All seen from our window this morning - Heaton Moor
Jon Bowen said
Sat Mar 12 4:01 PM, 2011
Pair of Siskin (only second time I've seen in the garden) Pair of Reed Bunting Pair of Bullfinch 3 Jays 2 Mallard (1st visit this year) Willow Tit LT Tit Blue Tit exploring nest box Great Tit Chaffinch
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 14th of March 2011 09:56:12 PM
Marvin Lewis said
Fri Mar 11 10:40 PM, 2011
Still fairly regular visits to the fat feeders in my garden feeding station by a female Blackcap and a Goldcrest.Most recently,2 Siskins have been joining the Goldfinches on the Niger seded feeder.
Luke Brown said
Fri Mar 11 5:03 PM, 2011
Singing male Blackcap in our back garden today (Heaton Moor)
Vaughan Evans said
Fri Mar 11 12:07 PM, 2011
30 plus Siskins daily, plus several Redpolls and Brambings, including a single very frosty almost ghostly Mealy this morning. No sign of the Blackcap since 20th Feb.
Gordon Taylor said
Thu Mar 10 10:52 PM, 2011
This week a male Blackcap has been making regular visits to feed on the fat blocks, not seen one in our Middleton garden for many years. On Wednesday a 1st winter/female Redpoll and a male Siskin were seen, again not been seen for several years. Daily sightings of a male Great Spotted Woodpecker and a pair of Bullfinches. The 2011 garden list stands at 27 so far. Looks like the winterfeedin is paying off
Rick Donkin said
Wed Mar 9 8:57 AM, 2011
Juvenile Sparrowhawk at 08.45 cleared the hanging feeders of all the Tits and Finches, with the ground feeding Blackbirds and Dunnocks diving for cover - but did not appear to have grabbed its breakfast.
09.10 - the Grey Heron has just landed in the pond again to see what's on the menu. Rick.
-- Edited by Rick Donkin on Wednesday 9th of March 2011 09:20:21 AM
Adam Jones said
Sun Mar 6 7:02 PM, 2011
A male Sparrowhawk flew across my Cheadle Hulme garden twice this afternoon. It seems to be coming more regularly to my garden than ever before. Maybe times are proving hard for raptors too in the current economic climate.
Rick Donkin said
Sun Mar 6 6:36 PM, 2011
When I arrived back home I came across a Grey Heron up to its 'knees' in the pond at the bottom of the garden - presumably hoping for a meal of frogs or newts as they are currently spawning (and have been for a few weeks now). Ribbit!!
Steve Suttill said
Fri Mar 4 10:05 AM, 2011
That well-known ringer and occasional contributor to this forum, Steve Christmas, lives in Swinton too, so I guess it's probably one of his and hasn't travelled very far.
Steve
gary mills said
Thu Mar 3 8:47 PM, 2011
We've had a pair of long tailed tits visiting the garden over the last few weeks, however last sunday they suddenly became quite daring and began landing on one of the patio door handles that was slightly open due to the decent weather. It was just one bird at first using both the outside and inside handles. The bird allowed me to get quite close and at one point i was literally a foot away from it as it sat on the handle. The bird was sporting a ring on it's right leg. Both birds have been doing the same every day since, however, we have to be careful that they don't get carried away and fly into the room due to the dogs. I've got video and fotos of the birds, however due to my wifes obsession with hiding her camera, i've had to make do with using the camera facility on my phone.
Rick Donkin said
Wed Mar 2 2:54 PM, 2011
Whilst working at bottom of garden a Kingfisher flew down the Brook at the side of garden at 13.45.
Also a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Nuthatch calling in trees in Higher Mill at end of garden and many Tits and Finches flying around.
Robins and Dunnocks chasing after each other on far bank of Brook.
Nuthatch and Bullfinch on feeders nearer house and a Blue Tit setting up home in nest box, busy carrying moss from the lawn.
Rick.
-- Edited by Rick Donkin on Wednesday 2nd of March 2011 02:56:42 PM
Mike hirst said
Tue Mar 1 3:59 PM, 2011
4 Buzzards in the air together displaying above the house in Irlam this morning at 10-15am. Blue tits and Great tits are showing interest in the nesting boxes (different boxes set well apart). Greenfinches are back after a gap of 4 months approx. Visits from goldfinch's in small groups virtually all day (best group numbered 8). All the regulars are coming in as normal - Housesparrows, Blackbirds, Chaffinch's, Dunnocks feral pidgeons, wood pidgeons, Collared doves, Magpies, Starlings and Robin. Quite regular visitors are Coal tit and Goldcrest. There is occasional flocks of long tailed tits passing thro'. Things have really bucked up this last couple of weeks.
Mike
Marvin Lewis said
Sat Feb 26 2:53 PM, 2011
Still regular visists to my feeding station from a female Blackcap and also a Goldcrest.Nuthatch sometimes visits.
Suzanne Tattersall said
Fri Feb 25 10:35 PM, 2011
Interesting to read about reed buntings on the increase in gardens. They have recently been a regular visitor to my garden, counted 7 today on the bird table.
Suzanne Tattersall said
Wed Feb 23 12:40 PM, 2011
5 Reed buntings on bird table, regular visitors at the moment Egerton Bolton.
Graham Smith said
Tue Feb 22 6:26 PM, 2011
Had the Goldcrest back today feed from seed feeders then feed on the ground stayed around for a good 10mins
Vaughan Evans said
Mon Feb 21 8:22 AM, 2011
Over the weekend, 15+ Bramblings, 15+ Redpolls and 30+ Siskins. The female Blackcap is still present also.
-- Edited by Vaughan Evans on Monday 21st of February 2011 05:53:43 PM
Rick Donkin said
Sun Feb 20 1:09 PM, 2011
This morning whilst tidying garden:
Blackcap - 1 female Great Spotted Woodpecker 1male/1female Song Thrush House Sparrow Redwing - 15 Lots of Blue & Great Tit and small party of LT Tits Robin feeding close by after leaf litter raked up Rick.
Julian Robinson said
Sat Feb 19 6:07 PM, 2011
Single male Blackcap this morning in my garden in Ashton upon Mersey.
Henry Cook said
Fri Feb 18 3:35 PM, 2011
Nice find Vaughan. My Mealies haven't been seen since Wednesday so they may have flown your way, there could well be more than one in the vicinity.
Steve Smith said
Fri Feb 18 9:01 AM, 2011
Pair of Goldcrests in my garden today - Stockport (Sk3 9NY).
This means that the one my wife spotted in the conifer outside the bedroom window (What's that funny little bird?) wasn't a fluke.
SS
Vaughan Evans said
Fri Feb 18 8:53 AM, 2011
sid ashton wrote:
Vaughan Evans wrote:
A single Mealy Redpoll joined the growing finch flocks today. 11+ Bramblings, 7+ Redpolls and 15+ Siskins. The female Blackcap is still present also.
Vaughan please point some of those little rascals across the cemetry to our garden - we have had but one Siskin other than our regular visitors
It's usually me who looks enviously over in your direction .. btw , have you seen/heard any Tawny Owls recently?
-- Edited by Vaughan Evans on Friday 18th of February 2011 08:54:22 AM
Rob Bell said
Thu Feb 17 6:54 PM, 2011
My cat brought a dead goldcrest to the back garden doorstep today The irony is I havent seen one ALIVE in the garden for a couple of years now!
Rick Donkin said
Thu Feb 17 5:59 PM, 2011
Dave Thacker wrote:
Late post from the weekend as my internet is playing up. As 50/60 Starlings were flying into my Swinton garden a male Sparrowhawk tried to catch one and missed and ended up flying into the large net which is suspended 1.8m above my pond. I spent a couple of minutes untangling the hawk from the net and making sure the bird was OK. As soon as I loosened my grip the bird shot off.
You don't realised how beautiful and how deadly a Sparrowhawk is until you get a close up.
You also don't realise how small the male Sparrowhawk is until you get up close. Last year a Goldfinch crashed into the patio windows and dropped onto the decking. I heard the thud on the window and got up to see the bird on its back and within seconds a male Sparrowhawk swooped down and took the bird away in a flash - literally 2 feet in front of me. Rick
Dave Cropper said
Thu Feb 17 5:48 PM, 2011
New high count of 15 brambling all at the same time today. Also recent blackcap and siskin, which have been regular in previous years but scarce in the last two harsher winters.
sid ashton said
Thu Feb 17 5:34 PM, 2011
Vaughan Evans wrote:
A single Mealy Redpoll joined the growing finch flocks today. 11+ Bramblings, 7+ Redpolls and 15+ Siskins. The female Blackcap is still present also.
Vaughan please point some of those little rascals across the cemetry to our garden - we have had but one Siskin other than our regular visitors
Vaughan Evans said
Thu Feb 17 4:48 PM, 2011
A single Mealy Redpoll joined the growing finch flocks today. 11+ Bramblings, 7+ Redpolls and 15+ Siskins. The female Blackcap is still present also.
Graham Smith said
Wed Feb 16 5:12 PM, 2011
Just before 5pm i had a Goldcrest on the feeders ate from the fat balls flitted around for 5mins then flew off a 1st for me
Dave Thacker said
Tue Feb 15 8:39 PM, 2011
Late post from the weekend as my internet is playing up. As 50/60 Starlings were flying into my Swinton garden a male Sparrowhawk tried to catch one and missed and ended up flying into the large net which is suspended 1.8m above my pond. I spent a couple of minutes untangling the hawk from the net and making sure the bird was OK. As soon as I loosened my grip the bird shot off.
You don't realised how beautiful and how deadly a Sparrowhawk is until you get a close up.
Suzanne Tattersall said
Tue Feb 15 7:33 PM, 2011
2 male and 2 female reed bunting on my bird table today feeding on the Aldi bird seed, made my day, Egerton Bolton
Marvin Lewis said
Tue Feb 15 7:05 PM, 2011
Goldcrest visited the feeders in my [Prestwich] garden today.I've never seen this before.It seemed to prefer the feeder which had bars of fat,and the feeder concerned has a cover which only allows small birds through. It kept returning to this feeder.I hope it continues!
Rick Donkin said
Mon Feb 14 2:21 PM, 2011
Yesterday in my garden in Cheadle:-
Female Blackcap Nuthatch Bullfinch 2m and 2f Goldfinch 7 Greenfinch 5 Blackbird 5m/1f - 1 male regularly flies up to the fat ball feeder. Sparrowhawk 1m Blue Tit 4 Great Tit 3 Long-tailed Tit 4 Moorhen 2 Dunnock 4 - but 2 soon chased off by the 2 regulars! Robin 2 Magpies flying about with twigs/sticks in beaks.
Rick.
Vaughan Evans said
Mon Feb 14 10:05 AM, 2011
3 Redpolls joined the growing finch flocks on Saturday. At least 9 Bramblings now and 10+ Siskins. The female Blackcap is still present also. No winter Thrushes for a couple of weeks now.
-- Edited by Vaughan Evans on Tuesday 15th of February 2011 08:13:31 AM
gary mills said
Sun Feb 13 8:17 PM, 2011
Female Blackbird nest building in trees at back of our garden in Swinton yesterday (12/2)
Nick Hilton said
Sun Feb 13 3:22 PM, 2011
Female Blackcap stayed in the garden all yesterday and has been feeding on fat balls again today
Jon Bowen said
Sun Feb 13 2:41 PM, 2011
Horwich sunday 2pm First ever Siskin in garden on seed feeder also present 5 bullfinch (3m 2f), coal tit, Blue Tit; Great Tit, Marsh Tit, LT Tit, chaffinch, blackbird
-- Edited by Jon Bowen on Sunday 13th of February 2011 06:30:53 PM
Steve Smith said
Sun Feb 13 1:53 PM, 2011
Edgeley Stockport SK3 9NY - Male Blackcap on suet feeder.
Thought I heard one yesterday, but managed to convince myself I was imaging things, but no doubt today through the binoculars.
That adds to the first ever Bullfinch and Nuthatch that have visited the table this year.
All I need now is the GSW that flies over to stop by.
SS
Charles Coutts said
Sun Feb 13 1:21 PM, 2011
1Mealy redpoll in the tree in my garden in Sharston this morning. A first for my garden
-- Edited by Charles Coutts on Sunday 13th of February 2011 01:22:35 PM
Steven Higginbottom said
Sat Feb 12 10:18 PM, 2011
Stephen Ormrod wrote:
Yes, a real privilege Melanie.
Problem now is the garden is becoming very quiet
Same on my feeders Goldfinch numbers have dropped to around 30-40 birds from around 60-70 but have an increase in Collard Doves from 6 up to 14 and Pigeons upto 9 from around 5. Still getting Redpoll 9 From 12 Blue tit 6 Great tit 3 Bullfinch 2 (1 looks to have a yellow leg) Greenfinch 7 from 15 Blackbird 4 (all male) Robin 1 Chaffinch 5 Magpie 3 Jackdaw 2 Starling upto 17 2 Grey Squirrels started visiting more often.
Nick Hilton said
Sat Feb 12 10:09 AM, 2011
1 female Blackcap currently on the fat ball feeder in my garden in Davyhulme, first siting this winter
Phil Barnett said
Fri Feb 11 11:54 AM, 2011
Hi All, Recent interesting visitors to my garden in Cheadle Hulme
2 Bramblings 1 Reed Bunting Goldcrest - regularly on suet feeder G S Woodpecker - regularly on suet feeder Blackbird - hanging on suet feeder - never seen this before Goldfinch up to 30 on niger feeders Redpoll up to 15 on niger feeders 1 House Sparrow - very rare here Robin - goes mental when there's redpolls in the garden - chasing them remorselessly I can only assume it's the red patch that gets him going! Treecreeper
Melanie Beckford said
Thu Feb 10 10:22 PM, 2011
Stephen Ormrod wrote:
Our young sparrowhawk was back again today and snatched another sparrow.
No lie, I sneaked out of the back door and got to within 12 feet of her, she just continued to eat her warm lunch and wasn't bothered by my presence at all!
Awesome to get so close and observe.
wow l'm officially jealous, how wonderful to witness that so closely ?
sid ashton said
Wed Feb 9 3:04 PM, 2011
Had a Goldcrest this morning in our Hale garden - sitting on the squirrel baffle under our feeders eating the bits of sunflower hearts and peanuts dropped by the other birds - never seen that before
Melanie Beckford said
Tue Feb 8 11:04 PM, 2011
Marvin Lewis wrote:
Judith My garden is in Prestwich.The female Blackcap came to the feeding station again,today.
A lady who attends my birding class reported (to Peter Baron) a female Blackcap in her garden, last week.
Her garden is also Prestwich if l remember right Judith.
Marvin Lewis said
Tue Feb 8 10:17 PM, 2011
Judith My garden is in Prestwich.The female Blackcap came to the feeding station again,today.
Paul Heaton said
Tue Feb 8 9:09 PM, 2011
I wonder just how many Blackcaps have wintered and survived this year,
Male Blackcap on feeders in My Garden ( you know where I am Judith )
This will make its 10th winter in my garden,
thou shalt always bird
Judith Smith said
Tue Feb 8 8:24 PM, 2011
Which district is your garden in , please?
Marvin Lewis said
Mon Feb 7 9:49 PM, 2011
Nice female Blackcap came to the feeding station in my garden today.I haven't seen Blackcap in my garden for some time.
Dave Cropper said
Mon Feb 7 12:13 PM, 2011
Further checking of the brambling numbers in my garden in Sale has increased the number seen. Last week the highest count was 7 (6m 1f) but on saturday the high count of 6 had a split of 1m and 5f. There is therefore a minimum of 11 individuals currently visiting.
1 Golcrest
10+ Greenfinch
All seen from our window this morning - Heaton Moor
Pair of Reed Bunting
Pair of Bullfinch
3 Jays
2 Mallard (1st visit this year)
Willow Tit
LT Tit
Blue Tit exploring nest box
Great Tit
Chaffinch
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 14th of March 2011 09:56:12 PM
09.10 - the Grey Heron has just landed in the pond again to see what's on the menu.
Rick.
-- Edited by Rick Donkin on Wednesday 9th of March 2011 09:20:21 AM
Ribbit!!
Steve
Also a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Nuthatch calling in trees in Higher Mill at end of garden and many Tits and Finches flying around.
Robins and Dunnocks chasing after each other on far bank of Brook.
Nuthatch and Bullfinch on feeders nearer house and a Blue Tit setting up home in nest box, busy carrying moss from the lawn.
Rick.
-- Edited by Rick Donkin on Wednesday 2nd of March 2011 02:56:42 PM
Mike
-- Edited by Vaughan Evans on Monday 21st of February 2011 05:53:43 PM
Blackcap - 1 female
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1male/1female
Song Thrush
House Sparrow
Redwing - 15
Lots of Blue & Great Tit and small party of LT Tits
Robin feeding close by after leaf litter raked up
Rick.
This means that the one my wife spotted in the conifer outside the bedroom window (What's that funny little bird?) wasn't a fluke.
SS
It's usually me who looks enviously over in your direction .. btw , have you seen/heard any Tawny Owls recently?
-- Edited by Vaughan Evans on Friday 18th of February 2011 08:54:22 AM
The irony is I havent seen one ALIVE in the garden for a couple of years now!
You also don't realise how small the male Sparrowhawk is until you get up close. Last year a Goldfinch crashed into the patio windows and dropped onto the decking. I heard the thud on the window and got up to see the bird on its back and within seconds a male Sparrowhawk swooped down and took the bird away in a flash - literally 2 feet in front of me.
Rick
You don't realised how beautiful and how deadly a Sparrowhawk is until you get a close up.
It kept returning to this feeder.I hope it continues!
Female Blackcap
Nuthatch
Bullfinch 2m and 2f
Goldfinch 7
Greenfinch 5
Blackbird 5m/1f - 1 male regularly flies up to the fat ball feeder.
Sparrowhawk 1m
Blue Tit 4
Great Tit 3
Long-tailed Tit 4
Moorhen 2
Dunnock 4 - but 2 soon chased off by the 2 regulars!
Robin 2
Magpies flying about with twigs/sticks in beaks.
Rick.
-- Edited by Vaughan Evans on Tuesday 15th of February 2011 08:13:31 AM
First ever Siskin in garden on seed feeder
also present 5 bullfinch (3m 2f), coal tit, Blue Tit; Great Tit, Marsh Tit, LT Tit, chaffinch, blackbird
-- Edited by Jon Bowen on Sunday 13th of February 2011 06:30:53 PM
Thought I heard one yesterday, but managed to convince myself I was imaging things, but no doubt today through the binoculars.
That adds to the first ever Bullfinch and Nuthatch that have visited the table this year.
All I need now is the GSW that flies over to stop by.
SS
A first for my garden
-- Edited by Charles Coutts on Sunday 13th of February 2011 01:22:35 PM
Same on my feeders Goldfinch numbers have dropped to around 30-40 birds from around 60-70 but have an increase in Collard Doves from 6 up to 14 and Pigeons upto 9 from around 5.
Still getting
Redpoll 9 From 12
Blue tit 6
Great tit 3
Bullfinch 2 (1 looks to have a yellow leg)
Greenfinch 7 from 15
Blackbird 4 (all male)
Robin 1
Chaffinch 5
Magpie 3
Jackdaw 2
Starling upto 17
2 Grey Squirrels started visiting more often.
Recent interesting visitors to my garden in Cheadle Hulme
2 Bramblings
1 Reed Bunting
Goldcrest - regularly on suet feeder
G S Woodpecker - regularly on suet feeder
Blackbird - hanging on suet feeder - never seen this before
Goldfinch up to 30 on niger feeders
Redpoll up to 15 on niger feeders
1 House Sparrow - very rare here
Robin - goes mental when there's redpolls in the garden - chasing them remorselessly
I can only assume it's the red patch that gets him going!
Treecreeper
wow l'm officially jealous, how wonderful to witness that so closely ?
A lady who attends my birding class reported (to Peter Baron) a female Blackcap in her garden, last week.
Her garden is also Prestwich if l remember right Judith.
My garden is in Prestwich.The female Blackcap came to the feeding station again,today.
Male Blackcap on feeders in My Garden ( you know where I am Judith )
This will make its 10th winter in my garden,
thou shalt always bird