A calling Green Sandpiper over our Bolton garden mid-morning, heading south.
paul shaw said
Fri Jul 31 6:51 PM, 2020
a Little egret has just flown over my Bredbury garden heading north. Never thought I would see one from my garden.
Steven Nelson said
Thu Jul 30 8:43 PM, 2020
The second brood of 2 baby Collard Doves in the nest in my plum tree have grown incredibly fast - seemingly even faster than the first successful brood. Today they were exploring the surrounding branches of the tree and frequently wing flapping. I then watched as one bird decided to take its maiden flight and landed on the house roof. But the parents then flew to it and began anxiously calling to it, trying to get it to return back to the nest tree. They even chased off a Woodpigeon. Eventually the young bird did fly back to the plum tree, but not for long. It had obviously tasted freedom and then it flew off to a neighbours leylandii tree with the parents following it. It hasnt returned to the nest tree where the remaining youngster still sits. Im sure the second bird will also be gone in the next day or two.
The pair of nesting Collard Doves have now hatched their 2nd brood of two chicks. Photo attached.
Yesterday sparked pandemonium in the house as a baby Blackbird found its way into the kitchen. I managed to catch it a release it to a safe place. The mother was later seen close by.
Swifts have been screaching low around the houses.
House Martin feeding young.In my Jericho front garden When feeding it appears the adult clings onto the beak of one of its young, at first I thought it was accidental but it seems to happen quite often.
-- Edited by mike killelea on Friday 17th of July 2020 09:48:12 AM
-- Edited by mike killelea on Friday 17th of July 2020 09:50:32 AM
An interesting morning in Marple. A group of 8 juvenile long tailed tits, a nuthatch back after 10 days and the first goldcrest since early February.
Richard Thew said
Thu Jul 16 9:51 AM, 2020
My Radcliffe garden update:
The long tailed tits had increased to 10 and most of them tried to fit inside my small caged feeder that had a small bowl of peanut suet in it. It was quite a sight to see the mass tightly packed ball of feathers!
Also a Buzzard flew over with two Lesser black backed gulls mobbing it.
Ta!
Mike c cooper said
Tue Jul 14 2:29 PM, 2020
14/7 Hopwood heywood mid morning to lunch time
1 Meadow Pipit high over calling ENE 3 Curlew low called twice NNW (Surely not harbingers of Autumn!!)
RachelLiBrabin said
Sat Jul 11 11:30 AM, 2020
Our Salford Garden - This year we have had a great variety to our garden, not too sure if we noticed more in lockdown?
Regular visitors
Robin (1 clutch)
Wren
Great Tit, Blue Tit (1 clutch), Coal Tit.
Green Finch (2 clutches) Gold Finch (2 clutches) Bullfinch, Chaffinch.
House Sparrows (too many to mention) Dunnocks (2 clutches)
Starlings (2 clutches)
Woodpecker (rare sighting for us)
Collared Dove, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon (size of a duck!!) Feral Pigeon (very friendly)
Magpie (1 baby), Jackdaw (numerous mainly on fat ball feeders)
Rogue Pheasant!! (hung about for a day or so then flew towards farm)
Male Sparrowhawk is a frequent visitor and has dined in our garden a couple of times.
Swifts, Swallows, Martins all above.
Heron frequently flies over from Clifton Marina towards moss then back in the evening.
A few Buzzards flying above.
All in all a pretty successful Spring, spent lots of time in Rochdale watching the Peregrines too
Not sure what I'm doing wrong uploading images? can't seem to get them to load as thumbnails.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 11th of July 2020 11:38:36 AM
A female sparrowhawk flew into my pine tree in my old trafford garden this evening as I walked out the back door, all the house sparrows soon scarpered but unlucky for one as it tried to fly out of the pine tree as the sparrowhawk then soon grabbed it & then landed on my lawn but as it did 2 magpies were straight down & it flew off with the sparrow. This is the first time I have actually seen a sparrowhawk catch a bird in my garden. I am regularly getting over 50 house sparrows each day which are hammering my wild bird seed. Plenty of juveniles getting fed, one pair nested under the eaves of my house & had 2 broods, first brood had 4 but didn't manage to get a count of the second brood. Other birds on a daily basis.... 20+ goldfinch Upto 4 greenfinch Pair of chaffinch Blue & great tits, not seen any coal tits for a while. Ring necked parakeets turn up early morning & late evening & a couple of juveniles have been seen on the last few days, being very noisy. 25+ swifts are regular of an evening but can go upto 40. 1 pair nesting under my eaves, i do have a camera on this nest but they seem to have dropped down to a lower level so can only see the adults when they come in so can only hear the juveniles. Will have to adjust my camera for next year if they come back.
Steven Nelson said
Thu Jul 9 10:08 PM, 2020
A flock of approx 50 Starlings on the roof, mostly juveniles. A flock of 8 juveniles feeding on the lawn this morning. The female Collard Dove still sat on eggs in the plum tree. 2 Collard Doves sat on the fence with one bird feeding the other. Both looked like adults so maybe male feeding the female. Or could be a recently fledged bird still receiving food from an adult.
fredford said
Thu Jul 9 9:57 AM, 2020
Bury . Family of six greenfinches on the sunflower hearts . Yet another first ! Hurrah .
phillipskelly said
Wed Jul 8 10:49 PM, 2020
4pm...ish on my Stretford backyard feeders - Goldfinch - 30+ (inc. youngsters) Robin - 1 carrying food nearby. Front Garden - Blackbird - 2 m+f collecting worms, broken down fatballs (3/day) and dried mealworms. Robins and Dunnocks also on the fatballs/mealworms all day.
Richard Thew said
Tue Jul 7 10:54 PM, 2020
There has been a number of developments over the last few weeks in my Radcliffe garden.
1st. The starling that I'd rescued from certain death by a magpie is eating fully on his own now. It will take a little while longer yet before he is fit enough for release which should hopefully wont be too long as his feathers are a bit tatty from his unfortunate experience.
2nd, I reported last year that the Great tits had a 2nd brood, unusual but not unheard of. Apparently, it's happened again this year as they are now feeding another 3 or 4 fledged juveniles after their previous ones were fully eating on their own around the end of May. I've therefore been giving them a few of the mealworms that I've been feeding the starling. The blue tits and coal tits are not seen as often, but the occasional juvenile still pops in.
3rd. There has been a party of long tailed tits visiting with about 4 juveniles among them. They seem to turn up at the moment when it's mostly raining.
4th. The Bullfinchs are both seen often and the feeders are beginning to get busier now after a period of quiet.
5th. I've had my friendly blackbird appearing in a few times too, and my hand tame sparrows are still showing on and off, taking food away to feed their youngsters.
Finally, a visit from a sparrowhawk came about recently too.
Ta!
phillipskelly said
Tue Jul 7 12:34 PM, 2020
In my Stretford terraced house front garden , both male and female Blackbird collecting worms again so definitely a 2nd brood to feed , also using the crushed fatballs and mealworms I've put out. Dunnocks and Robins also constantly using the food in the garden also. On the backyard feeders young Goldfinch in 4's and 5's even as many as 7 at a time, using the feeders. My neighbour has also noticed several Greenfinch at the feeders from time to time.
fredford said
Mon Jul 6 5:42 PM, 2020
Bury . Two beautiful mistle thrush fledglings on the wall . Their two siblings and parents in the field , beyond. Their nest is nearby , I think , but we see them rarely. They have returned for many years . Female and juvenile great spotted woodpecker visit frequently ; sadly male not seen .
Steven Nelson said
Sun Jul 5 10:25 AM, 2020
2 Goldfinch on my lawn yesterday. Dont get them very often. Looked like a pair. One carrying a feather so hopefully starting nest nearby.
phillipskelly said
Sat Jul 4 8:09 PM, 2020
Between 10 and 20 Goldfinch using my Stretford backyard feeders daily. From the front garden of my terraced house I've seen regular visits from the Robins, Dunnocks and male and female Blackbirds but tonight I saw the male Blackbird with a beak full of dried mealworms and it suggests there's another brood on the way.
fredford said
Thu Jul 2 5:49 PM, 2020
Bury . In the strong winds of Tuesday , nest of three chaffinch chicks blown out of the ivy . All perished . For the first time I have seen the carrion crows taking the unripe cherries from the tree . Perhaps this is why none pf the usual wood pigeons have been seen doing same . Now seems to be two great spotted woodpecker chicks ; blackbird chases them from the feeders .As an aside , for the first time , many carpenter bee nest holes have appeared , suddenly , in the dead cedar . Another group of fledgling house sparrows ! All most encouraging . A season of firsts .
Steven Nelson said
Wed Jul 1 11:55 PM, 2020
A big surprise today when the female Collard Dove was back on the the same nest again in my plum tree, just a week after two chicks fledged successfully. She seems to be incubating again. Looking forward to seeing another brood grow up.
Bury . Female and juvenile great spotted woodpecker on sunflower seed and fatballs . One Newly- fledged nuthatch being fed by parent . Seem to be two pairs bullfinch plus a male , which feed mainly from the lawn, under the feeders . In the field adjacent to the garden , a large buzzard chick sits on top of a tree .
fredford said
Thu Jun 25 8:28 AM, 2020
Bury . Amazing to see juvenile grey wagtail just now . First ever sighting , here . He was wrestling with a huge grub to break it into manageable pieces . Two juvenile carrion crows from ,we suspect , the resident adults . Magpies no longer land on the lawn since the crows have been here.
Steven Nelson said
Wed Jun 24 10:03 PM, 2020
The 2 Collard Dove chicks fledged this morning from the nest in my plum tree. Both birds were doing lots of wing flapping yesterday and venturing onto branches close to the nest. I woke this morning to find an empty nest. Its been fascinating to watch the whole process from egg to grown chick. Also amazing how flimsy the nest is, but it did its job in some extreme weather. Photos from yesterday and today
Nice to finally see a siskin actually on my feeders in my old Trafford garden I have only seen them flying out of my garden or just flyovers, there was 2 as I could hear another calling whilst one was on my feeders but couldn't see it in the tree,the one on the feeders stuck around long enough for me to get my camera.
The 2 Collard Doves chicks in the nest in my back garden are growing up fast. The parents have done a fantastic job of protecting them from the torrential rain and hail storms this week. They are in full view just outside the kitchen window!
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Saturday 20th of June 2020 02:23:11 PM
Whereabouts in Wigan are you Simon? I'm in Highfield.
Hi Neil, Currently in Newtown towards Robin Park, but, fingers crossed, moving at the end of the month closer to Pemberton.
Male chaffinch sighted Sunday, and yesterday a great spotted woodpecker made hay with the fat balls!
Cheers.
I was brought up in Newtown. Lived at Union Bridge until 1988. All I used to get was Sparrows Starlings and the odd Blackbird and Blue Tit.
Amazed at the variety you've been getting.
Ian Campbell said
Thu Jun 18 2:51 PM, 2020
7.00 a.m. today as I stepped out of the house for a trip to Elton which was soon aborted saw another Hobby( or the same one as 3 days ago!) heading towards Radcliffe.
fredford said
Wed Jun 17 12:40 PM, 2020
Hurrah ! Juvenile great spotted woodpecker on the peanuts . Not seen the adults for a couple of months . It looks like the male bullfinch, of the two pairs,whose mate was taken by the sparrowhawk four weeks ago , has returned . He is much brighter than the current resident male. There is sometimes a skirmish when they are both present on the feeders; previously all four fed in harmony .
steven burke said
Mon Jun 15 7:34 PM, 2020
2 sparrowhawks circling over my old trafford garden this evening at 7pm being harassed by 2 crows, one sparrowhawk was then calling & they both went into a stoop & out of sight. 2 mistle thrush on the neighbouring roofs. 30+ swifts Currently as I type just one ring necked parakeet on my feeders but 6 just flew off out of next doors tree.
Ian Campbell said
Mon Jun 15 6:32 PM, 2020
Watching the news and looked out of window to see a Hobby heading towards Elton, also have a Blackbird sitting on 6 eggs in my garden, is this a record. Cheers Ian
Albert Zijlstra said
Mon Jun 15 9:31 AM, 2020
We had our first ever breeding pair of redpoll - with young - this year. They have only ever been winter visitors. Even the woodpecker brought a juvenile to our feeders. It has been a strange year. But not bad for a suburban garden (southeast greater manchester)
Richard Thew said
Mon Jun 15 9:25 AM, 2020
My Radcliffe garden update:
The juvenile Great tits are now feeding on their own and I'm now seeing them less often, The blue tits are almost at that stage too... Chaffinch are regular Bullfinch occasionally My tame Sparrows are frequent some days, and hit and miss on other days.
After my batch of wrigglies have ran out, that will be it for now as were past the peak of activity and I am struggling to attempt any further pictures due to their infrequency.
On another note, we have lost 2 juvenile starlings in the area from a very aggressive magpie. Normally, our magpies wont attack fully grown young starlings but this generation seems to have acquired a taste for them. I rescued a third just in time but had to take him into care. He is doing well so far but I'm having to force feed him until he can eat on his own. He has much improved over the last couple of days now!
Ta!
Simon Sheppard said
Tue Jun 9 8:41 AM, 2020
Neil Ferguson wrote:
Simon ShHi eppard wrote:
First ever post!
Simple terrace back garden in Wigan, and regular visitors (within last week) include:
(numbers are maximum seen in garden at once.)
8 greenfinch; 6 goldfinch; 5 bullfinch; 6 house sparrows; 6 blackbird (perennially chasing each other around); 3 great tit; 4 blue tit; 4 wood pigeons; 4 dunnock; 3 song thrush; 2 collared doves; 1 robin; 1 sparrowhawk 1 magpie
Whereabouts in Wigan are you Simon? I'm in Highfield.
Hi Neil, Currently in Newtown towards Robin Park, but, fingers crossed, moving at the end of the month closer to Pemberton.
Male chaffinch sighted Sunday, and yesterday a great spotted woodpecker made hay with the fat balls!
Cheers.
Mike c cooper said
Mon Jun 8 6:18 PM, 2020
Excellent sightings today in my Hopwood back garden
Male bullfinch
Pair of goldfinches
Pair of lesser redpolls ( very rare in garden maybe be first record?)
phillipskelly said
Sun Jun 7 3:51 PM, 2020
Yesterday at my terraced house in Stretford. Backyard feeders - Goldfinch - 15 max inc. 5 young. Overgrown Front garden - Blackbird - 2 ( m+f) carrying food across the street to feed fledged young. Still hastling the Magpies and cats. Dunnock - 2 young feeding themselves. Robin - 2 backward and forward across the street with food.
fredford said
Sun Jun 7 12:15 PM, 2020
Bury . Two or three chaffinch chicks , two nuthatch chicks . Male pheasant still doing the rounds, crowing and vigorous flapping of wings. Found an abandoned dunnock nest with two eggs
fredford said
Sat Jun 6 5:08 PM, 2020
Bury . Great news. Greenfinch chicks have arrived ! Unable to count them accurately but looks like three. Especially good as one of the two pairs was taken by the sparrowhawk a couple of weeks ago.
fredford said
Sat Jun 6 9:34 AM, 2020
Bury . Second hatching for the great tits . Makes up for the other pair whose nest was destroyed. Hurrah ! Male house sparrow busy feeding three chicks. Redpoll has returned.
Neil Ferguson said
Thu Jun 4 6:18 PM, 2020
Simon Sheppard wrote:
First ever post!
Simple terrace back garden in Wigan, and regular visitors (within last week) include:
(numbers are maximum seen in garden at once.)
8 greenfinch; 6 goldfinch; 5 bullfinch; 6 house sparrows; 6 blackbird (perennially chasing each other around); 3 great tit; 4 blue tit; 4 wood pigeons; 4 dunnock; 3 song thrush; 2 collared doves; 1 robin; 1 sparrowhawk 1 magpie
Whereabouts in Wigan are you Simon? I'm in Highfield.
fredford said
Thu Jun 4 4:58 PM, 2020
Bury . The sound of chirping sparrers int garden ! Mr. and Mrs. house sparrow turned up on the fatballs with three chicks . Great joy . We hope it is the start of a dynasty. The moorhen,which lurked around the garden for some days,has disappeared.
phillipskelly said
Thu Jun 4 10:29 AM, 2020
On my Stretford backyard feeders yesterday were 10 Goldfinch including 1 juvenile. In the Small front garden both Blackbirds were picking up food as were a family group of at least 3 Dunnock,as well as the Robins. Unfortunately the Blackbirds were continuously sounding the alarm across the street so I checked for cats but found Magpies instead, resulting in the sad death of a fledged Blackbird. This morning both Blackbirds have been harassing the Magpies again, protecting at least one fledged youngster. Robins and Dunnocks, backward and forward across the street.
Simon Sheppard said
Wed Jun 3 6:54 PM, 2020
First ever post!
Simple terrace back garden in Wigan, and regular visitors (within last week) include:
(numbers are maximum seen in garden at once.)
8 greenfinch; 6 goldfinch; 5 bullfinch; 6 house sparrows; 6 blackbird (perennially chasing each other around); 3 great tit; 4 blue tit; 4 wood pigeons; 4 dunnock; 3 song thrush; 2 collared doves; 1 robin; 1 sparrowhawk 1 magpie
Bury. Yesterday . How delightful to see a family of goldfinches , with four chicks, who were parked in the cedar tree, all feeding on sunflower hearts . In contrast, the local rowdy starlings have just arrived and set about the fatballs . Difficult to count due to high winds , but at least forty , including parents . Largest group, ever, here. Delightful. Looking forward to the arrival of chaffies , bullfinches , etcetera.
phillipskelly said
Tue Jun 2 9:23 PM, 2020
Not much going on with my Stretford backyard feeders at the moment. Sometimes around 8 Goldfinch showing up and sometimes none, although 3 youngsters have been seen. I've been spending time sat behind my front gate in my very small front garden. After spotting a female Blackbird with worms in it's beak over a week ago, I put quartered fat balls about. The female would come within 3-4feet of me. Since then a cocky male Blackbird has also been taking advantage of the food . Both take the food across the street to a secure nest site. The male is so cocky it will land on the gate post as I lean on my gate and drop down to the floor for food. Both birds prefer dried mealworms (which I soak)to fatballs. Also Robins and Dunnocks have been picking up food and flying to the secure housing association site across the street where the Blackbirds nest. Note : the male will collect food,go through the gate and then run across the road rather than fly. Saving energy .
Neil Ferguson said
Tue Jun 2 9:54 AM, 2020
Chaffinches have returned.
2 firsts in the Garden. Coal Tit and Dunnock both feeding fledlings.Also seen a couple of newly fledged Blue Tits and Robins.
Also saw first 4 House Martins of the year in Highfield yesterday lunch time over The Venture Carpark.
-- Edited by Neil Ferguson on Tuesday 2nd of June 2020 09:55:57 AM
Neil Ferguson said
Sun May 31 1:30 PM, 2020
Highfield Wigan.
Pair of Blackbirds feeding 2nd brood in a conifer using same nest - Never ever known that before. 3 Occupied Nest Boxes. 2 by Blue Tit, other Great Tit. Wood Pigeons currently building a nest in a Hazel Tree on the drive just above head height.
On the feeders - Pair Greenfinches, Pair house Sparrows (1st for 5 years at least), Pair Bullfinches, numerous Goldfinches round and about. Robins aldults and juveniles, Song Thrush now a regular visitor, Nuthatches, Coal Tits as well as Blue and Great. No Chaffinches for about a week.
Not seen a single Swallow or House Martin in Wigan anywhere so far this year. Just seen 2 Swifts over the centre of Pemberton though when I was out for bread.
fredford said
Sun May 31 10:10 AM, 2020
Bury . Two pairs of bullfinch have been visiting the feeders for weeks , recently taking food to chicks . A few days ago the sparrowhawk took one of the females . Now only one pair is present . Does that mean that the other male has given up , leaving the chicks to die ? A single lapwing, over, this morning . I have just seen a dunnock with what looks like a tick behind its eye.
sid ashton said
Sat May 30 9:05 PM, 2020
At 8.50pm this evening - as we were tidying away the gardening stuff a single "screaming"common Swift flew through our Hale garden at just about roof height
fredford said
Fri May 29 8:08 AM, 2020
Bury. This morning, a curlew and a oystercatcher over , both calling. Occasional visitor,a pied wagtail, feeding on the lawn just now. Interesting yesterday to see the two , male bullfinches , eschewing the sunflower seeds in favour of the dandelion clocks. Might be an idea to encourage more of these plants..... Great tit busy feeding fledgings. The blue tits , who fledged on Wednesday, have not been seen since ; neither are the parents toing and froing with food. Magpie to blame, I fear. Lone , female mallard becoming bolder as she feeds on fallen seeds below the feeders.
Yesterday sparked pandemonium in the house as a baby Blackbird found its way into the kitchen. I managed to catch it a release it to a safe place. The mother was later seen close by.
Swifts have been screaching low around the houses.
A Lesser Redpoll flew over today
House Martin feeding young.In my Jericho front garden
When feeding it appears the adult clings onto the beak of one of its young, at first I thought it was accidental but it seems to happen quite often.
-- Edited by mike killelea on Friday 17th of July 2020 09:48:12 AM
-- Edited by mike killelea on Friday 17th of July 2020 09:50:32 AM
An interesting morning in Marple. A group of 8 juvenile long tailed tits, a nuthatch back after 10 days and the first goldcrest since early February.
The long tailed tits had increased to 10 and most of them tried to fit inside my small caged feeder that had a small bowl of peanut suet in it. It was quite a sight to see the mass tightly packed ball of feathers!
Also a Buzzard flew over with two Lesser black backed gulls mobbing it.
Ta!
1 Meadow Pipit high over calling ENE
3 Curlew low called twice NNW
(Surely not harbingers of Autumn!!)
Our Salford Garden - This year we have had a great variety to our garden, not too sure if we noticed more in lockdown?
Regular visitors
Robin (1 clutch)
Wren
Great Tit, Blue Tit (1 clutch), Coal Tit.
Green Finch (2 clutches) Gold Finch (2 clutches) Bullfinch, Chaffinch.
House Sparrows (too many to mention) Dunnocks (2 clutches)
Starlings (2 clutches)
Woodpecker (rare sighting for us)
Collared Dove, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon (size of a duck!!) Feral Pigeon (very friendly)
Magpie (1 baby), Jackdaw (numerous mainly on fat ball feeders)
Rogue Pheasant!! (hung about for a day or so then flew towards farm)
Male Sparrowhawk is a frequent visitor and has dined in our garden a couple of times.
Swifts, Swallows, Martins all above.
Heron frequently flies over from Clifton Marina towards moss then back in the evening.
A few Buzzards flying above.
All in all a pretty successful Spring, spent lots of time in Rochdale watching the Peregrines too
Not sure what I'm doing wrong uploading images? can't seem to get them to load as thumbnails.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 11th of July 2020 11:38:36 AM
I am regularly getting over 50 house sparrows each day which are hammering my wild bird seed. Plenty of juveniles getting fed, one pair nested under the eaves of my house & had 2 broods, first brood had 4 but didn't manage to get a count of the second brood. Other birds on a daily basis....
20+ goldfinch
Upto 4 greenfinch
Pair of chaffinch
Blue & great tits, not seen any coal tits for a while.
Ring necked parakeets turn up early morning & late evening & a couple of juveniles have been seen on the last few days, being very noisy.
25+ swifts are regular of an evening but can go upto 40.
1 pair nesting under my eaves, i do have a camera on this nest but they seem to have dropped down to a lower level so can only see the adults when they come in so can only hear the juveniles. Will have to adjust my camera for next year if they come back.
The female Collard Dove still sat on eggs in the plum tree.
2 Collard Doves sat on the fence with one bird feeding the other. Both looked like adults so maybe male feeding the female. Or could be a recently fledged bird still receiving food from an adult.
Goldfinch - 30+ (inc. youngsters)
Robin - 1 carrying food nearby.
Front Garden -
Blackbird - 2 m+f collecting worms, broken down fatballs (3/day) and dried mealworms.
Robins and Dunnocks also on the fatballs/mealworms all day.
1st. The starling that I'd rescued from certain death by a magpie is eating fully on his own now. It will take a little while longer yet before he is fit enough for release which should hopefully wont be too long as his feathers are a bit tatty from his unfortunate experience.
2nd, I reported last year that the Great tits had a 2nd brood, unusual but not unheard of. Apparently, it's happened again this year as they are now feeding another 3 or 4 fledged juveniles after their previous ones were fully eating on their own around the end of May. I've therefore been giving them a few of the mealworms that I've been feeding the starling. The blue tits and coal tits are not seen as often, but the occasional juvenile still pops in.
3rd. There has been a party of long tailed tits visiting with about 4 juveniles among them. They seem to turn up at the moment when it's mostly raining.
4th. The Bullfinchs are both seen often and the feeders are beginning to get busier now after a period of quiet.
5th. I've had my friendly blackbird appearing in a few times too, and my hand tame sparrows are still showing on and off, taking food away to feed their youngsters.
Finally, a visit from a sparrowhawk came about recently too.
Ta!
Dunnocks and Robins also constantly using the food in the garden also.
On the backyard feeders young Goldfinch in 4's and 5's even as many as 7 at a time, using the feeders.
My neighbour has also noticed several Greenfinch at the feeders from time to time.
From the front garden of my terraced house I've seen regular visits from the Robins, Dunnocks and male and female Blackbirds but tonight I saw the male Blackbird with a beak full of dried mealworms and it suggests there's another brood on the way.
Photos from yesterday and today
I have only seen them flying out of my garden or just flyovers, there was 2 as I could hear another calling whilst one was on my feeders but couldn't see it in the tree,the one on the feeders stuck around long enough for me to get my camera.
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Saturday 20th of June 2020 02:23:11 PM
I was brought up in Newtown. Lived at Union Bridge until 1988. All I used to get was Sparrows Starlings and the odd Blackbird and Blue Tit.
Amazed at the variety you've been getting.
2 mistle thrush on the neighbouring roofs.
30+ swifts
Currently as I type just one ring necked parakeet on my feeders but 6 just flew off out of next doors tree.
Cheers Ian
We had our first ever breeding pair of redpoll - with young - this year. They have only ever been winter visitors. Even the woodpecker brought a juvenile to our feeders. It has been a strange year. But not bad for a suburban garden (southeast greater manchester)
The juvenile Great tits are now feeding on their own and I'm now seeing them less often,
The blue tits are almost at that stage too...
Chaffinch are regular
Bullfinch occasionally
My tame Sparrows are frequent some days, and hit and miss on other days.
After my batch of wrigglies have ran out, that will be it for now as were past the peak of activity and I am struggling to attempt any further pictures due to their infrequency.
On another note, we have lost 2 juvenile starlings in the area from a very aggressive magpie. Normally, our magpies wont attack fully grown young starlings but this generation seems to have acquired a taste for them. I rescued a third just in time but had to take him into care. He is doing well so far but I'm having to force feed him until he can eat on his own. He has much improved over the last couple of days now!
Ta!
Hi Neil, Currently in Newtown towards Robin Park, but, fingers crossed, moving at the end of the month closer to Pemberton.
Male chaffinch sighted Sunday, and yesterday a great spotted woodpecker made hay with the fat balls!
Cheers.
Male bullfinch
Pair of goldfinches
Pair of lesser redpolls ( very rare in garden maybe be first record?)
Backyard feeders -
Goldfinch - 15 max inc. 5 young.
Overgrown Front garden -
Blackbird - 2 ( m+f) carrying food across the street to feed fledged young. Still hastling the Magpies and cats.
Dunnock - 2 young feeding themselves.
Robin - 2 backward and forward across the street with food.
Bury . Two or three chaffinch chicks , two nuthatch chicks . Male pheasant still doing the rounds, crowing and vigorous flapping of wings. Found an abandoned dunnock nest with two eggs
Male house sparrow busy feeding three chicks. Redpoll has returned.
Whereabouts in Wigan are you Simon? I'm in Highfield.
The moorhen,which lurked around the garden for some days,has disappeared.
In the Small front garden both Blackbirds were picking up food as were a family group of at least 3 Dunnock,as well as the Robins.
Unfortunately the Blackbirds were continuously sounding the alarm across the street so I checked for cats but found Magpies instead, resulting in the sad death of a fledged Blackbird.
This morning both Blackbirds have been harassing the Magpies again, protecting at least one fledged youngster.
Robins and Dunnocks, backward and forward across the street.
First ever post!
Simple terrace back garden in Wigan, and regular visitors (within last week) include:
(numbers are maximum seen in garden at once.)
8 greenfinch; 6 goldfinch; 5 bullfinch; 6 house sparrows; 6 blackbird (perennially chasing each other around); 3 great tit; 4 blue tit; 4 wood pigeons; 4 dunnock; 3 song thrush; 2 collared doves; 1 robin; 1 sparrowhawk 1 magpie
birds over: grey heron, cormorant, mallard, black-headed gull
Cheers.
Looking forward to the arrival of chaffies , bullfinches , etcetera.
Sometimes around 8 Goldfinch showing up and sometimes none, although 3 youngsters have been seen.
I've been spending time sat behind my front gate in my very small front garden.
After spotting a female Blackbird with worms in it's beak over a week ago, I put quartered fat balls about.
The female would come within 3-4feet of me.
Since then a cocky male Blackbird has also been taking advantage of the food . Both take the food across the street to a secure nest site.
The male is so cocky it will land on the gate post as I lean on my gate and drop down to the floor for food.
Both birds prefer dried mealworms (which I soak)to fatballs.
Also Robins and Dunnocks have been picking up food and flying to the secure housing association site across the street where the Blackbirds nest.
Note : the male will collect food,go through the gate and then run across the road rather than fly. Saving energy .
2 firsts in the Garden. Coal Tit and Dunnock both feeding fledlings.Also seen a couple of newly fledged Blue Tits and Robins. Also saw first 4 House Martins of the year in Highfield yesterday lunch time over The Venture Carpark.
-- Edited by Neil Ferguson on Tuesday 2nd of June 2020 09:55:57 AM
Pair of Blackbirds feeding 2nd brood in a conifer using same nest - Never ever known that before. 3 Occupied Nest Boxes. 2 by Blue Tit, other Great Tit. Wood Pigeons currently building a nest in a Hazel Tree on the drive just above head height.
On the feeders - Pair Greenfinches, Pair house Sparrows (1st for 5 years at least), Pair Bullfinches, numerous Goldfinches round and about. Robins aldults and juveniles, Song Thrush now a regular visitor, Nuthatches, Coal Tits as well as Blue and Great. No Chaffinches for about a week.
Not seen a single Swallow or House Martin in Wigan anywhere so far this year. Just seen 2 Swifts over the centre of Pemberton though when I was out for bread.
A single lapwing, over, this morning . I have just seen a dunnock with what looks like a tick behind its eye.
At 8.50pm this evening - as we were tidying away the gardening stuff a single "screaming"common Swift flew through our Hale garden at just about roof height
Bury. This morning, a curlew and a oystercatcher over , both calling. Occasional visitor,a pied wagtail, feeding on the lawn just now. Interesting yesterday to see the two , male bullfinches , eschewing the sunflower seeds in favour of the dandelion clocks. Might be an idea to encourage more of these plants.....
Great tit busy feeding fledgings. The blue tits , who fledged on Wednesday, have not been seen since ; neither are the parents toing and froing with food. Magpie to blame, I fear. Lone , female mallard becoming bolder as she feeds on fallen seeds below the feeders.