No less than 14 blackbirds feasting on fallen apples and stripping the pyracanthus berries in my Bramhall garden. If they carry on at this rate, there will be none left for the waxwings!
David Lumb said
Tue Nov 13 12:46 AM, 2012
As I went to fill the bird table this morning I had to wait while a flock of Long-tailed Tits passed through the garden. A first for my garden, although I have heard them in neighbouring ones. Half a dozen Blue Tits arrived a few minutes later, joining my regular three. A couple of Great Tits in the afternoon were the first for quite a while.
I watched a couple of Jays in the afternoon and it was noticeable that nearly each time a Magpie followed and bullied them. Normally the Magpies here do not bother much with the garden, apart from first light, but they did not seem to like the Jays taking the peanuts.
Other birds today :- 1 Grey Heron seen landing in other gardens. Hopefully I now have my pond sorted to keep them out. 1 Woodpigeon 4 Collared Doves 2 Dunnocks 1 Robin 2 Blackbirds 1 Coal Tit A small bird flying with the Long-tailed Tits was probably a Goldcrest 2 Jackdaws on the roof & half a dozen flying low through the garden 1 Carrion Crow on the roof 2 House Sparrows 1 Goldfinch flying low overhead 1 Siskin flying over
Ashley Edwards said
Mon Nov 12 4:17 AM, 2012
Two redpoll in with our regular goldfinch flock today
Steven Nelson said
Mon Nov 12 12:37 AM, 2012
12.20pm Another Peregrine skirmish over my Irlam house today a week or so after the last one (see post for 1st Nov). Again involving a male and female. This time very brief - over in a few seconds. But much lower than last one- just c.50ft above my house. 'kee kee kee' call gave it away again and made me look up. Again male headed of SE and female headed off NW. I wonder how many times this is taking place when I am not around?!
Nev Wright said
Sat Nov 10 7:45 PM, 2012
Brambling in our Sale garden this morning
Mike Howard said
Sat Nov 10 4:37 PM, 2012
Male Blackcap and Goldcrest in a mixed tit flock this morning. Both quite rare for my garden (Davyhulme)
Dave Thacker said
Sat Nov 10 4:31 AM, 2012
Two Siskins flew in with three Greenfinches into my Swinton garden this afternoon. Also another feral pigeon fell to one of the Sparrowhawks this morning, the garden is full of feathers again.
Michael Willett said
Fri Nov 9 8:24 PM, 2012
I seem to have loads more tits in the garden this year than usual. Loads of great, blue and coal tits. Anybody else noticed similar?
-- Edited by Michael Willett on Friday 9th of November 2012 08:24:36 PM
Paul Hurst said
Thu Nov 8 4:47 PM, 2012
Yesterday was an unusual day for my garden. First I was treated of a view of two geese flying right over my roof as I was walking back to my house. Unfortunately they were seen against the white clouds, so I just have their jizz to go with: long neck and longish wings. In that first split second of seeing them, I thought they were cormorants. Personally I think they were just Canada geese. Another bird, more interestingly, was a budgerigar calling in one of the trees! It's one of the "wild type": no white or strange colours seen. Are there many budgerigars in Manchester? Is there a population? I hope it comes back today, it looked quite pretty and I didn't have the time to look at it well yesterday.
Phil Barnett said
Thu Nov 8 3:57 PM, 2012
Brambling - male on window feeder - Upholland
Andy Bissitt said
Thu Nov 8 4:28 AM, 2012
A brambling over the garden at first light this morning. As it must be 7 or 8 years since I last encountered one anywhere in the U.K., it took a few seconds to dredge up the call from my memory. Thankfully, it did a little loop in it's flightpath allowing a second hearing.
Ivan Ellison said
Thu Nov 8 3:27 AM, 2012
Had a redpoll sp in the garden today, presume lesser, but it was on its own and views masked x twigs. Hope it returns over next few days whilst off work to get better views/pics maybe of it.First one I have seen in the garden. Prestwich area.
simon ghilks said
Thu Nov 8 12:54 AM, 2012
Late afternoon 7/11/2012 Dukinfield
1 Male Brambling picking at sunflower spill under the feeders.
First one I've ever seen in the garden before the turn of the year. Perhaps a sign of hard times to come for our winter migrants. Lets keep them feeders filled.
Judith Pidgeon said
Wed Nov 7 8:40 PM, 2012
Had a goldcrest in the garden for the first time. Creeping around in hedge. Also several coal tits which I haven't seen for a while
-- Edited by Judith Pidgeon on Wednesday 7th of November 2012 08:41:38 PM
Paul Wilkins said
Tue Nov 6 11:37 PM, 2012
I was going to go birding today but the weather put me off (I know, I'm a wimp). Any way, I did some work and took an occasional glance out the window looking on to my small back garden in chorlton and this is what I came up with (numbers show the most of a species seen at any one time):
Goldcrest (the first I've seen in the garden since we chopped down the Lawson's Cypress 15 years ago) Blackbird Dunnock (2) Chaffinch (2) Great Tit (2) Goldfinch (4) Blue Tit (4) Greenfinch (5) Wood Pigeon (2) Robin Coal Tit (2) Nuthatch Bullfinch Feral Pigeon (2)
Overflying:
Carrion Crow (4) Magpie Black-headed Gull
I'm a bit alarmed that my gang of House Sparrows (numbering 6 -9) seems to have entirely disappeared. It's weeks since I saw even a lone straggler.
Steven Nelson said
Fri Nov 2 6:19 AM, 2012
A loud "kee,kee,kee" call over my Irlam garden at 11.45am this morning alerted me to 2 Peregrines (1 m, 1 f - very distinct size difference). The two birds briefly skirmished before heading off in opposite directions. The female heading NW towards Irlam Moss and the male SE.
Andy Bissitt said
Tue Oct 30 9:42 PM, 2012
After 26 years, finally got a nuthatch in the garden on a feeder (have had previous rare visits to the garden, but not to a feeder). As one of the poor sods on here who has to work, I didn't see it myself, so I'm hoping it will return at the weekend. A jay is also visiting our tree regularly, whilst 20 or so house sparrows are always worth watching. Here's to something even more special!!??
Also something from yesterday which my other brother has just told me about. Two crossbills over High Lane, Stockport whilst he was working on someone's garden. Nice work if you can get it!
-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Tuesday 30th of October 2012 09:46:25 PM
Adam Jones said
Tue Oct 30 5:35 PM, 2012
I had my first Goldcrest of the Autumn yesterday in my garden (Cheadle Hulme). A lot earlier than previous years. This morning I managed a Grey Heron. Very unusual for my garden. There must be a pond nearby.
Colin Ramsden said
Tue Oct 30 1:44 AM, 2012
Marvin
I have had this in the past but it has not persisted. I actually have a good picture of a jackdaw hanging off a big fatball in my garden.
Marvin Lewis said
Tue Oct 30 1:22 AM, 2012
I know this isn't a particularly exciting request,but I am interested to see if anyone out there gets regular visits by Jackdaws to their garden feeders.I get regular visits by 2 Jackdaws,[? a male/female item].They either go to the bird table,[if they can push off the Grey Squirrels,Magpies,Feral Pigeons or Collared Doves],or they hang,precariously on the fatball feeder,and devour a fair amount]. Anyone in a similar situation? Incidentally,I like Jackdaws and am quite pleased they honour my garden with their presence!
David Lumb said
Tue Oct 30 12:15 AM, 2012
Arrived back from the paper shop early this morning to find 9 Collared Doves on my chimney pot and a neighbours pot. A Mistle Thrush was calling from a tree in the street.
As I was preparing to set off for the morning I realised I was wrong to suspect the Starlings for pinching all yesterday's peanuts. They were only petty thieves compared to the birds responsible for grand larceny. I have seen a Jay once from home using other gardens, but for the first time a couple were actually using the bird table in my owm garden. This lack of acorns could become very expensive, as yet again I had to refill the table after they left nothing.
Dave Tennant said
Mon Oct 29 6:03 PM, 2012
3 coal tits on the feeders,first for a while.
Paul Hurst said
Mon Oct 29 3:42 AM, 2012
Today, as I looked out of my flat window, I could see 2 magpies on the trees just across the parking, and I could hear some long tailed tits in some trees beyond the small buildings across the parking. A crow was sitting on the top of a high building. Suddenly, one of the magpies gave a loud "chairk" (not your usual monosyllabic cry, one with a "a" in it) and both of them swept down low over the ground, while the long-tailed tits started to cry out loudly in alarm. I then see a sparrowhawk fly in a shallow dive just beyond the buildings towards the trees with the long-tailed tits. The crow went after it as I saw the sparrowhawk disappear in the trees beyond the tits. After a dozen of seconds, the long-tailed tits calmed down, the magpies returned, and the crow returned to its vigil at the top of the building...
The lesson from this story is the brilliant way in how all the birds that I could see reacted to the appearance to the sparrowhawk. This one as always been around here, and I've seen it giving chase to the pied wagtails that often pass overhead.
Karen Foulkes said
Mon Oct 29 12:43 AM, 2012
Female Great Spotted Woodpecker visited the garden this morning, first for a while. Also 15 Greenfinch in a tree overlooking the garden
David Lumb said
Mon Oct 29 12:38 AM, 2012
After a couple of hours getting wet through early on, I spent the rest of the day checking my garden and passing birds.
Garden birds :- 1 Woodpigeon 5 Collared Doves 2 Dunnocks 1 Robin 1 Blackbird 1 Goldcrest. A garden first for me. 2 Magpies 1 Jackdaw from the dozens passing over 1 Carrion Crow 4 House Sparrows
Birds passing over:- Numerous Black-headed Gulls 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull 9 Feral Pigeons 1 Redwing 35 Starlings. I am sure some of these paid the garden the visit while I was at Jumbles. I filled the bird table with bread & peanuts before I went out. Everything had gone when I returned. 10 Goldfinches
Graham Smith said
Sun Oct 28 11:09 PM, 2012
Garden 1st this morning
Fem Sparrowhawk sat on my roof within 10foot of me
David Lumb said
Fri Oct 26 12:04 AM, 2012
Raven soaring overhead at 3.30 this afternoon. Possibly one of the two I saw flying over Turton Heights from Entwistle Reservoir earlier. It headed back in that direction.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Oct 25 10:27 PM, 2012
I note Hale Head has recorded over 700 through today, against 2500 Redwing mind!
Doc Brewster said
Thu Oct 25 10:24 PM, 2012
Yes I reckoned that was why you posted, we thought the same about the Knott End flock - my first ones this winter, but maybe only about 18 of them
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Oct 25 10:22 PM, 2012
That was the point if posting it Paul. I've had flocks of nearly 200 Redwing (grounded) near me but never more than single figure Fieldfares yet. These were my first substantial flock and very nice they were too
Doc Brewster said
Thu Oct 25 10:08 PM, 2012
More Redwings being reported than Fieldfares at the moment, Ian, but we had a flock of Fieldfares over Knott End last Friday
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Oct 25 9:16 PM, 2012
A single flock of 95 Fieldfare south over my Astley garden at 09.45 this morning.
James Walsh said
Thu Oct 25 4:11 PM, 2012
Coal Tit in Timperley garden
David Lumb said
Thu Oct 25 12:40 AM, 2012
A lively morning before I went out at 9am.
6 Collared Doves, beating my previous best of 5. I have seen 6 in the street recently but not all in the garden at once. 2 Dunnocks 1 Robin 1 Blackbird 2 Blue Tits 1 Magpie 9 Starlings 4 House Sparrows 4 Goldfinches
As usual lots of Black-headed Gulls and Jackdaws flew over, as did a couple of Rooks, singles about 15 minutes apart.
Neil Collier said
Wed Oct 24 4:52 PM, 2012
Pair of goldcrests in the conifers this morning, we used to have a resident pair but haven't seen them for a couple of years. I'm hoping this is a start of a new resident pairing.
Marvin Lewis said
Wed Oct 24 5:32 AM, 2012
Great tits,blue tits and coal tits are still very active at the feeders throughout the day,with regular visits by finches.However I was delighted to see a group of at least 9 long-tailed tits in my garden today.This the most I have seen there at any one time.
Tim Wilcox said
Tue Oct 23 8:47 PM, 2012
Monday 22 Oct 5am whilst still in bed I heard what I'm sure was a calling Ringed Plover flying over my house in Moss Side in the dark. Is this possible? Obviously I didn't see it.
Jon Bowen said
Mon Oct 22 4:36 AM, 2012
2 Willow Tits made their first appearance of the autumn at the bird table plenty of Blue and Great Tit's about also 3 Coal Tits and a single Long Tailed Tit at one point had all 5 Tit species on the bird table at once Blue Tits are using the nesting box for roosting
Marvin Lewis said
Mon Oct 22 1:02 AM, 2012
Have had regular Coal Tits visiting the feeders for several weeks;[mainly the Black Sunflower seeds] .A Nuthatch has also started visiting the seed feeders in the last 2 weeks.
mike haylett said
Mon Oct 22 12:53 AM, 2012
has anyone noticed the significant increase in coal tits. i get as many feeding as all the blue and great tits put togather--------good news, regards to all mike
Andy Isherwood said
Sun Oct 21 8:29 PM, 2012
Signs of small movements today over tyldesley/astley Skylarks, meadow pipits, chaffinch, blackbird and possibly jays all over in small numbers but weather to nice for observing big numbers!
Colin Ramsden said
Sun Oct 21 6:37 PM, 2012
Male blackcap taking cotoneaster berries from my Norden garden this morning.
Gary Ingram said
Sun Oct 21 12:54 AM, 2012
3 Collared doves 2 Dunnocks 1 Coal tit on the feeders in my Hindley garden today
David Lumb said
Sat Oct 20 1:21 AM, 2012
Woken up at 4.13 this morning by a screeching Tawny Owl flying around outside my bedroom window, and the dog barking due to the racket outside.
Keith Mills said
Fri Oct 19 12:19 AM, 2012
As I was eating my tea, just now, A Coal Tit hit the dining room window,right by my head. It lay stunned on the Lawn with one wing open, for over a minute. It's mate peered out at it several times from low in an adjacent bush. Then in an instant,the Coal Tit shot out of the bush, over it's mate and they both flew of together.
sid ashton said
Wed Oct 17 8:36 PM, 2012
Most unusually just had a Raven over our Hale garden.
Paul Richardson said
Mon Oct 15 1:46 AM, 2012
A really busy weekend on the bird feeders here - a pair of Nuthatch are eating us out of house and home in their sunflower seed consumption! They are rapidly becoming almost resident here, together with numbers of coal tits almost now more common than great tits.
Everything was dramatically sent haywire at lunchtime today when a magnificent male Sparrowhawk came through like an RAF jet, missed the tits and nuthatches, and spent a couple of minutes sitting on the boundary fence in the sunshine. I resisted the temptation to run for my camera and long lens, and instead had a wonderful binocular view of him.
From the feeder point of view, I hope he's not around too often - but what a superb creature! The camera needs to live downstairs for a bit.....!
Paul
Phil Owen said
Sun Oct 14 5:27 PM, 2012
2 Goldcrests in my Wythenshawe garden this morning was a nice suprise, only the 3rd time I've seen Goldcrest in my garden in the 10 years of living here.
Keith Mills said
Sun Oct 14 8:58 AM, 2012
8.45am this morning...Foggy 7 Greenfinch on my feeders and also 8 Starlings. Other birds noted 2 Goldfinch, a Chaffinch and 2 Dunnock ..all within the last 5 minutes
P.S.Just later ...A Coal Tit , 2 Blue Tit, 4 Chaffinch, Pair of Blackbirds and a Collared Dove.
-- Edited by keith mills on Sunday 14th of October 2012 09:11:33 AM
Charles Farrell said
Sat Oct 13 8:40 PM, 2012
Pair of Coal Tit on the feeders in my mum's Alkrington garden - first I've seen in a while.
I watched a couple of Jays in the afternoon and it was noticeable that nearly each time a Magpie followed and bullied them. Normally the Magpies here do not bother much with the garden, apart from first light, but they did not seem to like the Jays taking the peanuts.
Other birds today :-
1 Grey Heron seen landing in other gardens. Hopefully I now have my pond sorted to keep them out.
1 Woodpigeon
4 Collared Doves
2 Dunnocks
1 Robin
2 Blackbirds
1 Coal Tit
A small bird flying with the Long-tailed Tits was probably a Goldcrest
2 Jackdaws on the roof & half a dozen flying low through the garden
1 Carrion Crow on the roof
2 House Sparrows
1 Goldfinch flying low overhead
1 Siskin flying over
Another Peregrine skirmish over my Irlam house today a week or so after the last one (see post for 1st Nov). Again involving a male and female. This time very brief - over in a few seconds. But much lower than last one- just c.50ft above my house. 'kee kee kee' call gave it away again and made me look up. Again male headed of SE and female headed off NW. I wonder how many times this is taking place when I am not around?!
-- Edited by Michael Willett on Friday 9th of November 2012 08:24:36 PM
Prestwich area.
Late afternoon 7/11/2012 Dukinfield
1 Male Brambling picking at sunflower spill under the feeders.
First one I've ever seen in the garden before the turn of the year.
Perhaps a sign of hard times to come for our winter migrants. Lets keep them feeders filled.
-- Edited by Judith Pidgeon on Wednesday 7th of November 2012 08:41:38 PM
Goldcrest (the first I've seen in the garden since we chopped down the Lawson's Cypress 15 years ago)
Blackbird
Dunnock (2)
Chaffinch (2)
Great Tit (2)
Goldfinch (4)
Blue Tit (4)
Greenfinch (5)
Wood Pigeon (2)
Robin
Coal Tit (2)
Nuthatch
Bullfinch
Feral Pigeon (2)
Overflying:
Carrion Crow (4)
Magpie
Black-headed Gull
I'm a bit alarmed that my gang of House Sparrows (numbering 6 -9) seems to have entirely disappeared. It's weeks since I saw even a lone straggler.
Also something from yesterday which my other brother has just told me about. Two crossbills over High Lane, Stockport whilst he was working on someone's garden. Nice work if you can get it!
-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Tuesday 30th of October 2012 09:46:25 PM
This morning I managed a Grey Heron. Very unusual for my garden. There must be a pond nearby.
I have had this in the past but it has not persisted. I actually have a good picture of a jackdaw hanging off a big fatball in my garden.
Anyone in a similar situation? Incidentally,I like Jackdaws and am quite pleased they honour my garden with their presence!
As I was preparing to set off for the morning I realised I was wrong to suspect the Starlings for pinching all yesterday's peanuts. They were only petty thieves compared to the birds responsible for grand larceny. I have seen a Jay once from home using other gardens, but for the first time a couple were actually using the bird table in my owm garden. This lack of acorns could become very expensive, as yet again I had to refill the table after they left nothing.
Suddenly, one of the magpies gave a loud "chairk" (not your usual monosyllabic cry, one with a "a" in it) and both of them swept down low over the ground, while the long-tailed tits started to cry out loudly in alarm. I then see a sparrowhawk fly in a shallow dive just beyond the buildings towards the trees with the long-tailed tits. The crow went after it as I saw the sparrowhawk disappear in the trees beyond the tits. After a dozen of seconds, the long-tailed tits calmed down, the magpies returned, and the crow returned to its vigil at the top of the building...
The lesson from this story is the brilliant way in how all the birds that I could see reacted to the appearance to the sparrowhawk. This one as always been around here, and I've seen it giving chase to the pied wagtails that often pass overhead.
Also 15 Greenfinch in a tree overlooking the garden
Garden birds :-
1 Woodpigeon
5 Collared Doves
2 Dunnocks
1 Robin
1 Blackbird
1 Goldcrest. A garden first for me.
2 Magpies
1 Jackdaw from the dozens passing over
1 Carrion Crow
4 House Sparrows
Birds passing over:-
Numerous Black-headed Gulls
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
9 Feral Pigeons
1 Redwing
35 Starlings. I am sure some of these paid the garden the visit while I was at Jumbles. I filled the bird table with bread & peanuts before I went out. Everything had gone when I returned.
10 Goldfinches
Fem Sparrowhawk sat on my roof within 10foot of me
6 Collared Doves, beating my previous best of 5. I have seen 6 in the street recently but not all in the garden at once.
2 Dunnocks
1 Robin
1 Blackbird
2 Blue Tits
1 Magpie
9 Starlings
4 House Sparrows
4 Goldfinches
As usual lots of Black-headed Gulls and Jackdaws flew over, as did a couple of Rooks, singles about 15 minutes apart.
plenty of Blue and Great Tit's about
also 3 Coal Tits and a single Long Tailed Tit at one point had all 5 Tit species on the bird table at once
Blue Tits are using the nesting box for roosting
Skylarks, meadow pipits, chaffinch, blackbird and possibly jays all over in small numbers but weather to nice for observing big numbers!
2 Dunnocks
1 Coal tit on the feeders in my Hindley garden today
It lay stunned on the Lawn with one wing open, for over a minute. It's mate peered out at it several times from low in an adjacent bush.
Then in an instant,the Coal Tit shot out of the bush, over it's mate and they both flew of together.
They are rapidly becoming almost resident here, together with numbers of coal tits almost now more common than great tits.
Everything was dramatically sent haywire at lunchtime today when a magnificent male Sparrowhawk came through like an RAF jet, missed the tits and nuthatches, and spent a couple of minutes sitting on the boundary fence in the sunshine. I resisted the temptation to run for my camera and long lens, and instead had a wonderful binocular view of him.
From the feeder point of view, I hope he's not around too often - but what a superb creature! The camera needs to live downstairs for a bit.....!
Paul
7 Greenfinch on my feeders and also 8 Starlings.
Other birds noted 2 Goldfinch, a Chaffinch and 2 Dunnock ..all within the last 5 minutes
P.S.Just later ...A Coal Tit , 2 Blue Tit, 4 Chaffinch, Pair of Blackbirds and a Collared Dove.
-- Edited by keith mills on Sunday 14th of October 2012 09:11:33 AM