With the lockdown I have had an explosion of garden visitors in Boothstown but today I noticed a Juvenile Starling (picture attached) in a very strange colour. Not something I had ever seen before and not sure if its common or not but any feedback would be good. Many thanks
Good news all round in my Radcliffe garden update:
The great tits young (nesting a few houses away) have fledged and have been visiting the garden. One of the two local male Blackbirds (nesting in a neighbouring garden), have visited too and to my delight, is the friendly male we had nesting in my garden last year but hadn't seen (or confirmed seen) since. More than that he had one juvenile with him! One of the two blue tits will take food from the hand now, I find it really enjoyable to have my visiting tits take food from the hand, I sat down and watch them come and go taking it in turns and encouraging mum to make the most of it whilst she can.
The dunnocks are moving around the area now, leaving the bottom of the garden more quieter. Hopefully they will have their 2nd brood here too and I'm hopeful the blackbirds may try again now that the summer growth has increased the cover of the greenery pretty well.
Ta!
phillipskelly said
Mon May 25 6:34 PM, 2020
Not had too many Goldfinch on my Stretford backyard feeders in the last few weeks but numbers have started building up to the 20's . 2 Greenfinch turned up a week or so ago,but haven't seen them since,also 2 Dunnocks landed near me but then flew off. Today not many visitors at all, but saw my 1st juvenile Goldfinch on BTwires , 6 doors down.
fredford said
Sun May 24 1:37 PM, 2020
Rob, Perhaps the action of pulling the whole nest from the box caused the chicks to fall out of the back of the nest. The box is the half-open front type.No trespassers here. Your question is the one I asked myself. Who was the culprit ? Squirrel, magpie , jay ? Most intriguing.
Rob Creek said
Sun May 24 9:04 AM, 2020
fredford wrote:
Bury. On the other hand,one of the great tit nests had been pulled from its box and thrown to the ground. I found four lifeless, pink chicks, still in the box.
Hi Fred, I had to ask - presumably your garden, and if so you mean youve had trespassers that have done this? I cant see this being wind damage or being done by another bird. Which bird wouldve randomly removed a box nest without taking the chicks? Cheers
fredford said
Sat May 23 8:54 AM, 2020
Bury. Female house sparrow on fat balls , collecting to feed chicks. Rejoice . Not seen this in years. On the other hand,one of the great tit nests had been pulled from its box and thrown to the ground. I found four lifeless, pink chicks, still in the box. A newly-fledged rook chick dead on the lawn, probably succumbed to the extremely strong winds of yesterday. Moorhen still skulking in the long grasses. Two pairs of bullfinch taking seeds from the feeder. One oyster catcher, over.
Richard Thew said
Thu May 21 11:42 AM, 2020
Radcliffe garden update:
Bit of a mixed feelings in recent days:
On a positive, the Great tits are both doing really well, landing and taking food from my hand. And both blue tits are now coming regularly now too. And the Dunnocks have fledged and are now combing the area with their youngsters following them.
Not so good news, I only see one coal tit at any time and I fear something may have happened to the other, and the current ones feeding habits have also changed since too, but he will still come to the hand for food. There is a blackbird nest close to the fence but I believe it may now be abandoned due to work that was being done on the otherside Nothing could have been done unfortunately to prevent this!
Apart from this, there is little else changed. We are still getting some visits from a bullfinch, but not often. I'm enjoying and making the most of what I have as I cannot expect to keep my tame ones forever.
Ta!
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Tue May 19 9:58 PM, 2020
Flixton Garden Watch this afternoon:
Raven 1 Buzzard 3 Swift 2 Swallow 1
None actually in the garden.
Dave Steel said
Sat May 16 8:20 PM, 2020
South Irlam Garden Starling 'report'...
So good to see the young Starling in the garden...the fizz of life they give in spite of their innocent naivety as the Magpie tries to end their brief lives...
none caught in this circle of life's battle...at least a dozen about today with one posing on the fence in 'just in the right light' for a photo...and tomorrow...well its window
washing again...hardly a chore compared to the joy they bring...
Single Oystercatcher North towards Bickershaw Rucks @ 17.35
fredford said
Fri May 15 1:52 PM, 2020
Bury. 8a.m. Watched adult tawny owl , on the ground , by the side of the pond, preening itself carefully , for some minutes. Then , to my astonishment , it jumped into the pond and began to bathe, in a shallow area. When it was satisfied , several minutes later , it flew, awkwardly , up into the beech above. A First for me.
paul shaw said
Fri May 15 10:46 AM, 2020
1 ringed necked parakeet over my Bredbury garden heading towards Romiley at 10.00am this morning.
Dave Steel said
Tue May 12 10:57 PM, 2020
South Irlam Garden...
8 House Sparrow including 2 young...a treat and a 'big' count for this species these days...there is hope...
14 Starling...still taking the sultanas...their reward...windows be-spattered with droppings...as for me I will happily accept this as it is a joy to see them thrive
1 Magpie...which sits and watches and tries its best to hunt the Starling...mixed feelings rule me at such times...I resolve this with a few handclaps...peace returns briefly
1 Blackbird gathering the sultanas...wow has this bird actually raised young against all the odds stacked against it...I will not mention its main enemy...it might hurt someone's feelings..
Andy Bissitt said
Sun May 10 9:26 PM, 2020
Young of robin and dunnock have been in the garden this last couple of days. Also great to report a goodly number of juvenile house sparrows, and that the two blackbirds born in my garden still survive.
Dave Steel said
Mon May 4 7:44 PM, 2020
South Irlam Garden...notes today
The Blackbird which/whom lost their young to a cat are still checking out their erstwhile nest site...especially the male which approached within six feet of me today as if to say...and I know I anthropomorphize in this statement...why?...moving on
The Starling count reached 17 at one stage as I indulge them with Sultanas for their young...a real treat to see such numbers in their era of decline..
The House Sparrow...lost for years to me are now regular visitors to the garden with a mega count of 5 today...yes how times have changed
The Blue Tit continue to bring food to my garish 'Beach Hut' nestbox...for which I am eternally grateful to my Grandchildren...they seem know how the world of nature accommodates itself to change...
Richard Thew said
Mon May 4 1:06 PM, 2020
Radcliffe garden update:
I'm impressed with my house sparrows, as they are incredibly tame. Two years ago, they would fly a mile when they saw me. Brill!!!
The great tit showed outside my kitchen window first thing this morning before my exercise, looking in with those sad little eyes. So I had to give him his breakfast before mine. Mum has being throwing food to the coal tit and taught it to catch the grubs in mid air and will now snatch the food from my held out hand.
At least this is contributing to helping my mother during the lockdown.
Not seen the bullfinches for a while now, but I would expect them to turn up again once their youngsters fledged.
Ta!
Joel Tragen said
Sun May 3 11:15 PM, 2020
3 Swifts seen this late afternoon with 1 slowly passing by very low. Also my first garden Stock dove
Gordon Newman said
Sun May 3 3:40 PM, 2020
2 Swift back on territory this afternoon
Andy Bissitt said
Sat May 2 9:30 PM, 2020
Juvenile house sparrows aroung the garden today - bang on time, first week of May as usual. Also, the uplifting sight of two juvenile blackbirds (born in my alder tree) being fed by the male. The juvs could not work out the plastic mesh fencing which I have protecting the fallen seeds, so the father went inside to pick up the food, passing it through the fench to the two young on the outside! A treat to watch. Hope they stay safe in the coming days - plenty of cover in our garden (some inpenetrable), another barrier to cat predation.
steven burke said
Sat May 2 7:28 PM, 2020
The first juvenile goldfinch of the year in my old trafford garden this morning, just the one with adult. Now 2 juvenile Robins both at different stages one of them with a partial red breast both feeding for themselves. Only seen 7 resident swifts whizzing around so far, none of them in my eaves yet or my new swift box !
Tawny owl flew right past my face at 5 30pm yesterday . Joy ! I know they are in the garden, but have not seen one for two years. All tit boxes occupied with blue and great. Pity, but not seen the treecreeper for teo weeks. Couple of swallows over. No swifts; there used to be plenty. Male pheasant still busy with harem and chasing rivals. Found two dead males over approx one week. Any ideas ? Have they died from exhaustion ? Blackcap and willow warbler still singing. Not seen sparrowhawk for three weeks, previously a regular. Redpoll reappeared a week ago. Very first moorhen started to visit a week ago. The pair of mallards are now bolder and will see off the carrion crow for feeding rights ; he is also seen off by the pheasant hens. Poor lad.
Richard Thew said
Wed Apr 29 8:49 PM, 2020
A goosander flew over my Radcliffe garden this morning,
Also a male sparrowhawk flew over my head just skimming it! Talk about awesome!!!!!
And I've posted a picture of the tame house sparrow in my flickr page now.
Ta!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/135715507@N06
Andy Bissitt said
Tue Apr 28 8:40 PM, 2020
First fledged young of the season this p.m. when a juvenile blackbird was being fed by the female in my alder tree (where the nest was). Certainly an improvement on 2019 when the first brood fell to a cat. Hopefully the change in the weather will keep them indoors for a while.
-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Tuesday 28th of April 2020 08:41:22 PM
sid ashton said
Tue Apr 28 12:48 PM, 2020
A really noisy dispute in our Hale garden this morning between groups of Carrion Crows and Magpies. The 5 or 6 Crows seemed to stay in the garden in a beech tree and the Magpies kept coming in.
Richard Thew said
Tue Apr 28 11:35 AM, 2020
The male house sparrows is more than happy to perch on my hand now in my Radcliffe garden. His misses is now briefly landing on my hand and doubtless, will only take a few more days or so for her to catch up to the same level of sameness.
I have a very cheeky starling that seems to show very little fear, so this is making it a challenge to feed the tits, mind you, the other sparrows are showing some cunning tactics to get to the grubs first!
Ta!
Mike c cooper said
Mon Apr 27 5:34 PM, 2020
Hopwood heywood garden 27/4
First fledged spotty Robin feeding on paths and lawn
phillipskelly said
Sun Apr 26 6:14 PM, 2020
Hardly any Goldfinch visiting my Gorse Hill Stretford backyard feeders lately, just single numbers throughout the day but sometimes around 6 - 7 pm I've seen double figures ( max 16. ). In my front terrace 10x 3ft garden at 5:30pm today a Blackbird came collecting mud and dry grass. I put some sunflower hearts and water out for it, which it accepted. 2 Dunnocks and 2 Robins have also been in and out regularly.
steven burke said
Sun Apr 26 12:21 PM, 2020
4 swifts over My old trafford garden this morning my first of the year, 1 house martin also feeding with them. Juvenile Robin been feeding in my garden the last couple of days.
Dave Steel said
Fri Apr 24 10:57 PM, 2020
Afternoon Worth of Garden Observations...Irlam South as my GMEU friend Steve Atkins asked me to Label it...
List in Total...
12 Black-Headed Gull heading over to the Old River Irwell Loop
2 Blue Tit...visiting the rather 'cute' nest box that the Grandchildren bought for me...images attached
2 Blackbird...carrying food into the Bay 'hedge' lets hope the local 'well fed' hunters don't get them this year...
2 Great Tit...one of which checked out the Blue Tit nest box...but couldn't enter...hole too small...
5 Feral Pigeon Overflying
2 Woodpigeon
9 Goldfinch
1 Coal Tit visiting the feeder...unable to buy my usual sunflower hearts but the RSPB food from Tesco seems Ok for them
1 Robin taking water
1 Starling in the garden 3 overflying...I fear it wont be long before this species as a resident bird will be gone...
1 Linnet overflying...thank goodness for bird contact calls...
1 Sparrowhawk...male doing his regular rounds of the area.
I had a Willow warbler in my Radcliffe garden yesterday, brief but belting views of it too!
Soon after, a 1st winter/spring plumaged male sparrowhawk flew through very very close!!!! Awesome!!!!!!
I''m starting to get mugged by my coal tits now, as soon as I stepped outside, hes there wanting me to give him a grub within arms reach!
Ta!
-- Edited by Richard Thew on Friday 24th of April 2020 10:32:55 AM
Richard Thew said
Wed Apr 22 9:40 AM, 2020
After an hour of posting yesterday, I was sat in my Radcliffe garden when the Sparrows showed and I was so delighted to find that the very tame pair from last year does remember me and happily took food from my hands without hesitation. This simply means I can carry on exactly from where I left them last year! The female is displaying the same crouching tail shaking behaviour that she showed last year in the presence of her mate.
The tits however need a little work to regain their confidence but the coal tits (from last years young) are already ahead of the others. It's more of a matter of being out when they are.
The blackbirds (nesting in next door), are now taking food to their nesting site.
Ta!
Richard Thew said
Tue Apr 21 12:06 PM, 2020
Radcliffe garden update:
My mother spotted 2 Jays in the garden over the weekend before a magpie chased them off I've had flying over a Lapwing, and sand martins.
Last years very tame house sparrows have made a return. Last year they were happy to eat out of my hands, so in time they will no doubt be willing to do this again. The male certainly has increased in rank now having grown a bigger black bib from last year. This unfortunately has lead to a downside, as it's more a challenge now to give the tits their wrigglies before the sparrows and now a friendly starling gets to them.
The coal tits and the great tits are the ones that are the tamest and these will ask for food if I ignore them. But the blue tits are not quite as accommodating. I've attempted to snap a few pictures of them but this itself has it's own challenges as I've no control over where they land or the light direction and they wont stay still long enough.
Ta!
nigel charlesworth said
Sun Apr 19 6:47 PM, 2020
Weekly round up failsworth
Blue Tit House Sparrow Goldfinch Chaffinch
Blackbird Starling Magpie Collard Dove Wood and Feral Pigeon Jackdaw
Flying over LBB Gull Herring Gull Carrion Crow Canada Goose Common Buzzard and Goosander (Male flying towards River Medlock)
And finally the first Swallow
Carl Fletcher-Poole said
Sun Apr 19 9:49 AM, 2020
Quite lucky were I live in Boothstown as I get an absolute range of birds visiting my feeders but it has now attracted for the first time (not the male) a pair of Sparrwohawks. This morning woke up to mayhem. Opened the blinds and another kill (see picture) My aim is to get a shot of them both together, male and female, so watch this space. Makes Isolation a little more bearable.
My first post for over a year. amazingly I remembered my password.
Here in Highfield Wigan, I have a pair of Blackbirds nesting 12 foot up in a conifer currently feeding chicks. I have 6 boxes up in various locations. 3 of them occupied. Two by Blue Tits one by a pair of Great Tits.
This mornings visitors Pair Bullfinches, Several Dunnocks,Blue Great and Coal Tits, Nuthatch, Song Thrush numerous Wood Pigeons, 3 Robins (big scrap) and first time in 5 years a House Sparrow on the fat balls.
paul shaw said
Thu Apr 16 11:31 PM, 2020
1 pair of Bullfinch in my Bredbury garden again today. I am almost certain that they are building a nest in my neighbours garden.
Richard Thew said
Thu Apr 16 11:32 AM, 2020
Yesterday I had a magpie in my Radcliffe garden, not for food, but to see if she can break of a few twigs from our tree to use for her nest building and without success.
Also yesterday, I had 2 linnets flying over too, though I unfortunately only heard them!
This morning, before my morning exercise, a Mistle thrush was singing loudly in next doors garden tree!
Now the starlings have discovered and are now pinching the wrigglies the dunnocks would have so now I will have to be sneaky with that and word has spread to the local House sparrows. Thankfully, I've done better today so far to ration the wrigglies but I have my work cut out with all the others waiting and watching.
Last year the sparrows would try and snatch any grubs out of the beaks of the others!
Ta!
phillipskelly said
Thu Apr 16 11:30 AM, 2020
Late post for yesterday 15.04.20 - Common Buzzard over my backyard,Gorse Hill, Stretford at 3 : 15 pm
Joel Tragen said
Tue Apr 14 11:32 PM, 2020
4 Sand martins very low over my Chorlton Garden mid-afternoon, a new bird for the garden for me!
-- Edited by Joel Tragen on Tuesday 14th of April 2020 11:33:24 PM
Richard Thew said
Tue Apr 14 7:30 PM, 2020
A brief exciting moment in my Radcliffe garden was when a local crow mobbed a buzzard that was unusually low down. Incredible details without the aid of binoculars! He soon started gaining hight on a thermal so only managed a couple of snaps.
The great tit I strongly suspect that he was last years tame bird as he seems to be quite friendly as he remembers the old routine I once had with him. But, he is still more nervous as it's been months since the last close encounter (last July).
The coal tits have finally cottened on about the wrigglies as well as the dunnock. Word seems to be spreading fast!
I will need to ration their grubs this time as I over did it last year, cost wise (but was worth it at the time), although I'm not off to a good start with that yet!
Just been watching two Dunnocks, presumably a pair, with beaks full of grubs/insects in and out of a small dense bush in our Hale garden!!!
nigel charlesworth said
Sun Apr 12 11:46 AM, 2020
Weekly round up Failsworth garden and over
4 common buzzard and Sparrowhawk over as were Canada Geese,LBB Gull,Jackdaw and Herring Gull
House Sparrow,Goldfinch,Chaffinch,Goldfinch,BlueTit and Great Tit latter both occupying boxes on house
Blackbird, Mistle Thrush,Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, Wood and Feral Pigeon
Song Thrush can be heard in morning from adjacent fields
fredford said
Sun Apr 12 7:33 AM, 2020
Bury. Long tailed tit nest in a bush, three feet from ground . Joy . Shall keep a discreet eye on it. Cleared vegetation from the pond and left it on the side. Very soon thereafter, dunnock and wren searching for eatables. Also blackbirds taking muddy stuff for their nest. Mallard pair were uncertain about the pond, due to its new appearance, but now taking their post seed - eating paddle. Carrion crow appears to be feeding chicks. Nest is elsewhere.
paul shaw said
Sat Apr 11 9:54 PM, 2020
Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Chiffchaff and Blackcap in my Bredbury garden today.
Richard Thew said
Sat Apr 11 9:07 PM, 2020
Just 5 minutes in my Radcliffe and 2 ravens flew over fairly low. I unfortunately I had something in my hands so I couldn't reach for my camera! and seconds after a sparrowhawk flew across low too!
The blue tits and great tits are now just starting to learn that I will throw them a wriggly when they show with me there. Last year I managed to get the male great tit take food from my hands...
Ta!
Richard Thew said
Fri Apr 10 8:59 PM, 2020
Still getting bullfinch in my Radcliffe garden,
Also noteworthy:
Buzzard over a couple of days ago now And just this afternoon was a pair of Mallards flew over extremely low.
I've also managed to pick up a few mini mealworms (when looking at the pet food) to attempt to create more interest in my garden. The great tits and blue tits are among the first to discover it. I have put them in the feeder I had suet in and realised I need to keep some suet in when the coal tit turned up and had a shock- no suet! and so ignored the wrigglies and flew off! Charming!!!!
Ta!
Gordon Newman said
Fri Apr 10 6:42 PM, 2020
Male Hobby drifted over North @17.32 heading towards Bickershaw Rucks
Dave Steel said
Thu Apr 9 9:15 PM, 2020
A supposed touch of Gardening in the Jungle betwixt 1230 and 1350 gave
2 Great Tit
2 Blue Tit
1 Wren
2 House Sparrow
1 Blackbird in song
1 Blackbird in alarm...I thought that a Vet had recommended that Cats be kept in during this awful time...
2 Long Tailed Tit....where would we be without a Fat-Ball food supply
1 Starling in 'song'
4 Linnet passing South...a real treat
2 Woodpigeon...tidying up the Spilt Food
6 Goldfinch...almost lost these to the garden as my Sunflower hearts ran out...fortunately the Boss acquired RSPB food from Tesco and it has brought them back
6 Mallard overhead
1 High Soaring Sparrowhawk...male
1 Blackcap in song heard loud and clear from the nearby 'Old River' at Princess Park Irlam.
sid ashton said
Thu Apr 9 4:55 PM, 2020
For the last couple of years we have had a pair of Nuthatches nesting in our Hale garden, in the eaves of the house to be precise. There is male out there now singing his heart out so we may be lucky again this year
Andy Bissitt said
Wed Apr 8 9:26 PM, 2020
2 rook flew over my garden early p.m. Would have been a good addition to my garden lockdown list if I was doing one!
The great tits young (nesting a few houses away) have fledged and have been visiting the garden.
One of the two local male Blackbirds (nesting in a neighbouring garden), have visited too and to my delight, is the friendly male we had nesting in my garden last year but hadn't seen (or confirmed seen) since. More than that he had one juvenile with him!
One of the two blue tits will take food from the hand now, I find it really enjoyable to have my visiting tits take food from the hand, I sat down and watch them come and go taking it in turns and encouraging mum to make the most of it whilst she can.
The dunnocks are moving around the area now, leaving the bottom of the garden more quieter. Hopefully they will have their 2nd brood here too and I'm hopeful the blackbirds may try again now that the summer growth has increased the cover of the greenery pretty well.
Ta!
2 Greenfinch turned up a week or so ago,but haven't seen them since,also 2 Dunnocks landed near me but then flew off.
Today not many visitors at all, but saw my 1st juvenile Goldfinch on BTwires , 6 doors down.
Who was the culprit ? Squirrel, magpie , jay ? Most intriguing.
Hi Fred,
I had to ask - presumably your garden, and if so you mean youve had trespassers that have done this? I cant see this being wind damage or being done by another bird. Which bird wouldve randomly removed a box nest without taking the chicks?
Cheers
Moorhen still skulking in the long grasses. Two pairs of bullfinch taking seeds from the feeder. One oyster catcher, over.
Bit of a mixed feelings in recent days:
On a positive, the Great tits are both doing really well, landing and taking food from my hand. And both blue tits are now coming regularly now too. And the Dunnocks have fledged and are now combing the area with their youngsters following them.
Not so good news, I only see one coal tit at any time and I fear something may have happened to the other, and the current ones feeding habits have also changed since too, but he will still come to the hand for food. There is a blackbird nest close to the fence but I believe it may now be abandoned due to work that was being done on the otherside Nothing could have been done unfortunately to prevent this!
Apart from this, there is little else changed. We are still getting some visits from a bullfinch, but not often. I'm enjoying and making the most of what I have as I cannot expect to keep my tame ones forever.
Ta!
Raven 1
Buzzard 3
Swift 2
Swallow 1
None actually in the garden.
South Irlam Garden Starling 'report'...
So good to see the young Starling in the garden...the fizz of life they give in spite of their innocent naivety as the Magpie tries to end their brief lives...
none caught in this circle of life's battle...at least a dozen about today with one posing on the fence in 'just in the right light' for a photo...and tomorrow...well its window
washing again...hardly a chore compared to the joy they bring...
South Irlam Garden...
8 House Sparrow including 2 young...a treat and a 'big' count for this species these days...there is hope...
14 Starling...still taking the sultanas...their reward...windows be-spattered with droppings...as for me I will happily accept this as it is a joy to see them thrive
1 Magpie...which sits and watches and tries its best to hunt the Starling...mixed feelings rule me at such times...I resolve this with a few handclaps...peace returns briefly
1 Blackbird gathering the sultanas...wow has this bird actually raised young against all the odds stacked against it...I will not mention its main enemy...it might hurt someone's feelings..
Young of robin and dunnock have been in the garden this last couple of days. Also great to report a goodly number of juvenile house sparrows, and that the two blackbirds born in my garden still survive.
South Irlam Garden...notes today
The Blackbird which/whom lost their young to a cat are still checking out their erstwhile nest site...especially the male which approached within six feet of me today as if to say...and I know I anthropomorphize in this statement...why?...moving on
The Starling count reached 17 at one stage as I indulge them with Sultanas for their young...a real treat to see such numbers in their era of decline..
The House Sparrow...lost for years to me are now regular visitors to the garden with a mega count of 5 today...yes how times have changed
The Blue Tit continue to bring food to my garish 'Beach Hut' nestbox...for which I am eternally grateful to my Grandchildren...they seem know how the world of nature accommodates itself to change...
I'm impressed with my house sparrows, as they are incredibly tame. Two years ago, they would fly a mile when they saw me. Brill!!!
The great tit showed outside my kitchen window first thing this morning before my exercise, looking in with those sad little eyes. So I had to give him his breakfast before mine. Mum has being throwing food to the coal tit and taught it to catch the grubs in mid air and will now snatch the food from my held out hand.
At least this is contributing to helping my mother during the lockdown.
Not seen the bullfinches for a while now, but I would expect them to turn up again once their youngsters fledged.
Ta!
Juvenile house sparrows aroung the garden today - bang on time, first week of May as usual. Also, the uplifting sight of two juvenile blackbirds (born in my alder tree) being fed by the male. The juvs could not work out the plastic mesh fencing which I have protecting the fallen seeds, so the father went inside to pick up the food, passing it through the fench to the two young on the outside! A treat to watch. Hope they stay safe in the coming days - plenty of cover in our garden (some inpenetrable), another barrier to cat predation.
Now 2 juvenile Robins both at different stages one of them with a partial red breast both feeding for themselves.
Only seen 7 resident swifts whizzing around so far, none of them in my eaves yet or my new swift box !
Also a male sparrowhawk flew over my head just skimming it! Talk about awesome!!!!!
And I've posted a picture of the tame house sparrow in my flickr page now.
Ta!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/135715507@N06
First fledged young of the season this p.m. when a juvenile blackbird was being fed by the female in my alder tree (where the nest was). Certainly an improvement on 2019 when the first brood fell to a cat. Hopefully the change in the weather will keep them indoors for a while.
-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Tuesday 28th of April 2020 08:41:22 PM
A really noisy dispute in our Hale garden this morning between groups of Carrion Crows and Magpies. The 5 or 6 Crows seemed to stay in the garden in a beech tree and the Magpies kept coming in.
I have a very cheeky starling that seems to show very little fear, so this is making it a challenge to feed the tits, mind you, the other sparrows are showing some cunning tactics to get to the grubs first!
Ta!
First fledged spotty Robin feeding on paths and lawn
In my front terrace 10x 3ft garden at 5:30pm today a Blackbird came collecting mud and dry grass.
I put some sunflower hearts and water out for it, which it accepted.
2 Dunnocks and 2 Robins have also been in and out regularly.
Juvenile Robin been feeding in my garden the last couple of days.
Afternoon Worth of Garden Observations...Irlam South as my GMEU friend Steve Atkins asked me to Label it...
List in Total...
12 Black-Headed Gull heading over to the Old River Irwell Loop
2 Blue Tit...visiting the rather 'cute' nest box that the Grandchildren bought for me...images attached
2 Blackbird...carrying food into the Bay 'hedge' lets hope the local 'well fed' hunters don't get them this year...
2 Great Tit...one of which checked out the Blue Tit nest box...but couldn't enter...hole too small...
5 Feral Pigeon Overflying
2 Woodpigeon
9 Goldfinch
1 Coal Tit visiting the feeder...unable to buy my usual sunflower hearts but the RSPB food from Tesco seems Ok for them
1 Robin taking water
1 Starling in the garden 3 overflying...I fear it wont be long before this species as a resident bird will be gone...
1 Linnet overflying...thank goodness for bird contact calls...
1 Sparrowhawk...male doing his regular rounds of the area.
Soon after, a 1st winter/spring plumaged male sparrowhawk flew through very very close!!!! Awesome!!!!!!
I''m starting to get mugged by my coal tits now, as soon as I stepped outside, hes there wanting me to give him a grub within arms reach!
Ta!
-- Edited by Richard Thew on Friday 24th of April 2020 10:32:55 AM
The tits however need a little work to regain their confidence but the coal tits (from last years young) are already ahead of the others. It's more of a matter of being out when they are.
The blackbirds (nesting in next door), are now taking food to their nesting site.
Ta!
My mother spotted 2 Jays in the garden over the weekend before a magpie chased them off
I've had flying over a Lapwing, and sand martins.
Last years very tame house sparrows have made a return. Last year they were happy to eat out of my hands, so in time they will no doubt be willing to do this again. The male certainly has increased in rank now having grown a bigger black bib from last year. This unfortunately has lead to a downside, as it's more a challenge now to give the tits their wrigglies before the sparrows and now a friendly starling gets to them.
The coal tits and the great tits are the ones that are the tamest and these will ask for food if I ignore them. But the blue tits are not quite as accommodating. I've attempted to snap a few pictures of them but this itself has it's own challenges as I've no control over where they land or the light direction and they wont stay still long enough.
Ta!
Weekly round up failsworth
Blue Tit House Sparrow Goldfinch Chaffinch
Blackbird Starling Magpie Collard Dove Wood and Feral Pigeon Jackdaw
Flying over LBB Gull Herring Gull Carrion Crow Canada Goose Common Buzzard and Goosander (Male flying towards River Medlock)
And finally the first Swallow
Here in Highfield Wigan, I have a pair of Blackbirds nesting 12 foot up in a conifer currently feeding chicks. I have 6 boxes up in various locations. 3 of them occupied. Two by Blue Tits one by a pair of Great Tits.
This mornings visitors Pair Bullfinches, Several Dunnocks,Blue Great and Coal Tits, Nuthatch, Song Thrush numerous Wood Pigeons, 3 Robins (big scrap) and first time in 5 years a House Sparrow on the fat balls.
Also yesterday, I had 2 linnets flying over too, though I unfortunately only heard them!
This morning, before my morning exercise, a Mistle thrush was singing loudly in next doors garden tree!
Now the starlings have discovered and are now pinching the wrigglies the dunnocks would have so now I will have to be sneaky with that and word has spread to the local House sparrows. Thankfully, I've done better today so far to ration the wrigglies but I have my work cut out with all the others waiting and watching.
Last year the sparrows would try and snatch any grubs out of the beaks of the others!
Ta!
-- Edited by Joel Tragen on Tuesday 14th of April 2020 11:33:24 PM
The great tit I strongly suspect that he was last years tame bird as he seems to be quite friendly as he remembers the old routine I once had with him. But, he is still more nervous as it's been months since the last close encounter (last July).
The coal tits have finally cottened on about the wrigglies as well as the dunnock. Word seems to be spreading fast!
I will need to ration their grubs this time as I over did it last year, cost wise (but was worth it at the time), although I'm not off to a good start with that yet!
Ta!
Just been watching two Dunnocks, presumably a pair, with beaks full of grubs/insects in and out of a small dense bush in our Hale garden!!!
Weekly round up Failsworth garden and over
4 common buzzard and Sparrowhawk over as were Canada Geese,LBB Gull,Jackdaw and Herring Gull
House Sparrow,Goldfinch,Chaffinch,Goldfinch,BlueTit and Great Tit latter both occupying boxes on house
Blackbird, Mistle Thrush,Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, Wood and Feral Pigeon
Song Thrush can be heard in morning from adjacent fields
Also noteworthy:
Buzzard over a couple of days ago now
And just this afternoon was a pair of Mallards flew over extremely low.
I've also managed to pick up a few mini mealworms (when looking at the pet food) to attempt to create more interest in my garden. The great tits and blue tits are among the first to discover it. I have put them in the feeder I had suet in and realised I need to keep some suet in when the coal tit turned up and had a shock- no suet! and so ignored the wrigglies and flew off! Charming!!!!
Ta!
A supposed touch of Gardening in the Jungle betwixt 1230 and 1350 gave
2 Great Tit
2 Blue Tit
1 Wren
2 House Sparrow
1 Blackbird in song
1 Blackbird in alarm...I thought that a Vet had recommended that Cats be kept in during this awful time...
2 Long Tailed Tit....where would we be without a Fat-Ball food supply
1 Starling in 'song'
4 Linnet passing South...a real treat
2 Woodpigeon...tidying up the Spilt Food
6 Goldfinch...almost lost these to the garden as my Sunflower hearts ran out...fortunately the Boss acquired RSPB food from Tesco and it has brought them back
6 Mallard overhead
1 High Soaring Sparrowhawk...male
1 Blackcap in song heard loud and clear from the nearby 'Old River' at Princess Park Irlam.
For the last couple of years we have had a pair of Nuthatches nesting in our Hale garden, in the eaves of the house to be precise. There is male out there now singing his heart out so we may be lucky again this year
2 rook flew over my garden early p.m. Would have been a good addition to my garden lockdown list if I was doing one!