Bury . Two , sometimes three pairs bullfinch at the feeders , always feeding on the ground . Very noisy nuthatches . Many goldfinch , handful of lesser redpoll , usual tits , mistle thrush in song most of the day .
Tony Koziol said
Sat Apr 1 3:59 PM, 2023
Our Stockport garden had two Collared Doves visit a few times this week, two Long-tailed Tits continue to visit each day along with the other three common species and yesterday the House Sparrow numbers peaked to over forty birds for the first time in a while.
Our proposed house move fell through so we are staying put.
Andy Bissitt said
Fri Mar 31 8:57 PM, 2023
This cracking male sparrowhawk spent 2-3 minutes adorning my garden fence this p.m. Also today: 4 greenfinch, pair bullfinch, and a chiffchaff, which I'd seen earlier on Sunfield estate, could be heard close to the garden.
More 'bedroom window' birds than garden. A sand martin flew over quite low early evening, and a male mandarin to the east not longer afterwards. Earlier, two male blackbirds were having a ferocious tussle in next door's garden, with one pinning the other to the ground and constantly jabbing at the other's head. I felt sure one of them would be killed, until the neighbour's dog ran out and they both took flight apparently none the worse for the battle. It ain't over I suspect.
Andy Bissitt said
Sun Mar 26 9:00 PM, 2023
Male blackcap back again today - this time after an 8 day gap. I've no doubt it's the same one, and a local breeder at that. Otherwise, the return of the bullfinch pair, last Friday, after many weeks absence was good to see. Nuthatch as well today.
phillipskelly said
Fri Mar 24 6:25 PM, 2023
Very few Goldfinch on and around my Stretford backyard feeders since 09.03.23 with occasional visits from Blackbirds in the front garden. There has been frequent visits from 2 Woodpigeon eating flowering buds on a cherry tree ( Prunus Amanogawa ) opposite my house.
pete berry said
Thu Mar 23 12:59 PM, 2023
Chiffchaff singing from the bottom of the garden today.
Samglennie said
Tue Mar 21 8:15 AM, 2023
Female Blackcap in my Old Trafford garden this morning
Hulme Community GARDEN Centre. My first Chiffchaff of 23, yesterday 19th Mar. Also two groups of Goldfinch searching pretty depleted seedheads about 15 in all.
paul shaw said
Mon Mar 20 7:58 AM, 2023
Chiffchaff heard singing from Bredbury garden 7.30am this morning.
pete berry said
Sat Mar 18 10:12 AM, 2023
Chiffchaff singing just over the road from front of house,not quite in the garden, but clearly audible from it !!
Andy Bissitt said
Tue Mar 14 8:05 PM, 2023
2 stunning near-Summer plumaged male siskins visited the garden a few times this afternoon, the first since 1 on New Years Day!! Also the semi-regular male blackcap was once again on site at least a couple of times.
fredford said
Sun Mar 12 12:47 PM, 2023
Bury . Several rooks in the sycamores snapping off twigs for their nest building . A couple have noticed other birds feeding off the sun flower hearts on the lawn and decided to join them . Tussles with carrion crows ensue . Will they return ?0
phillipskelly said
Thu Mar 9 4:15 PM, 2023
On and around my Stretford backyard feeders this morning at 9:50am were c90 Goldfinch which I was very surprised to see as over the last few weeks there have only been the odd one or two so the feeders have only needed filling once a week, if that.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 9th of March 2023 04:28:24 PM
Blackcap 1 female. Chiffchaff 1 calling just outside the garden. Nuthatch 2 Sparrowhawk 1 male...not successful!
pete berry said
Thu Mar 9 2:21 PM, 2023
At least 50 Redwing feeding in the horse paddock at the rear of the garden this afternoon together with a similar number of Starling. On the feeders plenty of Goldfinch, reasonable numbers of Greenfinch , Chaffinch and House Sparrows together with the usual Blue,Great and Coal Tits,and on the fatballs a male and female Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Ian Howarth said
Wed Mar 8 9:42 PM, 2023
Lesser Black-backed Gull on roof next door this p.m, Black-headed Gulls have been flying over and around house every day recently, Herring Gull on the chimney a few houses away last week, Blackcap regular visitor recently, Sparrowhawk passed over garden very low 2 weeks ago. 3 x Canada Geese passed very low over the roof a few days ago.
Andy Bissitt said
Wed Mar 8 8:24 PM, 2023
Male blackcap on 2 of last 3 days, and the first redpoll for weeks this afternoon! 7 chaffinches is high for this late in the 'winter'. Also in last 3 days, 1 and sometimes a pair of nuthatch, pair of long-tailed tit, up to 3 greenfinches, coal tit, and all the other usuals. Hoping for an end of season 'biggie' if we do get snow in the surrounding area.
Dave Thacker said
Sat Mar 4 12:05 PM, 2023
A male Reed bunting was a surprise visitor to my garden this morning, it just sat there watching the female Blackcap on the suet balls. The bunting flew in with a mixed flock of gold and greenfinches and eventually joined some of them on the ground seed tray.
Tony Koziol said
Wed Mar 1 12:23 PM, 2023
Stockport garden summary:
No new species to report for the last two weeks in February, so we are on 24 for the year . Great to see House Sparrow numbers rising again in the last few days with around 40 at times. Blackbird numbers can get to 11 (9 males) all this of course attracts the Sparrowhawks.
Andy Bissitt said
Tue Feb 28 8:50 PM, 2023
Surprise return of the (presumably same) male blackcap this morning after 18 days unseen. Must have decided it isn't Spring yet.
pete berry said
Fri Feb 24 10:56 AM, 2023
2 Tree Sparrows on feeders in the garden this morning, first ones I've seen for a couple years.
Andy Bissitt said
Sun Feb 19 9:08 PM, 2023
And the winner of the first young of the year award goes to Woodpigeon (again), with a freshly fledged 'chick' in the garden this morning. All interest now gone since last sighting of blackcap on 10th.
Tony Koziol said
Sun Feb 12 10:59 AM, 2023
Stockport garden weekly summary: We are still on 24 species for the year. Blackcaps have now disappeared no sightings this week. House Sparrow numbers up to 12 plus, the four common tit species are here everyday and the Blackbirds numbers are around a steady 8 or so on a regular basis.
Magpies have been busy gathering nesting material and a pair of Dunnocks have been courting all week.
Hawthorn leaves began to open up yesterday its always around the 8th of the month give a few days either side.
News is that we are almost ready to move soon only 600 yards or so but it will be a new garden, we have already seen Dunnock, Robin and Blackbird the previous owner had bird feeders so hopefully we can entice the locals back, fingers crossed.
phillipskelly said
Tue Feb 7 1:13 PM, 2023
Stretford backyard feeders. Not many Goldfinch on the feeders over the past weeks, especially when there's a cold snap. Today at 1pm only 2. Yesterday (Monday 6th ) in my front terrace garden where I put crushed fatballs and dried mealworms , I had several visits from Blackbird,Dunnock and Robin. There was also an appearance of a Grey Wagtail on the tarmac in the middle of the street which ended up searching in the gutters of my roof.
fredford said
Mon Feb 6 9:45 PM, 2023
Bury . This a.m., first song thrush of the year , in top of the fir tree , running through his arpeggios . Hell have it right , soon enough !
Andy Bissitt said
Sat Feb 4 8:55 PM, 2023
Male blackcap still in residence, and seen regularly during each day. The mystery bird since the New Year has been Bullfinch which, apart from a female briefly on one day, has been absent. Hope the finch diseases hasn't got them.
Tony Koziol said
Sat Feb 4 8:34 PM, 2023
Stockport: Weekly summary, we are still stuck on 24 species for the year and very unlikely to change anytime soon.
Most notable observations this week being the drop in House Sparrow numbers rarely more than three together whilst in December we had up to forty.
Our female Blackcap disappeared early in the week, then to be replaced by a male this morning, how odd.
Finally again this morning fifteen Redpoll feeding in the Silver Birch after an absence recently.
fredford said
Sat Feb 4 4:10 PM, 2023
Bury . Single , male great tit practising his lines from the top of the apple tree . Smashin !
pete berry said
Mon Jan 30 1:56 PM, 2023
7 Buzzards over the house,calling and interacting together.
fredford said
Sun Jan 29 7:13 PM, 2023
Bury . Treecreeper on the apple tree , searching carefully on each of the three stems . Tremendous amount of work involved .
Tony Koziol said
Sun Jan 29 12:05 PM, 2023
Stockport: Weekly summary for our garden, we are stuck on 24 species for the year, this figure is most unlikely to change.
A single Ring necked Parakeet visited the same feeder but only on a Thursday morning and for just a few minutes. Female Blackcap is observed every day. House Sparrow numbers are well down from the 40 or so in December 2022 to single figures, our prepared apples are still the target for the Blackbirds c10.
We conducted our BGBW yesterday between 13.45/14.45.
Blue Tit 2
Great Tit 1
Coal Tit 1
Long tailed Tit 3
Blackbird 4
Blackcap 1
Dunnock 1
Woodpigeon 1
Magpie 2
Robin 1
Andy Bissitt said
Sat Jan 28 8:37 PM, 2023
Relieved when the blackcap, and 2 redpoll, turned up during the hour of the BGBW. Never saw them again all time I was in after that. A jay was a bonus visitor among the 14 species counted. Much more doing in my garden than the surrounding countryside. Makes you wonder where they would be without this help.
Andy Bissitt said
Fri Jan 27 9:14 PM, 2023
A grey wagtail alighted on my porch roof this morning, seen from my dining room armchair (that's the way to do it!). The male blackcap was seen a few times both back and front of house. In the afternoon, a ring-necked parakeet flew overhead as I set the feeders up for my RSPB watch tomorrow.
Tony Koziol said
Sun Jan 22 4:01 PM, 2023
Stockport: summary for the week, Carrion Crow and Common Buzzard flew over to bring the total to 24.
Ring necked Parakeet on the same feeder as previously (same bird?) Blackcap continues to visit but now just one female that spends 3/4 hours here per day.
At least 11 Blackbirds are going through our apples which are cored then cut in half donut style and placed over small Magnolia stems. an absolute joy to watch them gorging.
David Hughes said
Sun Jan 22 11:07 AM, 2023
H Fred in my experience fishing, maggots wil stay inside a tub with vertical sides as long as they stay dry,the slightest bit of rain on the tub and they will get out,if i was try to feed birds with them id put boiling water over the maggots to kill em ,and make sure the birds get their meal.
fredford said
Sun Jan 22 8:59 AM, 2023
The bullfinch pair has returned ! Anyone any idea of a suitable receptacle to contain maggots , outside , so that they do not escape , to feed the birds , please ?
Andy Bissitt said
Sat Jan 21 8:46 PM, 2023
Male blackcap still coming to feeders - several times today, and looking settled. Redpoll last visited yesterday (a single bird). All a bit flat considering the weather.
Peter Whitehead said
Wed Jan 18 11:31 AM, 2023
Limefield, Bury. Two silver birch trees in the front garden. One had 8x long tailed tits, the other had 7x lesser redpoll and a single goldfinch. I had just been watching a pair of coal tits on the feeders at tha back as well.
Ivan Ellison said
Tue Jan 17 7:14 PM, 2023
As well as the usual finches and tits had my first sighting this year of a brambling on my feeders this morning. Lots of disturbance from scaffolders next door but now they have finished hope more may visit and stay a bit longer for some photos. Prestwich area
Tony Koziol said
Sun Jan 15 4:24 PM, 2023
Stockport: Summary for the week, a Ring-necked Parakeet turned up on the peanut feeder on Monday, this is the first we have witnessed stopping and feeding in the garden.
Yesterday we had a small charm of Goldfinch in the Silver Birch, brings our species total to 22.
Two female Blackcaps continue to visit our feeders however there has been no sight of the male which is a worry as we do have Sparrowhawk(s)
Andy Bissitt said
Sat Jan 14 8:41 PM, 2023
A female sparrowhawk landed on the back garden path early p.m., and stayed put for a minute. I ran upstairs to see if it had caught anything, but its talons were empty. After another minute, it moved towards a shrub in the border and a house sparrow shot out to its right and went over the fence. The sparrowhawk followed two seconds later, but the sparrow probably had a good enough start to have got away. Who needs the countryside to see wildlife action? Later, the male blackcap found the suet feeder in the back garden, so it now has a choice!
Andy Bissitt said
Fri Jan 13 1:51 PM, 2023
5 redpoll on front feeders during abysmal weather this morning. Blackcap also dropped by again. Nuthatch amongst the other usuals.
Andy Bissitt said
Thu Jan 12 8:04 PM, 2023
A male blackcap was feeding on suet pellets in the front garden around dinner time (Romiley, for those who don't know). A single redpoll continues to visit daily since its arrival. Maybe the Big Garden Birdwatch could be interesting after all.
Steven Nelson said
Mon Jan 9 11:34 PM, 2023
Small flock of Pink-footed Geese heard over my Irlam garden at 11.28pn this evening but too dark to see them. Sounded like they were heading east.
Tony Koziol said
Sun Jan 8 2:53 PM, 2023
Stockport: Our garden has produced twenty species for the first full week of 2023 the highlights being Blue, Coal, Great and Long-tailed Tits normally visiting every day as do Dunnock, Robin, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove and Jackdaw flying to roost. Herring and Black-headed Gull are normally over each day.
We have been very lucky with at least twenty Redpoll on several occasions a single Wren has been seen twice as has a real rarity a Chaffinch (female).
Three Blackcaps are still visiting, two females one of which appears to feed on apple only, this is of course difficult to confirm.
Nice to see a Nuthatch today and finally the ever hopeful Sparrowhawks swoop through.
Only fifty one weeks of the year left and if we are lucky, may add another 11/13 to our garden list.
paul shaw said
Fri Jan 6 10:48 PM, 2023
A Song Thrush could be heard singing in full song at 7.30 this morning, somewhere behind my Bredbury garden.
Our Stockport garden had two Collared Doves visit a few times this week, two Long-tailed Tits continue to visit each day along with the other three common species and yesterday the House Sparrow numbers peaked to over forty birds for the first time in a while.
Our proposed house move fell through so we are staying put.
This cracking male sparrowhawk spent 2-3 minutes adorning my garden fence this p.m. Also today: 4 greenfinch, pair bullfinch, and a chiffchaff, which I'd seen earlier on Sunfield estate, could be heard close to the garden.
Female Brambling on the feeder a few times this week in Lowton.
More 'bedroom window' birds than garden. A sand martin flew over quite low early evening, and a male mandarin to the east not longer afterwards. Earlier, two male blackbirds were having a ferocious tussle in next door's garden, with one pinning the other to the ground and constantly jabbing at the other's head. I felt sure one of them would be killed, until the neighbour's dog ran out and they both took flight apparently none the worse for the battle. It ain't over I suspect.
Male blackcap back again today - this time after an 8 day gap. I've no doubt it's the same one, and a local breeder at that. Otherwise, the return of the bullfinch pair, last Friday, after many weeks absence was good to see. Nuthatch as well today.
There has been frequent visits from 2 Woodpigeon eating flowering buds on a cherry tree ( Prunus Amanogawa ) opposite my house.
A female Brambling in Walkden garden today
2 stunning near-Summer plumaged male siskins visited the garden a few times this afternoon, the first since 1 on New Years Day!! Also the semi-regular male blackcap was once again on site at least a couple of times.
On and around my Stretford backyard feeders this morning at 9:50am were c90 Goldfinch which I was very surprised to see as over the last few weeks there have only been the odd one or two so the feeders have only needed filling once a week, if that.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 9th of March 2023 04:28:24 PM
Blackcap 1 female.
Chiffchaff 1 calling just outside the garden.
Nuthatch 2
Sparrowhawk 1 male...not successful!
On the feeders plenty of Goldfinch, reasonable numbers of Greenfinch , Chaffinch and House Sparrows together with the usual Blue,Great and Coal Tits,and on the fatballs a male and female Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Lesser Black-backed Gull on roof next door this p.m, Black-headed Gulls have been flying over and around house every day recently, Herring Gull on the chimney a few houses away last week, Blackcap regular visitor recently, Sparrowhawk passed over garden very low 2 weeks ago. 3 x Canada Geese passed very low over the roof a few days ago.
Male blackcap on 2 of last 3 days, and the first redpoll for weeks this afternoon! 7 chaffinches is high for this late in the 'winter'. Also in last 3 days, 1 and sometimes a pair of nuthatch, pair of long-tailed tit, up to 3 greenfinches, coal tit, and all the other usuals. Hoping for an end of season 'biggie' if we do get snow in the surrounding area.
Stockport garden summary:
No new species to report for the last two weeks in February, so we are on 24 for the year . Great to see House Sparrow numbers rising again in the last few days with around 40 at times. Blackbird numbers can get to 11 (9 males) all this of course attracts the Sparrowhawks.
Surprise return of the (presumably same) male blackcap this morning after 18 days unseen. Must have decided it isn't Spring yet.
And the winner of the first young of the year award goes to Woodpigeon (again), with a freshly fledged 'chick' in the garden this morning. All interest now gone since last sighting of blackcap on 10th.
Stockport garden weekly summary: We are still on 24 species for the year. Blackcaps have now disappeared no sightings this week. House Sparrow numbers up to 12 plus, the four common tit species are here everyday and the Blackbirds numbers are around a steady 8 or so on a regular basis.
Magpies have been busy gathering nesting material and a pair of Dunnocks have been courting all week.
Hawthorn leaves began to open up yesterday its always around the 8th of the month give a few days either side.
News is that we are almost ready to move soon only 600 yards or so but it will be a new garden, we have already seen Dunnock, Robin and Blackbird the previous owner had bird feeders so hopefully we can entice the locals back, fingers crossed.
Not many Goldfinch on the feeders over the past weeks, especially when there's a cold snap.
Today at 1pm only 2.
Yesterday (Monday 6th ) in my front terrace garden where I put crushed fatballs and dried mealworms , I had several visits from Blackbird,Dunnock and Robin.
There was also an appearance of a Grey Wagtail on the tarmac in the middle of the street which ended up searching in the gutters of my roof.
This a.m., first song thrush of the year , in top of the fir tree , running through his arpeggios . Hell have it right , soon enough !
Male blackcap still in residence, and seen regularly during each day. The mystery bird since the New Year has been Bullfinch which, apart from a female briefly on one day, has been absent. Hope the finch diseases hasn't got them.
Stockport: Weekly summary, we are still stuck on 24 species for the year and very unlikely to change anytime soon.
Most notable observations this week being the drop in House Sparrow numbers rarely more than three together whilst in December we had up to forty.
Our female Blackcap disappeared early in the week, then to be replaced by a male this morning, how odd.
Finally again this morning fifteen Redpoll feeding in the Silver Birch after an absence recently.
Treecreeper on the apple tree , searching carefully on each of the three stems . Tremendous amount of work involved .
Stockport: Weekly summary for our garden, we are stuck on 24 species for the year, this figure is most unlikely to change.
A single Ring necked Parakeet visited the same feeder but only on a Thursday morning and for just a few minutes. Female Blackcap is observed every day. House Sparrow numbers are well down from the 40 or so in December 2022 to single figures, our prepared apples are still the target for the Blackbirds c10.
We conducted our BGBW yesterday between 13.45/14.45.
Blue Tit 2
Great Tit 1
Coal Tit 1
Long tailed Tit 3
Blackbird 4
Blackcap 1
Dunnock 1
Woodpigeon 1
Magpie 2
Robin 1
Relieved when the blackcap, and 2 redpoll, turned up during the hour of the BGBW. Never saw them again all time I was in after that. A jay was a bonus visitor among the 14 species counted. Much more doing in my garden than the surrounding countryside. Makes you wonder where they would be without this help.
A grey wagtail alighted on my porch roof this morning, seen from my dining room armchair (that's the way to do it!). The male blackcap was seen a few times both back and front of house. In the afternoon, a ring-necked parakeet flew overhead as I set the feeders up for my RSPB watch tomorrow.
Stockport: summary for the week, Carrion Crow and Common Buzzard flew over to bring the total to 24.
Ring necked Parakeet on the same feeder as previously (same bird?) Blackcap continues to visit but now just one female that spends 3/4 hours here per day.
At least 11 Blackbirds are going through our apples which are cored then cut in half donut style and placed over small Magnolia stems. an absolute joy to watch them gorging.
Male blackcap still coming to feeders - several times today, and looking settled. Redpoll last visited yesterday (a single bird). All a bit flat considering the weather.
Limefield, Bury. Two silver birch trees in the front garden. One had 8x long tailed tits, the other had 7x lesser redpoll and a single goldfinch. I had just been watching a pair of coal tits on the feeders at tha back as well.
Stockport: Summary for the week, a Ring-necked Parakeet turned up on the peanut feeder on Monday, this is the first we have witnessed stopping and feeding in the garden.
Yesterday we had a small charm of Goldfinch in the Silver Birch, brings our species total to 22.
Two female Blackcaps continue to visit our feeders however there has been no sight of the male which is a worry as we do have Sparrowhawk(s)
A female sparrowhawk landed on the back garden path early p.m., and stayed put for a minute. I ran upstairs to see if it had caught anything, but its talons were empty. After another minute, it moved towards a shrub in the border and a house sparrow shot out to its right and went over the fence. The sparrowhawk followed two seconds later, but the sparrow probably had a good enough start to have got away. Who needs the countryside to see wildlife action? Later, the male blackcap found the suet feeder in the back garden, so it now has a choice!
A male blackcap was feeding on suet pellets in the front garden around dinner time (Romiley, for those who don't know). A single redpoll continues to visit daily since its arrival. Maybe the Big Garden Birdwatch could be interesting after all.
Stockport: Our garden has produced twenty species for the first full week of 2023 the highlights being Blue, Coal, Great and Long-tailed Tits normally visiting every day as do Dunnock, Robin, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove and Jackdaw flying to roost. Herring and Black-headed Gull are normally over each day.
We have been very lucky with at least twenty Redpoll on several occasions a single Wren has been seen twice as has a real rarity a Chaffinch (female).
Three Blackcaps are still visiting, two females one of which appears to feed on apple only, this is of course difficult to confirm.
Nice to see a Nuthatch today and finally the ever hopeful Sparrowhawks swoop through.
Only fifty one weeks of the year left and if we are lucky, may add another 11/13 to our garden list.