock of long tailed tits visiting our feeding station each day, they only stay a few minutes so getting photos can be difficult but here are two I managed recently. We have had a "white" blackbird around for a long time but so far no luck with the camera. It is a while since I posted pictures and they o seem rather small but I see if you click on them you get a bigger picture.
(http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/6029/1001529lu5.th.jpg) (http://img237.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1001529lu5.jpg)
(http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/2176/1001531wy2.th.jpg) (http://img165.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1001531wy2.jpg)
Well you were lucky to get such good shots as they are certainly flighty birds :). I've been quite unwell since before Christmas and haven't been in the mood to post much, but the Saturday before Christmas i saw my first grey wagtail, it came in on the wing with a mixture of birds and visited the birdbath then flew off (no chance of the camera being used ::)). the bird population for us this winter has been quite disappointing, the last two winters we would on most days observe as much as 27 different bird species. i think the reduction in numbers and species have been related to the destruction of some ideal bird habitat in the form of overgrown garden scrub/ bramble thicket two doors down. new neighbours cleared the very overgrown garden to make it more habitable for themselves understandably. which is why i think there was also a reemergence of hedgehogs last autumn after five years of not seeing any :-\.
hope you're feeling better now :)
saw a blackcap on Sunday, very briefly, but it's the first one I've ever seen one, so I had to get the bird book out! how common are these, does anyone know?
Saw two Little Egrets in the middle of town last week. They were feeding on the central reservation on a dual carriageway, together with a very confused looking crow. There are quite a lot around the Thames Estuary, but I was rather suprised to see them in town - so was the crow!
We put a new bird feeding table in the garden at the weekend:
day 1 - robin found it
day 2 - blue tits arrived
day 3 -wren, chaffinch and occasional great tit appeared.
day 4 - grey squirrel - oh well ::)
And a buzzard sat in a tree about 15ft away. So not so many smaller birds.
But the rooks trying to knock the buzzard out of the tree
The buzzard was back today - didn't see it try to catch anything though.
I think there was a coal tit around a bit later on.
Sally
I was standing at the Kitchen window on the phone to my elderly aunt when oooops a Hawk attack. it scooped up a starling who had been busy eating on the ground feeder and landed underneath the kitchen window. I swore ****** said sorry to my aunt and dashed outside and managed to get the sparrowhawk to drop the starling , it then chased after it again, but it didn't catch it. It can go catch a bird somewhere else. :o
same here Carol, didn't see the Sparrowhawk this time but huge pile of feathers under my Camellia bush which seems to be it's plucking post-House Sparrows are on the menu :(/ shades x
There were a pair of goldcrests hopping through the hedge this morning, about a yard away from where I was clearing ivy. Maybe they were protesting.
Never seen one before :)
Sally
Just before dusk yesterday afternoon I saw what I thought was a Great Bustard in the field adjoining my garden. It was running towards the top of the field. I called my husband and he saw it too and was in agreement with what I thought it was. He grabbed his camera but by the time he was ready to take a picture the bird was at the top of the hill and the image is not clear enough for identification.
Hopefully it will be back again and so I can shoot it.............with my camera of course!!
There's a good set of pictures in the Guardian - link below - of more unusual birds that are coming into gardens because of the cold weather and lack of food sources in the surrounding countryside:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2009/jan/08/wildlife-conservation?picture=341457991
Cormorant, moorhen, mute swans, mallards, inevitable black headed gulls and I think it was a Great Crested Grebe - but was far off and ducking under the water a lot. All at Thornton Reservoir in Leicestershire.
Also Wrens, blackbirds, thrushes, sparrows, blue tit etc in the wooded areas surrounding the reservoir.
Saw my first Kingfisher last Sunday, it made my day :)
Get ready for next weekend the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/about/index.asp (http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/about/index.asp)
Yes, I got the form in today. It is the weekend when all the Birds disappear and you have nothing to count but Jackdaws and occasional Starling.
;) ;)
Large Mistle Thrush in my garden today. I've not seen one there before. Hope it comes back and brings some friends to help keep the snail population down.
:)last night in the dark in a tree next to a busy main road with a massive street light over head I was delighted to see 50 to 60 Pied Wagtails!!!! chattering away . I usually only ever see one, but by chance have found where they all stay the night!! ;D fantastic sight / shades x
Hopalong I always struggle to tell apart the mistle and the song thrush, I know the mistle thrush is plumper but they could at least do me a favour and stand side by side so that I can tell them apart ::)
AS, I have seen maybe up to a dozen or so pied wagtails and know for sure if you see one you will see a group of them but I have never had to opportunity of seeing up to 60, bet that was a treasured sight :)
Well this past few days, I have seen a rare sight too, Mr Robin has gone and got himself a wife ;D
Hes a right cantankerous old thing and is certainly king of the garden chasing off all and sundry, so it actually seem quite funny to see him and his new ladyfriend sat happily side by side snuggling up in the magnolia tree :)
Quote from: honeybee on January 18, 2009, 12:37:11
Hopalong I always struggle to tell apart the mistle and the song thrush, I know the mistle thrush is plumper but they could at least do me a favour and stand side by side so that I can tell them apart ::)
My garden is in North London, with the Northern Line going past the back fence, so we don't usually see thrushes at all. I just assumed this was a mistle because it was big and plump with very strong markings. Could be wrong though. :-\
I haven't seen a Mistle Thrush in my garden for a while. It is a bit larger than the Song Thrush but the markings on its chest is pronounced and it stands upright quite a bit.
I have 2 Robins which sit about 10ft apart outside my kitchen end. One goes to feed the other comes down chases it away and so on, they don't seem to talk!!! just fight. I have another at the bedroom end of the house and it seems to argue with the dunnocks. He She is a dab hand at hanging off the feeders.
The birds seem to be ravenous today must be a sign that the bad weather is on its way again.
;D ;D
Quote from: Carol on January 18, 2009, 13:57:26
I haven't seen a Mistle Thrush in my garden for a while. It is a bit larger than the Song Thrush but the markings on its chest is pronounced and it stands upright quite a bit.
Mine was definitely the Mistle Thrush in that case. It stood upright and looked around a lot. Haven't seen it again today though.
Quote from: honeybee on January 18, 2009, 12:37:11
Well this past few days, I have seen a rare sight too, Mr Robin has gone and got himself a wife ;D
Hes a right cantankerous old thing and is certainly king of the garden chasing off all and sundry, so it actually seem quite funny to see him and his new ladyfriend sat happily side by side snuggling up in the magnolia tree :)
looked out my window this morn and my Mr robin (aka small yard bully ;)) has gone and done the same thing :).
three herons close together, where a digger was clearing a drainage d**e!
Two goldcrests, on the sycamores outside the window, a couple of days ago.
If this is what the snow brings then bring on the snow
oh nice shot Shirl. i have noticed as well that the birds are thick by me too, lots of tits, no longtails though had them come by Saturday. the robin, chaffinches, house sparrows, starlings, wood pigeons, great spotted woodpecker, collard doves and green finches all stopped by so far today.
We do have 6 wood pigeons in the big sycamore at the back and this is where the long tails were before they came down. Always have loads of sparrows. Fell awful really cos the hawk comes about twice a week :( and helps himself. My daughter who lives in Redditch has had a blackcap and several females. She saw them around him and when she looked on the net turns out thats what they were.
Nice picture, Shirlton :)
Lovely sight outside our kitchen window this morning. Tree branches covered in snow and a little robin came and sat right in the middle of it. I couldn't get my camera quick enough before he flew onto the food table and up into the tree. Made my morning.
Got to work and a blackbird and a thrush were sitting under a conifer bush, sheltering (I call it a bush because the landlords have chopped all the trees down to bush height :() so I rolled some fat balls under and added some mixed fruit, nuts and seed ;D ;D
I finished work early today,(d**n snow)so decided to walk up to the town centre and spotted the following:
1 Red Kite ;D
4 Redwings
1 Moorhen by the brook
Returned home to find the usual culprits in the garden
2 Male Blackbirds chasing each other
8 House Sparrows
10 Starlings
2 Blue tits
2 Hedge Sparrows
we had a small flock of greenfinches (7) in the garden this morning, and all the usual suspects ;)
seen lots of big black birds not sure what types could be rooks....
Quote from: hopalong on January 18, 2009, 14:59:36
Quote from: Carol on January 18, 2009, 13:57:26
I haven't seen a Mistle Thrush in my garden for a while. It is a bit larger than the Song Thrush but the markings on its chest is pronounced and it stands upright quite a bit.
Mine was definitely the Mistle Thrush in that case. It stood upright and looked around a lot. Haven't seen it again today though.
We've had an unusual member of the blackbird family in the garden recently. Looked a bit like a thrush, but looking on the RSPB bird identifier section we've decided it is a Fieldfare.
valmarg
Several redwings today. We always get them moving into the city in cold weather.
I am quite tired tonight with my continuous clearing of snow for the birds. Like the rest of you we had one snow shower after another right up to dinnertime so I was kept busy. Were they bovvered, no no no. I don't know why they dither about and sit in trees watching when there is food there for them to eat. Did have the usual selection with my large amount of blackbirds feeding. I feed 12. There was an increase in the goldfinches again about 6 compared to 12 last year. I had the blue,coal,great and long tailed tits. No sparrows, tree or house but a few dunnocks. Had a return of the chaffinches and greenfinches but not in great numbers like previous years. Also, I usually have a few siskins, none up to now. where are they??? I have seen a brambling this year but none today. No doubt I shall be up in the morning with my white fluffy dressing gown and hood with a pair of boots on. ;D ;D ;D
Carol I only seem to get the one pair of blackbirds but they certainly made short work of the apples I cut up for them today :) (I cleared the snow for them) They did spend some time chasing the starlings away!!!
Lots of activity today and yesterday, probably because of the cold, and also the snow making ground feeding difficult. The blue tits, great tits and chaffinches have been hard at work on the feeders and I've also seen sparrows, blackbirds and robins. The mistle thrush also appeared again. Woodpigeons and magpies don't usually bother with the feeders. but they have today.
Not sure why, but my garden seems to be Blackbird heaven !
Today I counted 7 males and 3 females ! I am ground feeding them twice a day - anything
I can lay my hands on at the moment. They wait in the big apple tree at the end of the garden
- It's like Hichcocks 'Birds ', There is one male who ' chits ' at us if we are a bit late , and is a bit
bossy. One will always sit on the fence where there is a cat next door, and others wait in the
tree when the food goes out. Did worry as they landed in the snow yesterday and sunk up to
their axles ! They then did a jump style butterfly stroke that got them to the ' tray '.
Cleared some ground after that .
Last Summer they safely fledged their young in our shrubs - so reckon they think we're OK.
floss xxx
out with the dogs this morning, I saw a flash of white wings heading towards me, at first i thought it was a gull, but no , a barn owl, it flew overhead really low, brill.......wasn't it a lovely morning :)
I remember seeing one out in broad daylight in the snow on Goss Moor in mid-Cornwall, years ago. There had been a pair roosting in an empty hut for a long time. It spotted me, and flew off with its head turned round 180 degrees, so it was looking straight at me over its shoulderblades. I neve saw them again, so they probably starved. Deep snow always causes massive owl mortality.
saw the local green woodpecker today while building snowmen with toddler, could have kicked myself the camera was inside and it was not very far away foraging in the snow.
A Sparrow Hawk, in hot pursuit of a pigeon, straight across the A47 nr Norwich, between two lorries!!
Didn't see a thing all day during Monday's snow. This morning, youngest has been out to start a snowman and disturbed the snow. Now the blackbirds are busy rooting through the disturbed bits.
Sally
had a jay today :D
A Redwing in my Crabapple, Blackbirds looking for dropped seed.
Sorry wrong ones :-[
A barn Owl, hunting over a pasture, about 10 o'clock this a.m. ! ;)
Can see the blackbirds Froglegs, where's the redwing hiding?
???
I had a flock of 24 Redwings this morning at the height of a blizzard. I watched them come over the field and settle in my willow tree for 5 mins. I have also acquired a couple of Red Legged Partridges again who seem to be brave enough to eat off the ground feeding tables, until they spot me and run off.
Quote from: saddad on February 05, 2009, 20:24:41
Can see the blackbirds Froglegs, where's the redwing hiding?
???
It is there....... honest. :-[
Saw a dear little Wren hopping about in the snow, haven't seen one for a long while.
I havent seen a wren for a few weeks, hope they are surviving this cold weather. Read they huddle together at night to keep warm in extreme cold.
I saw a abrambling today and the return of 1 yellow hammer.
i had two different sightings of wrens in the past week haven't seen them since Oct 08 :o. one was in my flower garden and the other was on the way to pick up my daughter from school both on Thursday.
We were coming home from shopping yesterday & I looked to the side of the road & there was a beautiful Buzzard sad in a hawthorn bush. Closest we've ever seen one.
Janet.
On our way home from shopping at 5pm we came across a Barn Owl on the edge of the road. This is the 2nd one I have seen this week, they are quite prolific in this area.
When we got home a Heron was standing still at the side of our Pond. Poor thing, apart from a hole the pond iced over.
Finaly identified this bird today,
White's Thrush --- 10 & 3/4 ins.
' Rare vagrant, mainly in winter to Southern England, but also recorded in Scotland and
Ireland ; breeds in Siberia ; black crescents on upper and under parts ; black and white
band under wing is distinctive when it flies ; similar to Mistle thrush, but larger and more
bodly patterned.
He/she has been around for a few days now, the blackbirds arn't keen as they
divebomb it - it doesn't seem at all put out and haunts the apple tree with the others.
floss x
lucky you flossy i have never seen one of those, any chance of a piccy??
Oh thifasmom, I think I've made a mistake ...... this not like any thrush type bird
I have ever seen. Got a better look just now, thought it was a Field fare but have
had a good look , so here goes;
Large as before, grey head with black band around kneck, under throat is very speckled
and yellow running either side down of white chest that carries on to its underparts - has white flash in wings, back and wings are an indistinct brown/ grey.
So sorry would love to take a pic but am waiting on my new camera - blast !
He's a bit aggressive but as he's alone suppose thats not surprising.
Hope you can help please to ID this one,
floss xxx
Need help to ID the bird I've described in last post please -
With thanks , flossxxx
it sure sounds like a fieldfare but i'll pour though my books and see if anthing else looks like it.
here is a link to thrushes around the world you might see what you are looking for.
http://www.avianweb.com/thrushes.htm (http://www.avianweb.com/thrushes.htm)
could it be the dark throated thrush ???
http://10000birds.com/dark-throated-thrush-wales.htm (http://10000birds.com/dark-throated-thrush-wales.htm)
Thank you so much thifasmom, ;)
Definitely a Fieldfare - rather gorgious isn't he - will enjoy browsing further
into the web sites you gave me.
Will say our one has a much darker neck ' ring ' than the photo but a definite match,
Thanks again,
floss xxx
Description sounds def. like a fieldfare. Lovely birds and aggresive as you said. They chase the blackbirds if there is fruit lying.
:D
Red Legged Partridges again
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/lowrieT/002-1.jpg)
Lovely picture Carol. You are fortunate to live where you do. It's been a good day for birds in my back garden, which backs onto the Northern Line (overground at this point) but nothing so exotic - just the mistle thrush, robin, blue and great tits, blackbirds, sparrows, magpies and wood pigeons.
I would like the Mistle Thrush again though instead of R L Partridges. I have been camera happy today and took one of ONE of the Robins in a tree. The tree was in focus, Robin was out of focus. blast!!! I saw a few Heron today when we walked by the river but they were too jumpy and quick for me to get one in focus again.
We have had another load of snow, its been snowing since 8am. I have tried to keep the birds feeding but a thankless task with the snow covering it all up and the birds just looking at it!!!
Surprise surprise though, a pair of Bullfinches sat on the dead shrub in front of the bedroom window but before I got my camera steady -- gone. I have also had a couple of Bramblings feeding this week.
Sick of this snow now, wish it would gooooooooooo
I thought of you this morning Carol when I saw the weather forecast for the borders. Our snow has almost gone now but may be more forecast for this evening :o
Can't keep up with the bird feeding, they seem extra hungry in this cold weather. Have recently put niger seed out and have seen an increase in the Gold Finches and even had a couple of Siskins which are rare here lately.
Think we were all taken unaware with todays snow. It was forecast but 4 inches fell and the schools closed over most of the region.
We had Siskins last winter and well into summer but no sign of them this winter at all. I think my birds caught up with their feeding this afternoon when the snow stopped. I have felt the cold today though, spose it was with all the trudging about in the snow!!!! Getting warm now. ;D
a treecreeper a treecreeper a treecreeper (http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk187/thifasmom/fainting.gif) ;D
wow, you lucky person you, I only seen a dead one in our garden about 10 years ago. ;) ;)
2 Robins,Blackbirds,Sparrows,Starlings,Wood Pidgeons,Doves,Wren,Dunnock,Blue Tits,Great Tits.Magpies,Seagulls and a flock of Goldfinches......i do put alot of food out every day :)
Quote from: thifasmom on February 12, 2009, 20:38:31
a treecreeper a treecreeper a treecreeper (http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk187/thifasmom/fainting.gif) ;D
Quote from: Carol on February 12, 2009, 20:41:53
wow, you lucky person you, I only seen a dead one in our garden about 10 years ago. ;) ;)
I didn't even know they were around here, but there is a wood on my daughter's primary school boundary and as i was going home after dropping her off this morning i saw one fly and land near the bottom of the oak tree in the school grounds and it began to make its assent which is why i paid closer attention as it was doing in standard treecreeper style. i was grinning from ear to ear all the way home. my daughter who also shares my enthusiasm for bird watching is gutted she didn't get to see it.
I have seen a Tree creeper or two on a number of walks. OH is great at bird spotting, he has good eyesight for things far away. :o I am looking forward to the day I have Nuthatches visit. They are roundabout my village but not landed yet. ::) ::)
I must be lucky because when I sit at my table I often see a Treecreeper on the oak tree about 30 yards away. I did put up a wedge shaped nest box last year in the hope that it would use it.
The Nuthatch takes peanuts or sunflower hearts from the feeders the other side of the house. I am hoping that after a gap of four years they return and use the nest box again on the oak tree.
It would be great to have Treecreepers and Nuthatches in boxes I can sit and watch at any time and I am hopeful that the Robins are going to use another box again this year visible from the same window.
I got a rather pleasing photo of some goldfinches yesterday. Can someone advise how to upload it to share on the forum, please?
if you haven't paid a £10.00 subscription fee which allows you to insert photos directly from your computer via the insert photo tab on the posting page, then there is always this option.
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,44356.0.html (http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,44356.0.html)
oh and welcome to the site :)
Toadspawn, how lovely! Treecreepers & nuthatches ;D In all my years of wandering around watching the birds, I've only ever seen a treecreeper 3 times.
In my garden today, two doves (they come everyday :)) papa blackbird, a blue tit and a great tit (+ 3 flipping cats) The tits usually come down in pairs but not today.
Thanks, thifasmom, I'll try that.
Pheasants! We have a lot of game birds around here (and alot of shooting :()butin the last couple of days we have had two pheasants in our garden! Dosen't seem to bother the other birds though.
[attachment=1][attachment=2]
The snow seemed to bring the goldfinches down to feed more often. 4 dining peacefully together was unusual.....Fighting was more common!
I've subscribed my tenner, I just hope the images appear!!!
Danish Islands
I am pretty sure I have a raven near the bird table. It looks like a giant rook, and is a solitary bird. It doesn't hop, it walks. Very skittish though, as soon as I look out of the window it makes off again.
niced photo papay! (welcome to the site) :)
The Red Kites, are back in Gt Houghton.
Will try to get some pics of these magnificent
birds,very soon.
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/lowrieT/007.jpg)
He/she visits most days. I managed to take pics by crawling along the floor and just sticking the camera against the window and clicked LOL. took 10, this is the best. They spook so easily.
Saw a pair of red kites today whilst returning from shopping,they seem to be moving into town areas.
Great capture of the heron carol
Great shot of the Heron Carol....I hope he didn't get any fish :o ;D
No they are hopefully asleep at the bottom of the pond. Poor things have seen nothing but ice for weeks now. good job we have a heater to keep part of the pond ice free.
Great photo Carol, He/She looks like a young Heron. You look as though you have a nice big garden too.
Saw a green woodpecker near the allotment today. Not seen one there before, (but I'm not very observant!).
My mate Robin was around watching me cultivate the soil and keeping an eye out for his lunch. :P ;D ;D ;D
Really pleased today as I saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker on my feeders for the first time :)
i had help in the garden yesterday a robin and a wren.
We had a sparrow hawk sitting on the bird feders yesterday trying to pick off one of the dunnocks in the bush below.
It was fantastic to see the skillful flying and manuvering, but even more satisfying to see the dunnock get away.
We watched it for about 20 minutes.
Gill
Quote from: Gardengirl on February 16, 2009, 18:27:14
Really pleased today as I saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker on my feeders for the first time :)
I saw one for the 1st time, 2 weeks ago, he was on the peanut feeder, I thought he may have come back but I've not seen him since. :(
the siskens have returned yah!!!
i thought i saw two a couple days ago but it was only a fleeting sighting so wasn't 100% sure but today a flock of about 11 have been in the garden and the surrounding trees all day.
they have not yet re visited the nijer feeder as the did last winter but i will see what happens tomorrow. last year they first appeared in January so they are late this year ;).
hopefully the redpolls will come back too, they turned up for the first time as well last February.
on another note i have also noticed a song thrush and a mistle thrush in two different trees appearing to be building nests when do they start pairing up and egg laying ???
I saw a barn owl fly across the bottom of the allotments yesterday ;D
Is this normal or somewhat unusual?
Siskins
For a few months now about 20 Siskins have been regular daily visitors to the feeders. It gradually increased and two weeks ago about 50 were coming each day. In the last few days this increased to 70 and today the numbers increased to over 100. I could not count them all.
By the way they really prefer Sunflower hearts and rarely eat the Niger seed.
Toadsspawn, what a site that must have been !
Going to grow sunflowers this year -- I know , I should have anyway ! I do try !
My blackbirds scarper these days if I am not out there at the crack of dawn ! And it's
getting earlier and earlier --- can't wait for the 4am dawns in May and June !
Already the Robins , Thrush and Blackbirds are doing thier morning song at 6 am !
Yup --- don't sleep well ! ::)
floss xxx
Quote from: Toadspawn on February 28, 2009, 17:50:59
Is this normal or somewhat unusual?
Siskins
For a few months now about 20 Siskins have been regular daily visitors to the feeders. It gradually increased and two weeks ago about 50 were coming each day. In the last few days this increased to 70 and today the numbers increased to over 100. I could not count them all.
By the way they really prefer Sunflower hearts and rarely eat the Niger seed.
wow you are lucky i would love to have seen such a big flock.
last year when they arrived to my garden they went straight for the niger feeders as well as the redpolls, but you are also right as both of these along with the goldfinches are certainly partial to sunflower hearts but so far in my garden they still concentrate on the niger feeders with only little snack visits to the sunflower heart feeder. the redpolls haven't made an appearance as yet but i also find they split their feedings equally between the niger feeder and ground feeding, i hope they return.
Quote from: Toadspawn on February 28, 2009, 17:50:59
Is this normal or somewhat unusual?
Siskins
By the way they really prefer Sunflower hearts and rarely eat the Niger seed.
That is strange Toadspawn as I find that I attract more Siskins since putting out niger seed. I hardly ever saw them before.
[attachment=1]
OK, it ain't my garden, and it ain't now. But it's my camera and I think it's beautiful. Just 12 months ago, Jervis Bay, New South Wales. Lorikeets in abundance, wild and free. Sweet memories.
about a hundred swans in the same field!!
We have an egret in the area, and the usual Mandarin ducks on the Millpond that our house overlooks, about twenty of them, lots of pheasants and the usual blackbirds, robins and a songthrush.
Not in my garden (sorry) but laying in bed last night, about 1.30am, I was listening to an owl hooting away! I was very excited as I live in quite a built up over populated town and have never heard one here before!! We have a cycle track about 200yds from our house and I'm thinking it was probably in the trees over there :D
all these swans in one field!!
[attachment=1]
Blue tits are flying back and forth above my bedroom window ,through a little gap that goes into the roof . They come back every year . .....and I love to feed and watch the birds. Debbie
the siskens have stuck around you should see he fights that are occuring around the two niger feeders ::)
We had some fieldfares at the allotment today. Must be cold up North. Haven't seen any before today this year, Some golfinches were flitting around too.
Spent all weekend down our boat on the river Nene and spent a good hour watching the Red Kites circling above.
No longer winter, but there was a buzzard soaring (and calling) over the allotments today. That's the second I've seen there in the last year. There was a comma butterfly sunning itself on my plot as well.
yep winter is truly over i think, bar the odd cold week or two ahead I'm sure. time to start a new thread me thinks ;) :D.