3m 2f reed buntings in the garden today 2 ringed they come every year between January and may I presume they come from worsley filtration lagoons
Keith Mills said
Wed Jan 21 11:07 AM, 2015
Two Coal Tit spent sometime in our garden this morning. Ignoring the feeders, they fed off the trunk of the Larch tree and the branches of an old Forsythia bush. Also ground feeding on a snow free patch covered in dead bits of stuff.
-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 21st of January 2015 11:13:04 AM
sid ashton said
Tue Jan 20 5:18 PM, 2015
First 2015 sighting of a Tawny Owl in our Hale garden early this morning
Scott robinson said
Tue Jan 20 10:22 AM, 2015
Busy in my garden this morning and a new garden tick,
1 Willow tit, A new garden tick 1 Coal tit 4 Great tit 3 Blue tit 2 Wren 3 Blackbird 6 House sparrow 2 Robin 6 Goldfinch 2 Woodpigeon 1 Collared dove
-- Edited by Vaughan Evans on Tuesday 20th of January 2015 01:11:56 PM
Chris brown said
Mon Jan 19 7:57 AM, 2015
The snow and cold weather has had the same effect in my garden on Bromley cross Bolton. Yesterday we had Mistle Thrush x2, Siskin, Redpoll x2, Song Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Jay x2. Plus the numbers of all the usuals has increased.
Helen Andrews said
Sun Jan 18 4:39 PM, 2015
The cold weather (& snow here in Rochdale) is certainly encouraging some rare sightings for my garden. So today 2 wrens at the same time! Rarely see even one (although often heard). Also a jackdaw, 2 rooks, and a gtr spotted woodpecker.
This is besides the usual blue tits, great tit, blackbirds, dunnock, chaffinches, bullfinches, wood pigeons & squirrels! One green finch today - seeing one or two occasionally.
Starlings going mad over the fat bar - c 20 at one time today - all squabbling as usual.
Keith Mills said
Sun Jan 18 3:30 PM, 2015
This pm: A Mistle Thrush perched at the top of our Larch tree. A long time ago when we had one of these.
MJKeating said
Sun Jan 18 12:13 PM, 2015
6 Long-Tailed Tits in Highfield garden this morning! Always a treat to see as they all bounce into the garden with such enthusiasm!!
David Morris said
Sat Jan 17 10:11 PM, 2015
Paul- do you have a nyjer seed feeder for Goldfinches? Haven't seen any in my garden (on Brantingham Road) yet, but have read nyjer tends to attract them, and that's the one seed at the moment I don't have out.
On the plus side, spotted a starling for the first time in the garden today.
mike haylett said
Sat Jan 17 5:34 PM, 2015
Timperley lane, Leigh. Had a male Blackcap on the feeder today. Very rare event indeed for my garden.
Paul Wilkins said
Sat Jan 17 4:56 PM, 2015
This is my first post on here (I'm new to birding), so hello fellow GM bird enthusiasts! Spotted a Long-Tailed Tit in my garden in Chorlton today, first time I'd seen one since putting bird feeders out several weeks ago (had all the usual suspects- Blue, Great and Coal Tits, Magpies, Woodpigeons, House Sparrows and Blackbirds), I've read they also tend to be seen in pairs, think the partner was flitting about nearby in a tree but couldn't ID it. I've seen a few people post about Chorlton WP on here and assume they must live relatively locally, just wondered if anyone else who lives round this area has spotted Long-Tailed Tits before?
Long-tailed tiys are frequent in and around Chorlton and I suspect pass through most gardens often - at this time of the year often in gangs of six, seven or more. They tend to feed briefly (but rarely from feeders) and pass on. They can be found in and around both waterparks, in Longford Park and so on. You'll probably get Goldfinches to your feeders too (I had a peak of 11 at feeders in my Chorlton garden today) and maybe Greenfinches. They used to be the most common finch species hereabouts but numbers crashed and haven't recovered.
Paul Wilkins said
Sat Jan 17 4:52 PM, 2015
I've had a pair of bullfinches coming to my garden feeders for a few years now. They used to make short, clumsy visits but are quite good at getting at the seeds now. Today there was a second pair - that is two males and two females at the same time. Of course, I may have been entertaining four birds for some time but only in twos. However, seeing four bullfinches at one time is worth a note!
Keith Mills said
Sat Jan 17 12:44 PM, 2015
A Goldcrest back feeding in my Larch tree, just now. Coal Tit also present. Regular visits from at least 8 Goldfinch and 3 or 4 Chaffinch. Pair of Collared Doves encamped. Several male Blackbirds, Robins, Dunnock and a Woodpigeon.
Kristian Wade said
Fri Jan 16 8:17 PM, 2015
Some pretty big flocks of birds in the Mature Oak tree and surrounding Hawthorns in mine and my neighbour's gardens:
This is my first post on here (I'm new to birding), so hello fellow GM bird enthusiasts! Spotted a Long-Tailed Tit in my garden in Chorlton today, first time I'd seen one since putting bird feeders out several weeks ago (had all the usual suspects- Blue, Great and Coal Tits, Magpies, Woodpigeons, House Sparrows and Blackbirds), I've read they also tend to be seen in pairs, think the partner was flitting about nearby in a tree but couldn't ID it. I've seen a few people post about Chorlton WP on here and assume they must live relatively locally, just wondered if anyone else who lives round this area has spotted Long-Tailed Tits before?
I live in chorlton and at the moment we are getting a flock of about 15+ long-tailed tits, 3 goldcrest, 2 coal tits and a few blue tits and great tits in are garden but we used to only get them flying over our garden.
Rob Creek said
Thu Jan 15 10:12 PM, 2015
David Morris wrote:
This is my first post on here (I'm new to birding), so hello fellow GM bird enthusiasts! Spotted a Long-Tailed Tit in my garden in Chorlton today, first time I'd seen one since putting bird feeders out several weeks ago (had all the usual suspects- Blue, Great and Coal Tits, Magpies, Woodpigeons, House Sparrows and Blackbirds), I've read they also tend to be seen in pairs, think the partner was flitting about nearby in a tree but couldn't ID it. I've seen a few people post about Chorlton WP on here and assume they must live relatively locally, just wondered if anyone else who lives round this area has spotted Long-Tailed Tits before?
Hi David, they are social birds and it is a far more common sighting to see them in family groups sometimes up to 10 birds or more. Also they can be part of Finch and Tit flocks at this time of year sometimes tagging along in their group Cheers Rob
David Morris said
Thu Jan 15 9:17 PM, 2015
This is my first post on here (I'm new to birding), so hello fellow GM bird enthusiasts! Spotted a Long-Tailed Tit in my garden in Chorlton today, first time I'd seen one since putting bird feeders out several weeks ago (had all the usual suspects- Blue, Great and Coal Tits, Magpies, Woodpigeons, House Sparrows and Blackbirds), I've read they also tend to be seen in pairs, think the partner was flitting about nearby in a tree but couldn't ID it. I've seen a few people post about Chorlton WP on here and assume they must live relatively locally, just wondered if anyone else who lives round this area has spotted Long-Tailed Tits before?
Helen Andrews said
Wed Jan 14 8:13 PM, 2015
Great goldcrest in my Rochdale garden yesterday, flitting around the damson tree. I haven't seen one in the garden for years. This one didnt stay long, so was lucky to see it. I just wonder how frequently one has visited that I have not spotted
Stephen Fuentes said
Wed Jan 14 8:49 AM, 2015
A male Blackcap has been visting our garden feeders recently. A garden tick, and the first warbler species I've seen in our garden since we moved into our Bredbury home 12 years ago.
Cheers,
Steve.
Jon Bowen said
Tue Jan 13 6:11 PM, 2015
working from home today so a good chase to see what was going on in the back garden.
Plenty of the usual visitors but in greater numbers with a max count of 11 Blue Tit 8 Chaffinch 8 Great Tit 3 Woodpigeon 2 Dunnock
Still seeing 2 - 3 Willow Tit as well as Blackbird, Magpie, Collared Dove, Carrion Crow.
and a few irregular visitors today all singles of Grey Heron Moorhen Jay Reed Bunting
Jon Bowen said
Tue Jan 13 6:08 PM, 2015
Neil Ferguson wrote:
Jon Bowen wrote:
An hour this afternoon
Haven't seen a single Bullfinch in the garden this winter so far. I'd normally have up to 4 birds by now, anyone else seeing a drop in numbers ?
Yep my feeders are also Finch free this winter save one charm of Goldfinches who visit occasionally.
The last 2 winters I've had Bullfinch,Greenfinch,Chaffinch,Siskin, Redpoll and Brambling.
All I'm seeing at present are loads of Tits - Great,Blue,Coal,Long Tailed and Willow plus Dunnock and Robin.
No House Sparrows at all either.
Thanks Neil, I've seen an increase in Goldfinch numbers having had a first visitation last year, looking at some of the other posts it is good to see others are still getting good Bullfinch numbers
Chris Porter said
Tue Jan 13 4:55 PM, 2015
Paul Dewey wrote:
Male Blackcap passed very briefly through garden this morning, sadly none of bird food I had on offer is sort of thing to tempt him to stay.
I've had a male blackcap visiting my Hulme garden the last few days, only interested in the yellow flowers on a mahonia plant. This plant is also popular with blue tits (and last year, to my delight, a lesser whitethroat). When it produces its blue/purple berries, it's a favourite with blackbirds.
Bernard McGurrin said
Tue Jan 13 1:12 PM, 2015
Making a brew in the kitchen watching a wren and a robin around the fish pond, with goldfinch and blue tit,starling, house sparrow and collared dove also present.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Jan 13 11:53 AM, 2015
Originally posted today by Mike Killelea
My Jericho garden:
My wife Pat shouted me into the back room which looks out into the garden - She had seen a Sparrowhawk land on a large log that I have as a perch/feeding station.
I went in and rattled of a few frames and it flew off a few minutes later.
We then noticed that two feet across and three feet lower on an adjacent perch that hosts a fat square feeder was one of the Great Spotted woodpeckers that regularly visits.
It had sat there motionless and unnoticed - Lucky escape - and after a few minutes more it resumed feeding.
Neil Ferguson said
Mon Jan 12 11:23 PM, 2015
Jon Bowen wrote:
An hour this afternoon
Haven't seen a single Bullfinch in the garden this winter so far. I'd normally have up to 4 birds by now, anyone else seeing a drop in numbers ?
Yep my feeders are also Finch free this winter save one charm of Goldfinches who visit occasionally.
The last 2 winters I've had Bullfinch,Greenfinch,Chaffinch,Siskin, Redpoll and Brambling.
All I'm seeing at present are loads of Tits - Great,Blue,Coal,Long Tailed and Willow plus Dunnock and Robin.
No House Sparrows at all either.
Vaughan Evans said
Mon Jan 12 1:59 PM, 2015
Currently there are 13 Bullfinches in my Hale garden (6m and 7f), plus a single redpoll (first of the winter). Also a Song Thrush which have been very scarce recently
-- Edited by Vaughan Evans on Tuesday 13th of January 2015 08:46:53 AM
Jon Bowen said
Sun Jan 11 9:42 PM, 2015
An hour this afternoon
3 Willow Tits 11 Blue Tits 5 Great Tits 1 Coal Tit 4 Chaffinch 3 Blackbirds 2 Robins 2 Woodpigeon 1 Collared Dove 1 Magpie.
Haven't seen a single Bullfinch in the garden this winter so far. I'd normally have up to 4 birds by now, anyone else seeing a drop in numbers ?
Paul Dewey said
Thu Jan 8 11:33 AM, 2015
Male Blackcap passed very briefly through garden this morning, sadly none of bird food I had on offer is sort of thing to tempt him to stay.
Kevin Forde said
Wed Jan 7 8:29 PM, 2015
Chiffchaff: this time in my front garden/yard which is only around 5m sq and faces onto Clifton Street. Expect it is over-wintering on the land to the rear which was once the site of Parsonage Pit. Plenty of coverage and trees along Westleigh Brook.
David Lumb said
Tue Jan 6 6:26 PM, 2015
Stuck at home all day today so did a check of my Bromley Cross garden.
3 Woodpigeons 2 Collared Doves 1 Wren 3 Dunnocks 1 Robin 1 Blackbird 1 Coal Tit 3 Blue Tits 2 Jays (peanuts went down quicker than usual) 1 Magpie 3 Jackdaws 4 House Sparrows 1 Chaffinch 2 Goldfinches
40+ Starlings in tree by health centre on Darwen Road. Able to see them flying across my garden to adjacent gardens, but as usual none landed in my garden.
Kevin Forde said
Sun Jan 4 11:12 PM, 2015
Fleeting visit from a Chiffchaff on my washing line. In the backyard of my terraced home on Clifton Street, Leigh. Wonder if it will return for "The Big Bird Count" ?
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Jan 3 9:30 AM, 2015
Originally posted today by Keith Ridley:
for the last 3 weeks I have seen the buzzard outside my patio doors amazing must be plent of food
Jon Bowen said
Thu Jan 1 9:58 PM, 2015
An hour watching this morning... 2 Willow Tits 2 Dunnock 9 Blue Tits 5 Great Tits Coal Tit 2 Goldfinches 2 Wood Pigeon 3 Jackdaws (actually landed in the garden) 4 Chaffinch 1 House Sparrow (a rarity in our garden) Robin 3 Mallard 1 Teal (over) 1 Buzzard (over)
Adrian Drummond-Hill said
Wed Dec 31 5:04 PM, 2014
We had a wren in the garden this morning.
John Fallon said
Wed Dec 31 3:22 PM, 2014
Hale garden
3 tree sparrows 2 house sparrows Blue tit Great tit Small flock of redwing on cotoneaster tree opposite 2 robins and a bit of a scrap Male and female blackbird Have had a female blackcap visiting over the past few weeks but haven't seen it since the crab apples were finally all eaten.
Chris brown said
Tue Dec 30 5:47 PM, 2014
This morning a single female Brambling visited. The first for 3 years. I have had a single Redpoll visiting daily together with a pair of Jays.
Keith Mills said
Tue Dec 30 2:31 PM, 2014
Just now: A Jay hopped along the garden fence and then checked out the lawn for peanuts. The first in my Garden for over a year.
Paul Taylor said
Tue Dec 30 12:08 PM, 2014
First ever Goldcrest in the Scotch pine at the back of my house in Crankwood. I also got a really bad pic of it.
simon ghilks said
Mon Dec 29 7:32 PM, 2014
29/12/2014
A female Brambling made a couple of visits to the bird table in our Dukinfield garden this afternoon. First one I've seen here for over 2 years.
Scott robinson said
Sun Dec 28 4:30 PM, 2014
Another new garden tick a Siskin flew in with 3 Greenfinches, fed on sunflower hearts for a couple of seconds before being chased off.
Kristian Wade said
Sun Dec 28 4:10 PM, 2014
In field behind house:
c80 Black headed gulls
c10 Redwings
c 40 Starlings
On garden feeders:
3 Blue tits
2 Great tits
1 Dunnock
2 Robins
2 Blackbirds
2 Woodpigeons
9 Starlings
1 Wren
1 Chaffinch
Richard Thew said
Sun Dec 28 8:40 AM, 2014
At leasr 2 lesser redpolls at my garden waiting to get on my feeders in radcliffe, not far from elton reservoir along with a few goldfinch. At the same time they aarrived last winter too.
-- Edited by Richard Thew on Sunday 28th of December 2014 08:48:31 AM
David Lumb said
Sat Dec 27 8:23 PM, 2014
Bromley Cross garden today :-
1 Collared Dove 2 Woodpigeons 1 Wren 1 Dunnock 1 Robin 1 Blackbird 2 Great Tits 3 Blue Tits 1 Jay 4 House Sparrows 3 Goldfinches
Steve Judge said
Sat Dec 27 3:26 PM, 2014
Eccles: Saturday 27th December 2014 12:00 - 14:00 hrs
Blue Tit x 3 Mistle Thrush Robin Magpies Collared Dove x 1 Woodpigeon Blackbird x 1 male
Andy Bissitt said
Fri Dec 26 10:15 PM, 2014
Just as I was filling a feeder this morning, two nuthatches flew into the same bush just feet away from me. Later one was in the back garden looking incongruous in its typical head down pose on the adjoining house's brick wall. Also of note, a jay was down on the ground in the garden (it's only a small garden really). Less worth a smile was the sight of a female chaffinch suffering from chaffinch viral papilloma, the first time I've ever seen this.
Keith Mills said
Fri Dec 26 1:54 PM, 2014
Just now...Single skein of Pink-Footed Geese directly over my garden.....west
-- Edited by keith mills on Friday 26th of December 2014 02:28:31 PM
Karen Foulkes said
Thu Dec 25 5:04 PM, 2014
A Jay was present in the garden this morning. The first garden record for a while
Phil White said
Thu Dec 25 4:35 PM, 2014
Been quiet for weeks even my ever present Dunnocks have gone Blackbirds 4 Coal tits 2 blue tits 2 Chaffinch 1 F first for a long time
-- Edited by Phil White on Thursday 25th of December 2014 04:36:04 PM
of the Larch tree and the branches of an old Forsythia bush. Also ground feeding on a snow free patch
covered in dead bits of stuff.
-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 21st of January 2015 11:13:04 AM
1 Willow tit, A new garden tick
1 Coal tit
4 Great tit
3 Blue tit
2 Wren
3 Blackbird
6 House sparrow
2 Robin
6 Goldfinch
2 Woodpigeon
1 Collared dove
Redpolls 7
Bullfinches 9+
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1
Redwing - 1
Displaying Goldcrest - 20 01 15
Greenfinch
House Sparrow
Starling
Wren
-- Edited by Vaughan Evans on Tuesday 20th of January 2015 01:11:56 PM
So today 2 wrens at the same time! Rarely see even one (although often heard).
Also a jackdaw, 2 rooks, and a gtr spotted woodpecker.
This is besides the usual blue tits, great tit, blackbirds, dunnock, chaffinches, bullfinches, wood pigeons & squirrels! One green finch today - seeing one or two occasionally.
Starlings going mad over the fat bar - c 20 at one time today - all squabbling as usual.
A Mistle Thrush perched at the top of our Larch tree.
A long time ago when we had one of these.
Long-tailed tiys are frequent in and around Chorlton and I suspect pass through most gardens often - at this time of the year often in gangs of six, seven or more. They tend to feed briefly (but rarely from feeders) and pass on. They can be found in and around both waterparks, in Longford Park and so on. You'll probably get Goldfinches to your feeders too (I had a peak of 11 at feeders in my Chorlton garden today) and maybe Greenfinches. They used to be the most common finch species hereabouts but numbers crashed and haven't recovered.
Regular visits from at least 8 Goldfinch and 3 or 4 Chaffinch. Pair of Collared Doves encamped.
Several male Blackbirds, Robins, Dunnock and a Woodpigeon.
28 Redwings
c50 Starlings
24 Goldfinch
33 Woodpigeon
Plus:
2 Magpies
1 Carrion Crow
1 Dunnock
2 Robin
I live in chorlton and at the moment we are getting a flock of about 15+ long-tailed tits, 3 goldcrest, 2 coal tits and a few blue tits and great tits in are garden but we used to only get them flying over our garden.
Hi David,
they are social birds and it is a far more common sighting to see them in family groups sometimes up to 10 birds or more. Also they can be part of Finch and Tit flocks at this time of year sometimes tagging along in their group
Cheers
Rob
Cheers,
Steve.
Plenty of the usual visitors but in greater numbers with a max count of
11 Blue Tit
8 Chaffinch
8 Great Tit
3 Woodpigeon
2 Dunnock
Still seeing 2 - 3 Willow Tit as well as Blackbird, Magpie, Collared Dove, Carrion Crow.
and a few irregular visitors today all singles of
Grey Heron
Moorhen
Jay
Reed Bunting
Thanks Neil, I've seen an increase in Goldfinch numbers having had a first visitation last year, looking at some of the other posts it is good to see others are still getting good Bullfinch numbers
I've had a male blackcap visiting my Hulme garden the last few days, only interested in the yellow flowers on a mahonia plant. This plant is also popular with blue tits (and last year, to my delight, a lesser whitethroat). When it produces its blue/purple berries, it's a favourite with blackbirds.
My Jericho garden:
My wife Pat shouted me into the back room which looks out into the garden - She had seen a Sparrowhawk land on a large log that I have as a perch/feeding station.
I went in and rattled of a few frames and it flew off a few minutes later.
We then noticed that two feet across and three feet lower on an adjacent perch that hosts a fat square feeder was one of the Great Spotted woodpeckers that regularly visits.
It had sat there motionless and unnoticed - Lucky escape - and after a few minutes more it resumed feeding.
Yep my feeders are also Finch free this winter save one charm of Goldfinches who visit occasionally.
The last 2 winters I've had Bullfinch,Greenfinch,Chaffinch,Siskin, Redpoll and Brambling.
All I'm seeing at present are loads of Tits - Great,Blue,Coal,Long Tailed and Willow plus Dunnock and Robin.
No House Sparrows at all either.
-- Edited by Vaughan Evans on Tuesday 13th of January 2015 08:46:53 AM
3 Willow Tits
11 Blue Tits
5 Great Tits
1 Coal Tit
4 Chaffinch
3 Blackbirds
2 Robins
2 Woodpigeon
1 Collared Dove
1 Magpie.
Haven't seen a single Bullfinch in the garden this winter so far. I'd normally have up to 4 birds by now, anyone else seeing a drop in numbers ?
Male Blackcap passed very briefly through garden this morning, sadly none of bird food I had on offer is sort of thing to tempt him to stay.
Chiffchaff: this time in my front garden/yard which is only around 5m sq and faces onto Clifton Street. Expect it is over-wintering on the land to the rear which was once the site of Parsonage Pit. Plenty of coverage and trees along Westleigh Brook.
3 Woodpigeons
2 Collared Doves
1 Wren
3 Dunnocks
1 Robin
1 Blackbird
1 Coal Tit
3 Blue Tits
2 Jays (peanuts went down quicker than usual)
1 Magpie
3 Jackdaws
4 House Sparrows
1 Chaffinch
2 Goldfinches
40+ Starlings in tree by health centre on Darwen Road. Able to see them flying across my garden to adjacent gardens, but as usual none landed in my garden.
Fleeting visit from a Chiffchaff on my washing line. In the backyard of my terraced home on Clifton Street, Leigh. Wonder if it will return for "The Big Bird Count" ?
for the last 3 weeks I have seen the buzzard outside my patio doors amazing must be plent of food
2 Willow Tits
2 Dunnock
9 Blue Tits
5 Great Tits
Coal Tit
2 Goldfinches
2 Wood Pigeon
3 Jackdaws (actually landed in the garden)
4 Chaffinch
1 House Sparrow (a rarity in our garden)
Robin
3 Mallard
1 Teal (over)
1 Buzzard (over)
3 tree sparrows
2 house sparrows
Blue tit
Great tit
Small flock of redwing on cotoneaster tree opposite
2 robins and a bit of a scrap
Male and female blackbird
Have had a female blackcap visiting over the past few weeks but haven't seen it since the crab apples were finally all eaten.
The first in my Garden for over a year.
A female Brambling made a couple of visits to the bird table in our Dukinfield garden this afternoon. First one I've seen here for over 2 years.
-- Edited by Richard Thew on Sunday 28th of December 2014 08:48:31 AM
1 Collared Dove
2 Woodpigeons
1 Wren
1 Dunnock
1 Robin
1 Blackbird
2 Great Tits
3 Blue Tits
1 Jay
4 House Sparrows
3 Goldfinches
Blue Tit x 3
Mistle Thrush
Robin
Magpies
Collared Dove x 1
Woodpigeon
Blackbird x 1 male
-- Edited by keith mills on Friday 26th of December 2014 02:28:31 PM
Blackbirds 4
Coal tits 2
blue tits 2
Chaffinch 1 F first for a long time
-- Edited by Phil White on Thursday 25th of December 2014 04:36:04 PM