Nice to see a Song Thrush feed on my back lawn and then around the borders; for 20 minutes as I ate my breakfast today.
Andy Bissitt said
Sat Jan 20 9:22 PM, 2018
A day for window birding. A new winter high of 10 (maybe 11) siskins on feeders/ground. They only get a chance when the goldfinches take a breather. Still 5 redpoll, and the nuthatch returned for the first time in a while. The most pathetic sight was of a male bullfinch reduced to picking fragments of sunflower heart from the top of one of my waste bins, its head being too large to use the feeders! From my windows today I reckon I saw about 27 species (inc. lesser black-backed gull, jay and starling which did not use the garden), more than I saw on a trip to Audenshaw yesterday!
A steady stream of Siskin have been visiting the garden these past few days, only ever in small numbers though, 2 -3 birds. In addition the first Blackcap of the winter has been making an appearance, a male visiting for the past 3 days.
steven burke said
Thu Jan 18 12:27 PM, 2018
Male & female blackcap in my old trafford garden this morning, feeding on the apples but spending more time on the fat balls. 2 goldcrests also enjoying the fat balls. C30 goldfinches 1 greenfinch 1 chaffinch 18 house sparrows 2 blue tits 2 collard doves 2 blackbirds 1 Robin
And a male sparrowhawk chasing a sparrow out of the garden as I was about to leave for work.
-- Edited by steven burke on Thursday 18th of January 2018 01:06:33 PM
Andy Bissitt said
Tue Jan 16 9:11 PM, 2018
New high of (at least) 8 siskins today, and still 5 redpoll. A post-Christmas high of 4 greenfinch also. Yesterday, 12 chaffinches was a winter high (possibly most ever), and a similar number were about today.
Andy Bissitt said
Sun Jan 14 9:27 PM, 2018
The day of the winter so far. Redpolls up to 5, with 7 siskins joining them. This alone would have been enough, but in mid-morning bullfinches (a pair, of course) visited the garden for the first time this winter, and brought the male blackcap with them! With green, gold and chaffinches, that made six finches totalling about 40 birds! Also a buzzard drifted over quite low in mid-morning. Why go out, I say?
Steven Nelson said
Sun Jan 14 1:20 PM, 2018
A Chiffchaff visited my Irlam garden this morning 10.35am. A garden first!
Andy Bissitt said
Sat Jan 13 9:12 PM, 2018
Things perked up today with the arrival of 4 redpolls (common or garden variety only). This makes all the expense worthwhile. Also a single siskin on the feeder at the same time as redpoll on one occasion. Chaffinch numbers rose again today so I'm hoping they'll drag in a brambling during next weeks cold spell.
Richard Thew said
Thu Jan 11 6:36 PM, 2018
Upto 5 lesser redpolls still visiting my Radcliffe garden feeders. Also the grey wagtail, a sneaky wren thats after the mealworms (live minis) and a daily spectacular flying in and out visits from a 1st year male sparrowhawk! Plus the usuals. .... ta!
Andy Bissitt said
Wed Jan 10 8:39 PM, 2018
A welcome return for siskin today, a single female. 95% certain also had a redpoll in the early gloom (well, early for me at 8.45 a.m.), but it was in a tree at the bottom of the garden against the 'light' with its back to me. Flew off on its own whereas all the goldfinches which were also in the tree stayed. Hoping for another visit to clinch it.
Andy Bissitt said
Thu Jan 4 9:19 PM, 2018
First blackcap sighting since before Christmas (female) in my Romiley garden. I wonder where they go in the meantime?
Mark Walsh said
Mon Jan 1 3:02 PM, 2018
A really good hour spent watching the garden feeders;
4 male Bullfinch
2 female Bullfinch
In our Beaumont Chase garden. Regular visitors but first time we have seen 4 males together.
Charles Farrell said
Fri Dec 29 6:49 PM, 2017
More birds than I've seen for some time in my mum's Alkrington garden
- 1 Male Bullfinch - 1 or 2 Goldfinch - c6 Lesser Redpoll (first I've seen here for several years) - 1 Coal Tit
plus plenty of Blackbird, Great and Blue Tit, Feral Pigeons and Corvids.
Nick Isherwood said
Thu Dec 28 2:52 PM, 2017
A male Blackcap in my garden in Lowton this morning.
Richard Thew said
Tue Dec 26 1:03 PM, 2017
Perfect weather for garden watching with the option of a nice hot drink in the hands. This morning visits; my Grey wagtail greeted me as I topped up the mealworms, at least 5 lesser redpolls still, greenfinch, goldfinch, long tailed tits, 6 blackbirds, the sneaky wren and the usual other suspects too. Ta!
-- Edited by Richard Thew on Tuesday 26th of December 2017 03:01:00 PM
Shannon Llewellyn said
Sat Dec 23 10:56 AM, 2017
Blackcap flitting around the trees behind my Chorlton garden this morning; also c 10 redwing. Coal and blue tit both busy on my feeder.
Paul Heaton said
Sat Dec 23 8:36 AM, 2017
3 lapwing just flew over my garden, now thats a first considering nearest ones will be Flixton or the mosses , its an odd record .
Keep looking up
Andy Bissitt said
Fri Dec 22 9:09 PM, 2017
Male blackcap made a reappearance today, also one siskin. Masses of goldfinches (c20) pushed me further towards the workhouse by downing sunflower hearts like it was Christmas!
-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Friday 22nd of December 2017 09:09:48 PM
Paul Thompson said
Fri Dec 22 2:15 PM, 2017
I was surprised to see a male Blackcap in my garden today. I supposed it's a sign of global warming etc.
9am today: Goldfinch very active around my garden Larch tree and neighbouring trees, many on my feeders. Peaking at a charm of c30.
Andy Bissitt said
Wed Dec 20 9:02 PM, 2017
Mild weather, and more good birds return. Nuthatch back yesterday, and seen again today, with a female blackcap making a first appearance for this winter yesterday too. Not seen today, though hardly surprising as it was twice set upon by a robin (which was not bothered about anything else on 'its' patch). My guess is that, to a robin, a female blackcap resembles one of its own, especially when seen from behind?
Richard Thew said
Wed Dec 20 2:45 PM, 2017
fredford wrote:
What sort of mealworms can a wren eat?
I use live mini mealworms from LivefoodDirect, this is what's also keeping my grey wagtail coming. I also sparingly give a couple of waxworms with them too and the Tits are addicted to them. It makes me laugh everytime just to watch them. It's only by chance the wren has found the supply which I put them in a former caged feeder only I've removed the centre piece and put a small bowl in it's place. Only the small birds can get to it, the starlings have tried and failed- they have their own feeding spot.
Hope this helps
Ta!
-- Edited by Richard Thew on Wednesday 20th of December 2017 02:57:08 PM
mike killelea said
Wed Dec 20 2:45 PM, 2017
fredford wrote:
What sort of mealworms can a wren eat?
They will eat live and dried Mealworms.
fredford said
Wed Dec 20 11:10 AM, 2017
What sort of mealworms can a wren eat?
Richard Thew said
Tue Dec 19 2:18 PM, 2017
The very handsome male blackcap was seen again this morning in my Radcliffe garden, this time he perched close to the window, giving belting views. Unfortunately he only stayed for a minute or two. I've not seen him pick any food from me so far either. Also to note; a wren has discovered the mealworm feeder, helping itself by timing it between the short gaps of the other birds visits. Also lesser redpolls still and Grey wagtail also still about. Ta!
Keith Mills said
Tue Dec 19 1:11 PM, 2017
Chaffinch again outnumbering our usual Goldfinch. Around 12.30 today, there were at least 8 regularly at the hearts feeder including 5 males. The birds usually pause on next doors Tulip Tree before crossing the fence to our feeders. I enjoyed watching these as on an earlier visit today, to Rumworth Dam, I drew a complete blank.
Keith Mills said
Sun Dec 17 9:26 PM, 2017
Plenty birds at my feeders today. An increased number of Chaffinch, with 4 males plus 2 females. House Sparrows, usually a scarce bird here, have taken a liking to a new feeder at the rear of the garden, and are becoming regulars. A single Coal Tit made numerous visits from distance. A Greenfinch stayed on the feeder. On our Larch tree a Song Thrush rested. All the usuals; including many Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbirds, Dunnock, Robin, Wood Pigeon and Starlings. Black- headed Gulls low over all day and my running battle with the large flock of Feral Pigeons in our Grove continues. Presently I am winning.
Andy Bissitt said
Sun Dec 17 8:57 PM, 2017
3 siskin returned today as mild weather did also. It's a paradox really, since it turned cold the number (and variety) of garden birds dropped away (not even nuthatch was seen). I don't truly understand but glad the spell has broken - its been a bit boring.
Shannon Llewellyn said
Sun Dec 17 12:37 PM, 2017
At least seven redwing in and around my Chorlton garden all morning. Great tit, robin, blackbird and magpie also paying a visit.
Steven Nelson said
Sat Dec 16 12:47 PM, 2017
A first for my Irlam garden this morning - 1 Grey Wagtail feeding around my pond.
Nick Hilton said
Fri Dec 15 4:14 PM, 2017
Eight Ring-necked Parakeet visited my Davyhulme garden this morning, very noisy!
Richard Thew said
Fri Dec 15 9:08 AM, 2017
Late post from yesterday; a stunning male blackcap again seen in my Radcliffe garden (now the 2nd visit ive seen him make this month) whilst all my regular Tits (about 7 or 8 of them) were seriously queuing up for their morning feed (which made me laugh) and a coal tit bravely jumped the queue and came within 2ft from my face. Lesser redpolls still and Grey wagtail again this morning too.
sid ashton said
Thu Dec 14 5:54 PM, 2017
Male Tawny Owl calling in between rain showers in our Hale garden just now. Not heard him since early November.
Nick Hilton said
Tue Dec 12 7:16 PM, 2017
Six Ring-necked Parakeet were back emptying the feeders today in my Davyhulme garden. Both the Woodpigeons and the House Sparrows looked distinctly unimpressed. A pair of Coal Tit sneaked in when they could to dash off with the odd sunflower seed and a female Sparrowhawk sailed through.
The parakeet were also visiting adjacent roofs and nibbling at something on the tiles ?? (see pic)
This afternoon 1 grey wagtail was actually feeding in my old trafford garden for a change, looked to be eating some loose seed on the ground. 7 fieldfare where in the tall tree at the bottom of the garden but did not stick around long. Upto 4 redwings were feeding in my neighbours garden at the weekend 1 was feeding on the remaining berries in my holly bush. Not seen much of the blackcaps until today when the female made a brief appearance. 1 goldcrest 1 Robin 1 dunnock 3 blackbirds 2 chaffinch 4 collard doves. Plus the usual goldfinches & greenfinches.
-- Edited by steven burke on Tuesday 12th of December 2017 08:40:01 PM
Richard Thew said
Mon Dec 11 7:59 PM, 2017
My Radcliffe garden is still giving me surprises. I cannot believe; this winter is likely to be the most productive ever!! 2 mistle thrushes in for over a decade. Adding to the growing list of birds not seen in my garden either for yonks or all timers. Grey wagtail still, which is getting well fed now and my lesser redpoll too along with the usual bunch.
Ta!
Richard Thew said
Sun Dec 10 11:19 AM, 2017
Grey wagtail again this morning in my Radcliffe garden. Apparently he's found out just today that i have an adapted mealworm feeder for the tits and they sometimes drop the odd mini mealworm below if he gets there before the blackbird. We only have a tiny pond for our few frogs and bird bath that is well maintained and it was this that he was originally interested in to find food.
Goldfinches at about 20+, greenfinchs were upto about 8+ previously, 2 chaffinch plus the usual (including 6 of the lesser redpolls)
Ta!
Ps. Attached pictures of yesterday's grey wagtail, a garden first in almost 18 years!!!!
-- Edited by Richard Thew on Sunday 10th of December 2017 02:49:29 PM
I was originally going out birding for the day but I didn't like the forecast that may cause potential issues for myself. I'm glad I didn't because I discovered a grey wagtail in my Radcliffe garden just now. This is a likely first as I couldnt confirm a previous possible 15 years ago. Other noteworthy birds was after this morning snowfall, our 20+ odd goldfinches went mad for it on our conifer tree. The lesser redpolls are still coming but I've not seen more than 3 together on the feeders (although I've not been as attentive). Ta!
Nick Hilton said
Sat Dec 9 10:19 AM, 2017
1 Ring-necked Parakeet on the feeders is a first for my garden in Davyhulme, with 2 other birds staying in the apple tree. The sparrows didn't look too impressed! 25 Goldfinch earlier this morning and 3 Cormorants over. (not quite Steve Burke levels but getting there !!
-- Edited by Nick Hilton on Saturday 9th of December 2017 10:20:09 AM
Andy Bissitt said
Wed Dec 6 8:50 PM, 2017
Hoping some cold, snowy weather might drive something in as it's getting rather samey:- todays 'highlights', 2 goldcrests only 2 meters from window (searching Irish yews), nuthatch, mistle thrush, 3 collared doves, 7 chaffinches, usual green and goldfinches, blackbirds, tits, house sparrows etc... Wish I could get rid of pigeons which are a new problem this year.
John Rayner said
Tue Dec 5 1:15 PM, 2017
A female Bullfinch in my suburban Hazel Grove garden this afternoon was an unusual sighting.
Cheers John
sid ashton said
Sun Dec 3 5:11 PM, 2017
As I've not been able to get out birding recently it was great to see a group of approximately 30 Redwings in the tall trees in our Hale garden just before dusk this afternoon.
Nick Hilton said
Sun Dec 3 9:19 AM, 2017
7 Ring-necked Parakeet have just visited the apple tree at the bottom of my Davyhulme garden, short visit and then headed off towards the Trafford Centre
Christaylor said
Sat Dec 2 1:41 PM, 2017
This morning in our Beaumont Chase garden.
2 Willow Tits (heard to confirm id)
2 Goldcrest
1 m Bullfinch 1 f Bullfinch
1 Coal Tit
1 Sparrowhawk
15 House Sparrows
6 Goldifinch
5 Bluetits
2 Collared Doves
Richard Thew said
Sat Dec 2 1:29 PM, 2017
My Radcliffe garden has 7 lesser redpolls on my feeders once again. Apparently there were originally 2 with a rose coloured chest and one with a very pale colouration and 4 normal plain looking. so imagine my surprise to see 3 rose coloured ones and still the paler one! This could indicate there is now 8 regulars??
I've analysed the pictures and there is no evidence to suggest that any one of them are from another race, just a couple of them are 1st winters at least.
Whilst watching the male blackcap feeding on the apples in my old trafford garden this morning a fantastic new garden tick in the shape of a WOODCOCK it flew low over the roof tops of the houses & then over my next doors house. All the usual activity from goldfinches, greenfinches, blue, great & coal tits. 2 goldcrests.
Just after putting this post on another look at the apples & there is now a female blackcap.
-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 2nd of December 2017 01:02:20 PM
pete berry said
Fri Dec 1 11:17 AM, 2017
Peter Hilton who lived further down my road sadly passed away a few months ago.He had a really excellent feeding area at the rear of his house which fortunately his wife has continued to fill with food.One of the main attractions is the number of Tree Sparrows he gets.Pat has kindly invited me down to monitor this very important winter population andI've seen up to 25 Tree Sparrows at the same time feeding there in the last few weeks.Today a quick visit produced at least a dozen birds at the same time!! Pic attached of an half full feeder of Tree Sparrows.Also there were Reed Buntings,Bullfinch,Coal Tits plus all the usual suspects.
The excitement in my Radcliffe garden continues with yesterday a female pied wagtail popped in for a visit, also a male bullfinch today with 6 long tailed tits. The finches in general are somewhat more flighty then previous days and appears to have affected the number of lesser redpolls as I have only seen 3 possible 4 at any one time on the feeders. I've had one that is very much like a summer linnet because of the extent of the rose colour on his chest and I'm wondering whether it could be from Scandinavia (according to some pictures I've seen in a book) But I will need some spare time in my busy schedule to analyse my pictures properly and perhaps I may need some expert help due to the almost identical features between the races) Ta!
A day for window birding. A new winter high of 10 (maybe 11) siskins on feeders/ground. They only get a chance when the goldfinches take a breather. Still 5 redpoll, and the nuthatch returned for the first time in a while. The most pathetic sight was of a male bullfinch reduced to picking fragments of sunflower heart from the top of one of my waste bins, its head being too large to use the feeders! From my windows today I reckon I saw about 27 species (inc. lesser black-backed gull, jay and starling which did not use the garden), more than I saw on a trip to Audenshaw yesterday!
149 Starling
38 Jackdaw
5 Carrion Crow
84 Black-Headed Gulls
8 Herring Gulls
8 Lesser Black-Backed Gulls
7 Great Black-Backed Gulls
2 Common Gulls
2 goldcrests also enjoying the fat balls.
C30 goldfinches
1 greenfinch
1 chaffinch
18 house sparrows
2 blue tits
2 collard doves
2 blackbirds
1 Robin
And a male sparrowhawk chasing a sparrow out of the garden as I was about to leave for work.
-- Edited by steven burke on Thursday 18th of January 2018 01:06:33 PM
New high of (at least) 8 siskins today, and still 5 redpoll. A post-Christmas high of 4 greenfinch also. Yesterday, 12 chaffinches was a winter high (possibly most ever), and a similar number were about today.
The day of the winter so far. Redpolls up to 5, with 7 siskins joining them. This alone would have been enough, but in mid-morning bullfinches (a pair, of course) visited the garden for the first time this winter, and brought the male blackcap with them! With green, gold and chaffinches, that made six finches totalling about 40 birds! Also a buzzard drifted over quite low in mid-morning. Why go out, I say?
Things perked up today with the arrival of 4 redpolls (common or garden variety only). This makes all the expense worthwhile. Also a single siskin on the feeder at the same time as redpoll on one occasion. Chaffinch numbers rose again today so I'm hoping they'll drag in a brambling during next weeks cold spell.
A welcome return for siskin today, a single female. 95% certain also had a redpoll in the early gloom (well, early for me at 8.45 a.m.), but it was in a tree at the bottom of the garden against the 'light' with its back to me. Flew off on its own whereas all the goldfinches which were also in the tree stayed. Hoping for another visit to clinch it.
First blackcap sighting since before Christmas (female) in my Romiley garden. I wonder where they go in the meantime?
23 (at least) Goldfinches
6 Greenfinch
4 Bullfinch
4 Chaffinch
3 Siskin
2 Jay
1 Lesser Redpoll
And one flyby Peregrine, a tick for the Garden.
All in Heavily, Stockport
- 1 Male Bullfinch
- 1 or 2 Goldfinch
- c6 Lesser Redpoll (first I've seen here for several years)
- 1 Coal Tit
plus plenty of Blackbird, Great and Blue Tit, Feral Pigeons and Corvids.
A male Blackcap in my garden in Lowton this morning.
-- Edited by Richard Thew on Tuesday 26th of December 2017 03:01:00 PM
3 lapwing just flew over my garden, now thats a first considering nearest ones will be Flixton or the mosses , its an odd record .
Keep looking up
Male blackcap made a reappearance today, also one siskin. Masses of goldfinches (c20) pushed me further towards the workhouse by downing sunflower hearts like it was Christmas!
-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Friday 22nd of December 2017 09:09:48 PM
I was surprised to see a male Blackcap in my garden today. I supposed it's a sign of global warming etc.
Mild weather, and more good birds return. Nuthatch back yesterday, and seen again today, with a female blackcap making a first appearance for this winter yesterday too. Not seen today, though hardly surprising as it was twice set upon by a robin (which was not bothered about anything else on 'its' patch). My guess is that, to a robin, a female blackcap resembles one of its own, especially when seen from behind?
-- Edited by Richard Thew on Wednesday 20th of December 2017 02:57:08 PM
They will eat live and dried Mealworms.
The birds usually pause on next doors Tulip Tree before crossing the fence to our feeders.
I enjoyed watching these as on an earlier visit today, to Rumworth Dam, I drew a complete blank.
An increased number of Chaffinch, with 4 males plus 2 females. House Sparrows, usually a scarce bird here, have taken a liking to a new feeder at the rear of the garden,
and are becoming regulars.
A single Coal Tit made numerous visits from distance. A Greenfinch stayed on the feeder.
On our Larch tree a Song Thrush rested.
All the usuals; including many Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbirds, Dunnock, Robin, Wood Pigeon and Starlings.
Black- headed Gulls low over all day and my running battle with the large flock of Feral Pigeons in our Grove continues. Presently I am winning.
3 siskin returned today as mild weather did also. It's a paradox really, since it turned cold the number (and variety) of garden birds dropped away (not even nuthatch was seen). I don't truly understand but glad the spell has broken - its been a bit boring.
Male Tawny Owl calling in between rain showers in our Hale garden just now. Not heard him since early November.
The parakeet were also visiting adjacent roofs and nibbling at something on the tiles ?? (see pic)
7 fieldfare where in the tall tree at the bottom of the garden but did not stick around long.
Upto 4 redwings were feeding in my neighbours garden at the weekend 1 was feeding on the remaining berries in my holly bush.
Not seen much of the blackcaps until today when the female made a brief appearance.
1 goldcrest
1 Robin
1 dunnock
3 blackbirds
2 chaffinch
4 collard doves.
Plus the usual goldfinches & greenfinches.
-- Edited by steven burke on Tuesday 12th of December 2017 08:40:01 PM
Goldfinches at about 20+, greenfinchs were upto about 8+ previously, 2 chaffinch plus the usual (including 6 of the lesser redpolls)
Ta!
Ps. Attached pictures of yesterday's grey wagtail, a garden first in almost 18 years!!!!
-- Edited by Richard Thew on Sunday 10th of December 2017 02:49:29 PM
25 Goldfinch earlier this morning and 3 Cormorants over.
(not quite Steve Burke levels but getting there !!
-- Edited by Nick Hilton on Saturday 9th of December 2017 10:20:09 AM
Hoping some cold, snowy weather might drive something in as it's getting rather samey:- todays 'highlights', 2 goldcrests only 2 meters from window (searching Irish yews), nuthatch, mistle thrush, 3 collared doves, 7 chaffinches, usual green and goldfinches, blackbirds, tits, house sparrows etc... Wish I could get rid of pigeons which are a new problem this year.
Cheers John
As I've not been able to get out birding recently it was great to see a group of approximately 30 Redwings in the tall trees in our Hale garden just before dusk this afternoon.
I've analysed the pictures and there is no evidence to suggest that any one of them are from another race, just a couple of them are 1st winters at least.
Ta!!
All the usual activity from goldfinches, greenfinches, blue, great & coal tits.
2 goldcrests. Just after putting this post on another look at the apples & there is now a female blackcap.
-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 2nd of December 2017 01:02:20 PM