2 Goldfinches on the Nyjer seed and Sunflower seed feeders in Cheadle Hulme Garden! Garden first! Chuffed!
Ray Eden said
Tue Feb 25 10:16 AM, 2014
Thanks Ian, my goof. Ray
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Feb 24 6:35 PM, 2014
Originally posted today by Ray Eden:
Grey Wagtail back in my Partington garden, been missing for a week
Also Dunnock 1 Goldfinch 6 Greenfinch 5 Blackbird 2 Long tailed tit 2 House Sparrow 6 Starling 2 Blue tit 2 Robin 1
Kevin Coffey said
Sun Feb 23 4:40 PM, 2014
A mixture of Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Redpols in my Moston garden this morning. Redpols are a first for my garden.
Simon Warford said
Sun Feb 23 10:31 AM, 2014
female Blackcap still present in our east Bolton garden this morning and yesterday even more unusual a pair of Siskin on the feeder.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Sunday 23rd of February 2014 10:33:42 AM
Steven Nelson said
Tue Feb 18 8:48 AM, 2014
Late post for yesterday: 1 Siskin over my Irlam garden at 9.05am. Also interestingly had another 10 mins earlier elsewhere in Irlam. Both heading south. Siskins aren't seen very often in Irlam!
sid ashton said
Mon Feb 17 9:33 PM, 2014
At last, we had the first Siskin of the year in our Hale garden this morning
Tim Bush said
Mon Feb 17 10:46 AM, 2014
Hi All
This is my first post on the forum as we only moved to the area (Cheadle Hulme) last year. Initially there was very little visiting the garden but with plenty of feeders up we've now managed to attract quite a few regular visitors, these include:
We also occasionally get 4-5 Long Tailed Tits visiting and have also had rare visits from a song thrush and jay. However we're yet to see any finches, we have a Nyjer seed feeder up in one of the trees and also a sunflower seed feeder as I've read this is what they're partial to.
Does anyone else struggle to attract finches? Is this common for the Cheadle area?
Vaughan Evans said
Mon Feb 17 9:24 AM, 2014
Sat/Sun 08/09 February 25 Siskin , 1 Blackcap (m), 2 Bullfinch (1m 1f), 4+ Goldfinch, 1 Goldcrest plus Tawny Owl calling in the vicinity. 1 Starling on the telephone mast by Alty FC contrasted with the estimated (not by me) 200,000 at Marbury CP/Flashes on Saturday Evening - absolutely amazing, began at 17.00.
No Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Song Thrush, Wren
Jon Bowen said
Sun Feb 16 6:47 PM, 2014
4 Curlew over flying south at 9.00am this morning was a first 3 Mallard returned for their first visit of the year, spring must be on it's way
other more usual residents included 3 Willow Tit 5 Long Tailed Tit Reed Bunting Bullfinch 4 Goldfinch - I've finally cracked this Niger Seed feeding thing 7 Chaffinch 4 Blue TIt 3 Great Tit 1 Coal Tit 2 Robin 5 Blackbirds 2 Mistle Thrushes in the tress over the back of the garden
Phil White said
Sun Feb 16 11:35 AM, 2014
09:00-09:30 6 Goldfinch 2 Blue tits 1 Robin 2 Dunnock 5 House Sparrows 1 Great tit 1 Bullfinch M 1st this year 2 Woodpigeon 1 Blackbird F
marvin lewis said
Sat Feb 15 10:29 PM, 2014
A Siskin came to my garden feeders today-first one this winter
steven burke said
Sat Feb 15 8:50 PM, 2014
my old Trafford garden this afternoon... 2 blue tits 2 great tits 2 coal tits 6 house sparrows 1 blackbird 1 robin all around my feeders. 2 mistle thrushes in the tree at the bottom of my garden. 2 peregrine falcons over just after 2pm what looked like juvenile & adult, possibly the city centre ones, heading south west.
Phil White said
Sat Feb 15 9:56 AM, 2014
After being lame for a couple of week not being able to get out so been watching the feeders and there has been next to nothing bar the daily dunnock this morning 09:00 - 09:15 there was a bit of a flurry. 2 Blue Tit's 1 Goldfinch 2 Dunnock 1 Chaffinch F 1 Woodpigeon 3 Blackbird's 1F 2M 1 Robin Nothing special but cheered me up
marvin lewis said
Wed Feb 12 7:21 PM, 2014
Blackbird count up to 10, but they spend so much time squabbling amongst tjhemselves that they are no match for the Starlings,[now up to 4],which dominate the birdcake feeders.
marvin lewis said
Tue Feb 11 9:10 PM, 2014
16 Goldfinches in Prestwich garden today-a garden record for me. Also 7 Blackbirds battling it out for the birdcake, but a Starling got the better of them!
Mark Walsh said
Tue Feb 11 4:57 PM, 2014
Several greenfinch, goldfinch and chaffinch daily. Other than that blue, great and coal tit, I was going to put Willow tit as well but that was in a dream I had last night.
If we were talking garden birds from dreams I could have quite a list.
Paul Wilkins said
Tue Feb 11 4:38 PM, 2014
Today, as dusk falls, as well as the usual Blue, Great, Coal and Long-Tailed Tits, Greenfinches, Goldfinches and House Sparrows on my feeders there is a male Blackcap.
Simon Warford said
Tue Feb 11 12:51 PM, 2014
female Blackcap feeding in our east Bolton garden this morning (present since at least 24th Jan).
Vaughan Evans said
Mon Feb 10 3:28 PM, 2014
Sat/Sun 08/09 February
10 Siskin (7m, 3f), 1 Blackcap (m), 3 Bullfinch (2m 1f), 10+ Goldfinch plus at least two Tawny Owls calling in the vicinity
No Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Song Thrush, Wren or Starling.
1 male blackcap (first for a year or so)
1 robin
1 wren (rare visitor)
22 house sparrow (including 2 carrying nesting material)
2 dunnock
3 blue tit (checking out the nesting box)
3 long-tailed tit
4 goldfinch
3 blackbird (2 male and 1 female chasing each other around)
6 woodpigeon
1 magpie
Steven Nelson said
Mon Feb 3 7:22 PM, 2014
Flock of Canada Geese heard over my Irlam house at 7.10pm heading west in the dark. Couldn't see to count.
David Walsh said
Sun Feb 2 11:32 AM, 2014
Sunday 2nd February 2014, 11am
Huddersfield Road, Stalybridge
1 pair of bullfinch, the first I have seen this winter in the garden, perched watching the masses of goldfinch fighting over the feeders. Bullfinch tend to visit to feed on the hawthorn buds, slightly later in the winter. 15+ goldfinch 1 pair chaffinch 2 great tits 2 blue tits 2 collared doves 1 dunnock 2 robins
Huw Lloyd said
Sat Feb 1 9:45 AM, 2014
First ever male Reed Bunting on the feeders in my garden in Lostock this morning. Its been there for over an hour...what a great start to the day...
sid ashton said
Thu Jan 30 5:53 PM, 2014
Just had a response from the RSPB re the Big Garden Birdwatch result's submission problems over the weekend, they said:-
"Unfortunately, technical issues have affected our website over the past few days. Please be assured our technical team have been working hard to rectify these. Due to these issues, we had to stop sending out a confirmation email and apologise that the website did not make submission success clearer.
Each submission is of great importance to us in helping us understand the health of our countryside and the fluctuations of our bird species and we appreciate the time and effort everyone puts in to making this event so successful".
...so at least the problem was identified; hope it doesn't happen again .
Steven Nelson said
Tue Jan 28 10:16 PM, 2014
2 flocks of Canada Geese flew west over my garden in the dark at 9.15pm. 1 flock of 14 birds visible but another flock calling nearby that I couldn't see well enough to count.
Bernard McGurrin said
Tue Jan 28 4:10 PM, 2014
sparrowhawk perched on back fence weighing up the dunnocks, flew off before making it's move disturbed by one of my neighbours.
Keith Mills said
Mon Jan 27 10:45 AM, 2014
Six Greenfinch in our garden this morning. My highest count.
Tanmay Dixit said
Mon Jan 27 8:02 AM, 2014
Spoke to the 'powers that be' while vol'ing yday and it was the volume of traffic the caused the problems with the rspb site as mentioned. Should be ok now, if not try later in the week when the rush is over. Such an overload of data insertion on the website can only be good news for the survey :)
sid ashton said
Sun Jan 26 10:12 PM, 2014
First birding I have been able to do this year was the RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch in our Hale garden today - the list included Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Nuthatch however as Mike said in the previous post it took an age to submit the results.
Can't help but think that it was the design of this year's form that probably slowed the process down
munsworth said
Sun Jan 26 4:32 PM, 2014
RSPB Garden watch this afternoon Disappointing count. My Orrell garden has been quiet for weeks. Only birds seen Starling 15 Blackbird 2 Long tailed Tit 6 Wren 1 Goldfinch 1 Blue Tit 1
Submitting the results is taking an age. Presumably the volume of traffic
Mike
Neil Ferguson said
Sun Jan 26 11:53 AM, 2014
Just had a record 13 Goldfinches on the feeders.
Amazing sight !!
Neil Ferguson said
Sun Jan 26 10:16 AM, 2014
Did my Bird Watch from 8:45 to 9:45 yesterday morning in Highfield Wigan.
Results not bad for little Wigan !!!!!!!!
Long Tailed Tit x 3
Blue Tit x 3
Great Tit x 2
Bullfinch x 3 - 2 Males fighting over 1 female. Amazing!!!
Nuthatch x 2
Blackbird x 2
Goldfinch x 5
Chaffinch x 3
Dunnock x 2
Wood Pigeon
Coal Tit
Collard Dove
Magpie on he shed roof
Missing were Greenfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Robin, Wren and House Sparrow from the usual suspects.I was hoping that Grey Partridge I reported a while ago might turn up but I've not seen it since..
Greenfinches are becoming fairly regular now after a 10 year absence.I get the occasional House Sparrow on the feeders.Wrens I see flitting about in the garden but does anyone know what Wrens actually eat in Winter as I've never ever seen one eat anything to be honest.
Andy Bissitt said
Sat Jan 25 9:47 PM, 2014
Davidcaron62 wrote:
In my Boarshaw garden for todays RSPB garden birdwatch
Blue Tit 4 Great Tit 2 Blackbird 2 Dunnock 1 Woodpigeon 1 Collared Dove 2 Coal Tit 1 Magpie 1
I've had a little flock of house sparrows (Six or seven of them) on my feeders every day for about nine months. Where are they today when I'm counting? Not sight nor sound of the beggers
Dave
It's amazing isn't it Dave? The likes of great tit, robin, magpie and woodpigeon all failed to show during the hour, but along with coal tit all arrived during the remainder of the morning. No goldfinch either for the first time in years. It was pretty boring in truth and the RSPB must think of changing it to earlier in the winter.
Jon Bowen said
Sat Jan 25 6:06 PM, 2014
An hour after the rainstorm early pm produced good numbers of birds
11 Blackbirds 8 Chaffifinches 7 Great Tits 6 Blue Tits 5 Goldfinches 3 Woodpigeon 3 Willow Tits (great to be back up to full compliment) 2 Mistle Thrushes 2 Moorhen 1 Dunnock 1 Robin 1 Reed Bunting 1 Coal Tit
In my Boarshaw garden for todays RSPB garden birdwatch
Blue Tit 4 Great Tit 2 Blackbird 2 Dunnock 1 Woodpigeon 1 Collared Dove 2 Coal Tit 1 Magpie 1
I've had a little flock of house sparrows (Six or seven of them) on my feeders every day for about nine months. Where are they today when I'm counting? Not sight nor sound of the beggers
Dave
David Shallcross said
Sat Jan 25 12:24 PM, 2014
Dawn count, then the first hours visitors to the feeders.
14 Goldfinch 3 Greenfinch 3 Male Blackbirds 1 Wren 2 Robins 4 Great Tits 2 Blue Tits 3 Chaffinch 4 Collared Dove 1 Wood Pigeon 3 Magpie 1 Dunnock
Jon Beckett said
Sat Jan 25 12:09 PM, 2014
Male Lesser Redpoll been in a few times today, first for about 12 months.
Phil White said
Fri Jan 24 5:58 PM, 2014
Seen in my Irlam garden today 2 Blue Tits 1 Great Tit 2 Dunnock 1 Robin 1 Wren 1 Woodpigeon 1 Chaffinch M first seen for months. 1 F Blackbird and 6 M the males just sat in a tree together.
Chris Greene said
Fri Jan 24 7:48 AM, 2014
Regular, but brief visits from mixed finch flocks over the last few weeks,to the sunflower kernel feeders in our Offerton garden. Greenfinches are the most numerous ,( max. count 11 individuals ) Then Goldfinch ,( max. 8 ) also the occasional Chaffinch makes an appearance . Also intermittent visits from Coal, Great and Blue Tits . Otherwise , generally quiet.
Cheers Chris .
Lynne Webster said
Thu Jan 23 9:49 PM, 2014
Overwintering blackcap in my Bramhall garden today, and 2 goldcrests in next door's fir tree.
Alan Turner said
Tue Jan 21 5:12 PM, 2014
Another "first of winter" - male Siskin. Also today - Lesser Redpoll, 3/4 inc. " pink " bird. 16 species today inc. - Goldfinch c. 15 - Nuthatch - Coal Tit Ashton-under-Lyne garden.
Alan Turner said
Mon Jan 20 5:56 PM, 2014
First of the winter Lesser Redpoll in our Ashton-under-Lyne garden.
0 Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Song Thrush, Wren or Starling.
Steve Suttill said
Mon Jan 20 9:10 AM, 2014
Steve Suttill wrote:
The BTO will be running an Early Bird Survey on 9th January.
It requires people to get up just before dawn (which is relatively late in January), watch their garden feeding stations and record what time they see the first 10 different species arriving; we will also record some additional information on the local environment.
Here are the top 10 species in the provisional survey results. The number after the species is the average time of first arrival in minutes after daybreak (or before dawn in the case of the Tawny Owl)
1 Tawny Owl -10 2 Blackbird 11 3 Robin 16 4 Blue Tit 21 5 Dunnock 24 6 Fieldfare 24 7 Magpie 25 8 Song Thrush 26 9 Carrion Crow 26 10 Great Tit 28
David Gornall said
Sun Jan 19 3:16 PM, 2014
7.20 am : 2 Tawny Owls calling : 1 from my ivy covered Ash tree & 1 from conifers a few gardens up.
Also today: 2 Robins 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker several Blue & Great Tits Pair Coal Tits 2 Dunnocks c 15 House Sparrows 5 Blackbirds 3 Chaffinch 1 Wren 2 Collared Dove 3 Woodpigeons 2 Magpies
Not seen any Goldfinch or Greenfinch in the garden for ages.
Adrian Drummond-Hill said
Sun Jan 19 2:13 PM, 2014
munsworth wrote:
My garden in Orrell has gone strangely quiet over the last 2 weeks despite there being plenty of food available - seed, peanuts, bird cake etc. This happened last year too just in time for RSPB's garden bird survey! Throughout the year I have 4 species of Tit- Blue, Great, Coal and long tailed plus Blackbird,Song Thrush, Dunnock, Wren, Goldfinch Greenfinch,Chaffinch, Collared Dove,Woodpigeon and feral pigeon plus the occasional Sparrowhawk. Has anyone else noticed this or is it an unfortunate peculiarity of my garden. Responses appreciated
Mike
You're not alone, my garden has also fallen quiet, with just the occasional robin and a few blue tits flying over.
Grey Wagtail back in my Partington garden, been missing for a week
Also
Dunnock 1
Goldfinch 6
Greenfinch 5
Blackbird 2
Long tailed tit 2
House Sparrow 6
Starling 2
Blue tit 2
Robin 1
Redpols are a first for my garden.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Sunday 23rd of February 2014 10:33:42 AM
Hi All
This is my first post on the forum as we only moved to the area (Cheadle Hulme) last year. Initially there was very little visiting the garden but with plenty of feeders up we've now managed to attract quite a few regular visitors, these include:
2-3 Robins
4 (approx) Blue Tits
4 (approx) Great Tits
2-3 Dunnocks
3 Blackbirds 1M 2F
2 Collared Doves
2-4 Magpies
2 Wood Pigeons
We also occasionally get 4-5 Long Tailed Tits visiting and have also had rare visits from a song thrush and jay. However we're yet to see any finches, we have a Nyjer seed feeder up in one of the trees and also a sunflower seed feeder as I've read this is what they're partial to.
Does anyone else struggle to attract finches? Is this common for the Cheadle area?
25 Siskin , 1 Blackcap (m), 2 Bullfinch (1m 1f), 4+ Goldfinch, 1 Goldcrest plus Tawny Owl calling in the vicinity. 1 Starling on the telephone mast by Alty FC contrasted with the estimated (not by me) 200,000 at Marbury CP/Flashes on Saturday Evening - absolutely amazing, began at 17.00.
No Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Song Thrush, Wren
3 Mallard returned for their first visit of the year, spring must be on it's way
other more usual residents included
3 Willow Tit
5 Long Tailed Tit
Reed Bunting
Bullfinch
4 Goldfinch - I've finally cracked this Niger Seed feeding thing
7 Chaffinch
4 Blue TIt
3 Great Tit
1 Coal Tit
2 Robin
5 Blackbirds
2 Mistle Thrushes in the tress over the back of the garden
6 Goldfinch
2 Blue tits
1 Robin
2 Dunnock
5 House Sparrows
1 Great tit
1 Bullfinch M 1st this year
2 Woodpigeon
1 Blackbird F
2 blue tits
2 great tits
2 coal tits
6 house sparrows
1 blackbird
1 robin
all around my feeders.
2 mistle thrushes in the tree at the bottom of my garden.
2 peregrine falcons over just after 2pm what looked like juvenile & adult, possibly the city centre ones, heading south west.
this morning 09:00 - 09:15 there was a bit of a flurry.
2 Blue Tit's
1 Goldfinch
2 Dunnock
1 Chaffinch F
1 Woodpigeon
3 Blackbird's 1F 2M
1 Robin
Nothing special but cheered me up
10 Siskin (7m, 3f), 1 Blackcap (m), 3 Bullfinch (2m 1f), 10+ Goldfinch plus at least two Tawny Owls calling in the vicinity
No Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Song Thrush, Wren or Starling.
1 Brambling (m), 10 Siskin (7m, 3f), 1 Blackcap (m), 4 Bullfinch (2m 2f), 10+ Goldfinch, 2 Buzzard (over), 2 Greenfinch,
No House Sparrow, Song Thrush, Wren or Starling.
1 male blackcap (first for a year or so)
1 robin
1 wren (rare visitor)
22 house sparrow (including 2 carrying nesting material)
2 dunnock
3 blue tit (checking out the nesting box)
3 long-tailed tit
4 goldfinch
3 blackbird (2 male and 1 female chasing each other around)
6 woodpigeon
1 magpie
Huddersfield Road, Stalybridge
1 pair of bullfinch, the first I have seen this winter in the garden, perched watching the masses of goldfinch fighting over the feeders. Bullfinch tend to visit to feed on the hawthorn buds, slightly later in the winter.
15+ goldfinch
1 pair chaffinch
2 great tits
2 blue tits
2 collared doves
1 dunnock
2 robins
"Unfortunately, technical issues have affected our website over the past few days. Please be assured our technical team have been working hard to rectify these. Due to these issues, we had to stop sending out a confirmation email and apologise that the website did not make submission success clearer.
Each submission is of great importance to us in helping us understand the health of our countryside and the fluctuations of our bird species and we appreciate the time and effort everyone puts in to making this event so successful".
...so at least the problem was identified; hope it doesn't happen again .
Can't help but think that it was the design of this year's form that probably slowed the process down
Disappointing count. My Orrell garden has been quiet for weeks.
Only birds seen
Starling 15
Blackbird 2
Long tailed Tit 6
Wren 1
Goldfinch 1
Blue Tit 1
Submitting the results is taking an age. Presumably the volume of traffic
Mike
Amazing sight !!
Results not bad for little Wigan !!!!!!!!
Long Tailed Tit x 3
Blue Tit x 3
Great Tit x 2
Bullfinch x 3 - 2 Males fighting over 1 female. Amazing!!!
Nuthatch x 2
Blackbird x 2
Goldfinch x 5
Chaffinch x 3
Dunnock x 2
Wood Pigeon
Coal Tit
Collard Dove
Magpie on he shed roof
Missing were Greenfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Robin, Wren and House Sparrow from the usual suspects.I was hoping that Grey Partridge I reported a while ago might turn up but I've not seen it since..
Greenfinches are becoming fairly regular now after a 10 year absence.I get the occasional House Sparrow on the feeders.Wrens I see flitting about in the garden but does anyone know what Wrens actually eat in Winter as I've never ever seen one eat anything to be honest.
It's amazing isn't it Dave? The likes of great tit, robin, magpie and woodpigeon all failed to show during the hour, but along with coal tit all arrived during the remainder of the morning. No goldfinch either for the first time in years. It was pretty boring in truth and the RSPB must think of changing it to earlier in the winter.
11 Blackbirds
8 Chaffifinches
7 Great Tits
6 Blue Tits
5 Goldfinches
3 Woodpigeon
3 Willow Tits (great to be back up to full compliment)
2 Mistle Thrushes
2 Moorhen
1 Dunnock
1 Robin
1 Reed Bunting
1 Coal Tit
Flyovers
6 Jackdaws
3 Black-head Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
1 Redwing
Blue Tit 4
Great Tit 2
Blackbird 2
Dunnock 1
Woodpigeon 1
Collared Dove 2
Coal Tit 1
Magpie 1
I've had a little flock of house sparrows (Six or seven of them) on my feeders every day for about nine months. Where are they today when I'm counting? Not sight nor sound of the beggers
Dave
14 Goldfinch
3 Greenfinch
3 Male Blackbirds
1 Wren
2 Robins
4 Great Tits
2 Blue Tits
3 Chaffinch
4 Collared Dove
1 Wood Pigeon
3 Magpie
1 Dunnock
2 Blue Tits
1 Great Tit
2 Dunnock
1 Robin
1 Wren
1 Woodpigeon
1 Chaffinch M first seen for months.
1 F Blackbird and 6 M the males just sat in a tree together.
Greenfinches are the most numerous ,( max. count 11 individuals ) Then Goldfinch ,( max. 8 ) also the occasional Chaffinch makes an appearance .
Also intermittent visits from Coal, Great and Blue Tits . Otherwise , generally quiet.
Cheers Chris .
Also today - Lesser Redpoll, 3/4 inc. " pink " bird.
16 species today inc. - Goldfinch c. 15
- Nuthatch
- Coal Tit
Ashton-under-Lyne garden.
Sat/Sun 18/19th January
2 Brambling (1m, 1f), 6 Siskin (4m, 2f), 3 Redpoll, 2 Blackcap (2 male), 3 Bullfinch (2m 1f), 1 Redwing (over), 10 Goldfinch
0 Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Song Thrush, Wren or Starling.
Here are the top 10 species in the provisional survey results. The number after the species is the average time of first arrival in minutes after daybreak (or before dawn in the case of the Tawny Owl)
1 Tawny Owl -10
2 Blackbird 11
3 Robin 16
4 Blue Tit 21
5 Dunnock 24
6 Fieldfare 24
7 Magpie 25
8 Song Thrush 26
9 Carrion Crow 26
10 Great Tit 28
7.20 am : 2 Tawny Owls calling : 1 from my ivy covered Ash tree & 1 from conifers a few gardens up.
Also today:
2 Robins
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
several Blue & Great Tits
Pair Coal Tits
2 Dunnocks
c 15 House Sparrows
5 Blackbirds
3 Chaffinch
1 Wren
2 Collared Dove
3 Woodpigeons
2 Magpies
Not seen any Goldfinch or Greenfinch in the garden for ages.
You're not alone, my garden has also fallen quiet, with just the occasional robin and a few blue tits flying over.