On my last post I should have written - ran upstairs to a window Overlooking my Backyard feeders and BT wires. -------------------------
Today in the street tree were 3 adult Starling feeding on newly produced cherry fruit and the remains of a fat block also a recently fledged youngster arrived and begged food but was ignored, it eventually found the fat block and began to feed itself. It was nice to see them as they're not very many around the Gorse Hill streets.
phillipskelly said
Mon May 27 9:28 PM, 2019
One, possibly two adult Great tit using the remaining fat block to feed youngsters out of sight in the street tree or in the Sorbus tree directly behind it tonight at 8:23 pm. I saw one bird fly to an adjacent beech hedge followed by,three others, probably young with one remaining in the tree calling for food. Last sighting of adult was at ,8:45pm. At 8:34 pm an adult Greenfinch arrived but flew over the terrace opposite - as I ran to an upstairs window I saw it first on the BT wires then on the feeders. Not seen a Greenfinch on the street for ages, well chuffed
phillipskelly said
Sun Mar 31 11:32 AM, 2019
Late post for 4pm Saturday . While watching only 2 Goldfinch in the tree where the feeders were, I noticed flying over - Mallard - 4. Starting - 8. Wood pigeon - 2. Common Buzzard - 1 (fairly low, drifting North to South). Plus another Goldfinch futher down the road somewhere, singing it's head off.
phillipskelly said
Thu Mar 7 8:36 PM, 2019
Not many Goldfinch visiting the tree without the feeders but occasionally some still use it as a place to go when disturbed at the backyard feeders over the terrace, and they still gravitate to the place where the feeders were. Two Long-tail tits also payed a visit recently but didn't stay long. On the backyard feeders several visits by Goldfinch today with 26 on and around, several times today - seems like the word is getting around.
phillipskelly said
Thu Feb 21 10:30 AM, 2019
Only 6 Goldfinch seen yesterday at the top of the tree ( minus feeders) with 2 Blue tit continuing to feed on the remaining fat block. Over the terrace on the backyard feeders there were :- Goldfinch - 23 . Pigeons 8. Blue tit - 1 heard only. Plus the occasional Magpie and black headed Gull over.
phillipskelly said
Mon Feb 18 4:15 PM, 2019
I've had 2 visits from Trafford Council officials recently about a complaint against the ferral pigeons under the feeders from a very poorly, elderly neighbour. I'm not too bothered about the officials,but I don't want to add any extra stress to the already ill neighbour so I've taken the seed feeders down but left a fat block up as its only used by blue tits and nothing drops for the pigeons. I've continued with my backyard feeders as his wife says he can't access or see the backyard. Today on the street tree (minus feeders) :- Goldfinch - 13. ( Probably disturbed from backyard feeders). Blue tit - 2. Magpie - 1. Also last week over the yard was a Grey Wagtail bobbing about the roofs and gutters acting very agitated and calling in answer to another one somewhere nearby.
phillipskelly said
Tue Feb 12 4:31 PM, 2019
Goldfinch numbers visiting the feeders since the cold weather has plummeted to around 10 at any one time with no Greenfinch at all. There has been 2 Blue tit also using the feeders as well as a fat block (which the goldfinch never touch). A Sparrowhawk drifted over, scattering the finches and ferral pigeons on the pavement below at 4pm ish.
phillipskelly said
Tue Jan 22 1:25 PM, 2019
Had a visit from a Sparrowhawk just befoy12pm today. It made an unsuccessful on the feeders and ended up sat in an adjacent Sorbus tree. After I took a few photos on my mobile the Sparrowhawk shot off to the right and flipped over the Beech hedge. I could make out a disturbance at the bottom off the hedge in the ivy and think it caught a female Blackbird. After a short while 57 Goldfinch turned up back at the feeders. Ps. I hope the photos turn out the right way up as I changed my mobile
67 Goldfinch on and around the feeders at about 12:30 today.
phillipskelly said
Tue Oct 9 5:51 PM, 2018
Numbers of Goldfinch visiting the feeders are down into the 20's this week, with an occasional Blue tit using them. Across the road in my backyard yesterday I saw a pair of Blue tit checking out a nest box on my back wall, they also looked at my neighbour's flue to his boiler plus a hole in his brickwork. Today I also spotted a Greenfinch on the street feeders with growth on it's upper mandible. (Photo attached ... I hope it's the right way up).
Doh! Stupid phone.
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Tuesday 9th of October 2018 05:53:25 PM
Yesterday afternoon (01.10.18) at 5pm on and around the feeders :- Starling - 40 nervously moving to and from the adjacent Sorbus trees, later splitting into smaller groups. Blue tit - 1. Goldfinch - 64 , which moved across street to my backyard feeders (photo). Carrion Crow - 4 (uncommon visitors ). -- Edited by phillipskelly on Tuesday 2nd of October 2018 12:31:52 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 2nd of October 2018 12:36:50 PM
phillipskelly said
Tue Sep 25 12:52 PM, 2018
While filling the empty feeders at 12.05 pm, I could only hear a Blue tit and a couple of Goldfinch nearby so then decided to check my backyard feeders across the road (12.15pm) where I found a couple of Goldfinch taking sunflower hearts as 11 more turned up on the BTwires above, which then began dropping down to the feeders to join the feast. I was watching the Goldfinches though my slightly ajar kitchen door (8ft away ) when a Sparrowhawk silently swooped in and around the feeders scattering the Goldfinch in all directions ! It left empty handed as the time it took to circumnavigate the feeders gave the Goldfinches a head start. Great view for me though !
phillipskelly said
Mon Sep 24 12:31 PM, 2018
Sunday 23.09.18 This was the first day this summer that I haven't heard a young Goldfinch begging food from it's parents at the feeders. Again large numbers of Goldfinch (adults and juveniles ) c50 on and around the feeders, with some Goldfinch sat in adjacent Rowan trees ( Sorbus Intermedia ) ripping the Rowan berries apart, unlike the roving parties c30 of Starling using hit and run tactics to pirate the red berries from the trees. Also a Greenfinch turned up to feed with NO mandibular growth. Over 1kg of sunflower hearts were eaten by the birds between 12pm and 6pm . Again a Sparrowhawk has also been hunting around the feeders with a headless Pigeon ,breast ripped open being found across the road behind the terraced houses in the alleyway very close to my backyard feeders .
vicky_wilkinson said
Mon Sep 3 12:42 PM, 2018
Hi Phillip,
I am contacting you from Garden Wildlife Health, which is a wildlife disease surveillance project based at the Institute of Zoology in London. We have received several reports of greenfinches with large mandibular growths recently that we have been trying to investigate further, and one of the reporters mentioned to us that they had seen similar reports on this forum. Having seen your post from 9th August, I wondered if you might be willing to contact us at gwh@zsl.org so that we can discuss your observations further? If you had any photographs of the affected birds, they would also be gratefully received.
Many thanks,
Vicky Wilkinson
Wildlife Veterinarian/Research Association, Garden Wildlife Health (www.gardenwildlifehealth.org)
Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London
phillipskelly said
Sun Sep 2 3:58 PM, 2018
Two more attacks today by a Sparrowhawk on the pigeons below the feeders (unsuccessful both times ). Forgot to mention in earlier posts that quite a few juvenile Goldfinch are beginning to gain colour around their heads with black and red (actually orange ) showing and adult birds are loosing head feathers with the black and red feathers looking really tatty - soon to be renewed. A couple of Blue tit have been at the feeders today, but I haven't seen any Greenfinch. September now , and young Golfinch are still arriving begging food from parents .
phillipskelly said
Wed Aug 29 7:27 PM, 2018
At 6:45 pm I was stood on my doorstep watching about 20 mostly juvenile Goldfinch on the feeders (some still begging from parents ) when a chap passed by and they scattered. The c30 pigeons below the feeders moved to the middle of the road, as they did , they panicked shooting off in every direction - including towards me ! One flew so close it swerved a few feet in front of my face, chased by a Sparrowhawk inches behind it !! They disappeared past my bay window and up over the roof. This explains the dead pigeon outside my front door the other day . As the pigeons scatter from the road, some have an unobstructed exit down the street and away from danger, while some choose for going over the roof ...... big mistake because they only have a short distance to gain height and speed and get away . Seems like the Sparrowhawk has adapted it's method of hunting as pigeon remains have been found on the pavement outside my house and in my little 12"x3" front garden a while ago. ps. fate of pigeon unknown .
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Wednesday 29th of August 2018 07:31:05 PM
phillipskelly said
Mon Aug 27 12:25 PM, 2018
Large numbers of Goldfinch on and around the feeders lately, sometimes between 40 - 50. Greenfinch arriving 2's and 3's plus the occasional Blue tit. A Sparrowhawk has been seen (by my neighbour )being mobbed over the feeders with remains of two pigeons ie. wings and feet the only body parts left. This includes the one I found on my path near the front door this morning , freshly killed with a severed head attached to a full crop of my Sunflower hearts. The wings were severed and the ribcage was broken open with all the tasty bits missing. The carcass wasn't stripped of feathers , probably because Burleigh Rd is quite a busy street , hence the "smash and grab" tactic.
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Monday 27th of August 2018 12:27:08 PM
phillipskelly said
Thu Aug 9 12:42 PM, 2018
Lots of young Goldfinch arriving on and around the feeders, begging and being fed by parents and also the occasional Greenfinch juvenile . Two new Blue tit youngsters have also been showing plus single adults over the last month . Several adult Greenfinch have been seen with large growths on the upper mandible but this hasn't stopped them feeding vigorously. Some of the juvenile Goldfinch are now starting to show a little blackish colour near the eyes and a darker brown colour on their shoulders. Today around 17 Goldfinch and 3 Greenfinch plus 1 Blue tit have been present with several Goldfinch feeding on catkins on some nearby birch trees when the feeders are overcrowded.
phillipskelly said
Tue Jul 3 4:18 PM, 2018
Similar week as last week, young Goldfinch begging food off adults every day (Including today ) plus lots of juveniles feeding themselves in addition to several adults at the feeders. Also Greenfinch turning up in ones and two's often. Blackbird seen carrying food the other day as well. Ps. I've put down 30ltr of water in the gutter adjacent the tree on several days but only seen one young Goldfinch taking advantage and having a drink, the ferral pigeons hog the water-hole by bathing or just sitting in it until a car comes and moves them on.
phillipskelly said
Sun Jun 24 7:43 PM, 2018
Lots of young Goldfinch arriving in the tree begging to be fed this week, some being attended to, and some ignored but following adults and finally launching themselves at a feeder. ( you can hear them begging all day, every day non -stop a bit like a car alarm going off ). Only one or two Greenfinch seen, but at least one juvenile Greenfinch seen feeding itself. No further sign of the Blue tit family. Other birds about include Lesser Black-back gulls and Black-headed gulls over plus feral pigeons hoovering up below. As I write I can see another youngster flapping and shouting to be fed through my window .... time for some doorstep birding - feeding usually finishes around 9pm. with over 1kg of sunflower hearts taken each day.
phillipskelly said
Sun Jun 17 2:08 PM, 2018
More birds using the feeders this week with Greenfinch visiting in ones and two's often. Several young Goldfinch have been seen begging and being fed (two maybe three today ) . Blue tit young at the feeders earlier in the week and an adult this morning.
phillipskelly said
Sun Jun 10 11:10 AM, 2018
3 young and 1 adult Goldfinch on the feeders this morning
phillipskelly said
Sat Jun 9 3:54 PM, 2018
Not too many Goldfinch using the feeders since the reintroduction, but numbers increasing gradually. Over the last week there's been a lot of Woodpigeon in the tree trying to access the ripening cherries at the end of the branches . This looks quite comical at times with the size of the Woodpigeon. Starlings have occasionally been doing the same - with more gracefull results. The first Greenfinch turned up as well. This morning as I was up the ladders finishing off filling the feeders when 4 fleged Blue tit turned up and clumsily flew to a feeder alongside my face with one just skimming my shiney head . Ps. The local Blackbird has also been harvesting the ripening fruit . (I tried some last year - " once bitten " you know the rest ).
phillipskelly said
Thu May 31 1:25 PM, 2018
Because of people dumping "bagfulls" moldy bread etc. under the feeders I decided to stop filling them over a month ago. Several people have been found and told by myself and neighbours to stop this practice ,hence no rubbish and also a great reduction of ferral pigeons ( up to 50 at times ) which keeps everybody onside . My backyard feeders (at Burleigh Rd )now being used frequently and today whilst cleaning up the dropped seed a couple of Goldfinch turned up with a young bird begging food ,therefore I'll reinstate the feeders in the tree.
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Thursday 31st of May 2018 01:32:10 PM
phillipskelly said
Wed Apr 25 2:55 PM, 2018
Very few birds on the feeders over the last couple of weeks with the seed taken down by half. Today 1.45 pm (ish). Goldfinch - 6. Greenfinch - 1 singing male. * Oystercatcher - 2 over. Cormorant - 1 over. Also no Chaffinch seen for a couple of weeks as well.
phillipskelly said
Tue Apr 10 2:00 PM, 2018
Sparrowhawk doing a fly-past again, this time at a rate of knots down an adjacent street past the Co-op.
phillipskelly said
Tue Apr 10 12:33 PM, 2018
Having just filled the feeders i saw my neighbour Sue and whilst chatting about people dumping "bag -loads"of bread at the feeders Sue asked "is that a Sparrowhawk? " . It sure was ! It came in, in typical sparrowhawk style ie. along the back of the Beech hedge ,past the feeders, flipped over the 5 foot hedge onto the pavement side and lazily glided back the way it came, giving a "smashing" ,but brief view . Ps.it left empty -handed again .
phillipskelly said
Sat Apr 7 3:27 PM, 2018
Got out of my car to Hear only, a young Goldfinch's begging call moving away from the tree feeders at about 11.30m ...ish . Moments later I saw two birds flying away from an adjacent tree with one just behind the other which was calling incessantly as young Goldfinch do to be fed. They then dissappeard over the rooftops. Definately a recently fledged young bird. Last year I saw a young Goldfinch begging food on the 26.04.17 and thought that was early. Ps. thought I heard one earlier this week but dismissed it, looks like I was wrong to.
phillipskelly said
Thu Apr 5 7:00 PM, 2018
Yesterday Wednesday 04.04.18 Male adult Greenfinch was passing seed to a Female Greenfinch above the feeders.
phillipskelly said
Tue Apr 3 5:38 PM, 2018
Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Blue tits, plus the feral pigeons below the feeders were in "panic mode " earlier, constantly leaving the street tree, coming back then shooting off again (Seen from my armchair through the front window ). I eventually went to the front door and spotted a Raven cronking away as it flew high over the feeders causing the birds to panic again and leave swiftly .
Mike Chorley said
Thu Mar 8 11:24 PM, 2018
I've seen something with Robins in late winter and that certainly led to mating.
phillipskelly said
Thu Mar 8 3:38 PM, 2018
I've just seen a adult Greenfinch feeding a begging (crouched and wing flapping ) other Greenfinch. In my opinion it was probably a female (not a recently fledged juvenile ) initiating mating behaviour as I've seen Dunnocks do this without passing food. Any comments welcome. The feeders over the bad weather needed filling by 11am but now are still half full at that time. Before the freeze around 25 Goldfinch could be seen around the feeders, including - Greenfinch - 4 . Chaffinch - 4 ( 2 males +2 females ). Dunnock - 2 . Blue tit - 2. Blackbird - 1m. Lesser Black-back gull - 6 when someone put a load of grated cheese, pasta and bread under the feeders. At the moment the quantity of Goldfinch has dropped off with 10 to 15 usually in attendance,with 3 Greenfinch and only 1 Chaffinch .The male Blackbird has been letting a female bird use his patch below the feeders for obvious reasons.
phillipskelly said
Sun Feb 11 11:10 PM, 2018
Around 3 pm today .......
SISKIN - 1 ( on the feeders for over 20min until spooked). Chaffinch - 2 with a male actually using a feeder rather than picking dropped seed from the forks . Greenfinch - 1. Chaffinch - c20 . Blue -tit - 1. Dunnock - 1. Blackbird - 1. As I filled the almost empty feeders at 1pm . there were at least 10 chaffinch 4 - 5 ft above me chattering away not at all bothered by my presence. I wonder if these birds are accustomed to people in general or could it be the same ones turning up time after time ? (or both).
phillipskelly said
Sat Feb 10 1:47 PM, 2018
Numbers of Goldfinch back to around the 20 mark , with 2 or more Chaffinch in attendance together with the resident male Blackbird, but no Greenfinch ! Of note were 3 Dunnock moving back and forth along the adjacent Beech hedge until finally 3 became 2 ,and the female put her head down, tail up and began flicking her wings ready for mating. Both birds dissappeard into the hedge so it was only a Possible mating (Wednesday ).
phillipskelly said
Tue Feb 6 4:37 PM, 2018
On and around thefeeders today - Totally different from from my last post ! Goldfinch - 50 + . Greenfinch - 1. CHAFFINCH - 5 (2m + 3f) never seen that many on site before. Blue-tit - 2. Blackbird - 1 m. Because of the number of birds present I put an extra feeder in the tree which was of the standard type with ports and perches, this allowed a female Chaffinch to perch with the Goldfinch on the feeder. Until then I didn't realise the size difference between the two ,with the Chaffinch being a larger bird. The male birds still didn't use either type of the feeders, but picked dropped seed from the forks of the tree and the ground. Its 4.36pm and still quite light but the "Finch - Fest " has finished and no birds are present.
phillipskelly said
Mon Jan 29 2:14 PM, 2018
Similar to my last post, whereas the quantity of Goldfinch visiting the feeders is still down with no Greenfinch at all. Male and female Chaffinch have been regulars coming to the feeders but not actually using them. They arrive at the feeders but can't seem to work them out (they are stainless steel nut feeders with diamond shaped holes - good for birds but not for squirrels ) , I've even put sticks to perch on , but they don't. They do pick dropped seed from the forks and the pavement , unless the resident Blackbird is about - I've seen it defend the area below the feeders ,chasing off several Dunnocks and Chaffinch. The Blackbird has also been singing ...... but only at night i.e. 2.15 to 2.45am . Ps.had a little song from a Goldfinch and Dunnock today but it didn't last long.
phillipskelly said
Mon Jan 22 12:12 PM, 2018
Not many birds on and around the feeders lately with maximums of 20-25 , mainly Goldfinch plus 2 Blue-tit and a male and female Chaffinch. There was hardly any seed taken from the feeders this morning, and as I debated wether to bother filling them a Sparrowhawk flashed past and Skimmed the adjacent rooftop. When things calmed down and birds re-appeared , a solo Goldfinch started a partial song away from it's companions who were still chattering amongst themselves. " Spring is on the way,maybe? "
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Monday 22nd of January 2018 12:13:46 PM
phillipskelly said
Mon Jan 15 1:50 PM, 2018
Not many birds on and around the feeders over the last week, still mainly Goldfinch with occasional apearances from Chaffinch and Greenfinch. The seed taken daily is down by half. Has anyone else noticed a drop in finch numbers at their feeders ?
phillipskelly said
Mon Jan 1 5:07 PM, 2018
Early afternoon today (01.01.18) - While watching telly and keeping an eye on the feeders (through the net curtains on my bay window) I caught a glimpse of a Sparrowhawk flash past and then spotted it again fly past and whizz over the roof. Returning birds increased from only 10 to c50 mostly Goldfinch, with 1 Greenfinch and 2 male Chaffinch present. Ps.I don't know why they call Goldfinch "A Charm " because they are always fighting and squabbling even when theres plenty of space at the feeders !
phillipskelly said
Wed Dec 20 2:12 PM, 2017
Early afternoon today: Goldfinch 32. Greenfinch 1. Chaffinch 2 (m+f). Pied Wagtail 1. Wren 1. Robin 1. Blue-tit 1. Carrion Crow 2 over. Plus the usual 20- 30 feral pigeons including one with Purple underwings and a orange ring on it's left leg which has been around for a couple of weeks. And a pigeon with lacerations to the back of it's head and back is healing nicely. (This bird was probably run over by a car ie. it went underneath and came out the back end). Ps. a Grey Heron was spotted by a neighbour and myself in Burleigh rd allotments on Monday - I'd like to see one of them under the feeders .
phillipskelly said
Fri Dec 8 2:13 PM, 2017
Whilst up the ladders filling the feeders around 12pm a small flock of Goldfinch plus a Chaffinch landed only 6- 7 ft. above my head and stayed until I filled the feeders. This is a usual occurrence ,( but only with the Goldfinch not the Chaffinch) as long as I don't make any sudden movements until I climb down and remove the ladders. Later sightings on and around the feeders ............ Goldfinch - c25. Greenfinch - 1. Blackbird - 1m. Dunnock - 2. Pied Wagtail - 2. Starling - 2 (only saw 2 because of vehicles parked on the street ). Starling flock - 14 over . Black-headed gull - 4 ...... these were flying at head - height looking at the c30 pigeons picking up dropped seed. So I threw some brown bread down, which they gracefully picked up without landing and that's when the two Starling turned up. Yesterday Thursday at 8.30 am ............ Golfinch - 40. Greenfinch - 4. Robin - 1. Dunnock - 1. Cormorant - 2 over (probably off to Salford Quays) Carrion crow - 2 over .
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Friday 8th of December 2017 02:15:47 PM
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Friday 8th of December 2017 02:16:52 PM
phillipskelly said
Wed Dec 6 1:04 PM, 2017
On and around the feeders today - Goldfinch - 24. Greenfinch - 4. Robin - 1 (picking bits of seed from the floor). Plus 2 cats , one qietly ejected from my terrace garden, the other removed with a large stone "chucked" across the road at it as it looked to pounce on a victim behind a car at the base of the tree, possibly the Robin. Also last week lots of visits from a male Blackbird picking seed from forks in the tree as it's Sorbus tree has no berries on it due to an invasion of a small flock of starling. Two Pied wagtail were also seen picking seed from the floor. Two Blue -tit showed as well.
phillipskelly said
Fri Nov 24 2:39 PM, 2017
Had a visit from a Sparrowhawk at 1.50 pm today, putting all the pigeons and golfinch in the air as it headed ( drifted) towards the Gorse Hill pub putting at least 70 more pigeons up (c100 in total ). The Sparrowhawk returned exactly 10mins later over the feeders ccausing more panic, but leaving empty handed over my roof. On and around the feeders ...... Goldfinch - 25 . Dunnock - 1. Greenfinch - 2 (seen earlier ). Sparrowhawk - 1 . Its been a very quiet day today with very few people /cars passing the feeders disturbing any birds, unlike yesterday when the street was very busy with lots of noise and movement from delivery vans etc. although there were more birds about (around 35 goldfinch at times). It only took 2 hours to empty the feeders of half their sunflower hearts.
phillipskelly said
Mon Nov 13 2:06 PM, 2017
On and around the feeders -
Goldfinch - 20's Chaffinch - 1 ( being bullied off the feeders by squabbling goldfinch ). Robin - 1. Dunnock - 2 (possibly 3) picking bits of seed off the pavement. Carrion Crow - 1. Had a visit from 6 long-tail tits and usually 3 Greenfinch last week.
phillipskelly said
Mon Oct 30 1:32 PM, 2017
Lots of finches on and around the feeders over the last few weeks, 30's, 40's even 50's. Also lots of cats about - none wearing collars and bells. A dead Goldfinch was found on a neighbour"s step a week or so ago, and I witnessed a cat ambush a ferral pigeon from under the beech hedge adjacent the feeders killing it and dragging the bird back through the hedge before I could react. There's been up to 5 Greenfinch at a time on the feeders as well as the occasional Dunnock, Robin and Blue-tit. The Sparrowhawk has been about the area, seen mainly by my neighbour Sue . And there was a head - less pigeon , together with a neat pile of feathers neatly plucked from its chest at the boundary of my 10ft x 3ft. front garden early this afternoon. Needless to say the ferral pigeons are "crapping it" at the moment resulting in dropped and half eaten seed building up around the base of the tree and becoming a slippy sludge which needs to be swept up a.s.a.p.
phillipskelly said
Fri Sep 29 5:57 PM, 2017
Great views of a Sparrowhawk circling above the feeders then being mobbed by several Starling (from a flock of about 40) and also 5 brave Goldfinch. The Sparrowhawk was then mobbed again by a Carrion crow which had a claws and talons jig with it (still accompanied by the 5 Goldfinch) ! Earlier on and around the feeders - Goldfinch c 40 at 5pm (but not many throughout the day ). Greenfinch 3 (2 juv and 1 adult earlier ) . Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 over .
phillipskelly said
Thu Sep 21 9:33 PM, 2017
On and around the feeders at 11am. Goldfinch c25 (many juveniles ). Greenfinch 5 (including 1 juvenile ). Blue tit 2. Great tit 2. Also checked the backyard feeders and BT wires. Goldfinch 30. Ps. I then put up extra feeders to cope with the demand (given to me by Steve Burke - thanks again Steve ).
phillipskelly said
Wed Sep 20 4:33 PM, 2017
In my backyard at 4pm. when a flock of c40 Goldfinch did a circuit over. When I looked at the feeders 31 birds flew from the Birch trees nearby, with many staying in the Birches . Needless to say that the ones in the Birches were happily chatering away, but the feeders can't handle 31birds at once so the fireworks began !!! Also over was a Gey Wagtail. Yesterday 15.09.17 Goldfinch around 20 for most of the day . Greenfinch 1 adult feeding 2 young then later 5 other adults. Visits from - Great tit 1. Blue tit 2. Robin 1. Grey Wagtail 1 over .
-------------------------
Today in the street tree were 3 adult Starling feeding on newly produced cherry fruit and the remains of a fat block also a recently fledged youngster arrived and begged food but was ignored, it eventually found the fat block and began to feed itself.
It was nice to see them as they're not very many around the Gorse Hill streets.
I saw one bird fly to an adjacent beech hedge followed by,three others, probably young with one remaining in the tree calling for food. Last sighting of adult was at ,8:45pm.
At 8:34 pm an adult Greenfinch arrived but flew over the terrace opposite - as I ran to an upstairs window I saw it first on the BT wires then on the feeders.
Not seen a Greenfinch on the street for ages, well chuffed
While watching only 2 Goldfinch in the tree where the feeders were, I noticed flying over -
Mallard - 4.
Starting - 8.
Wood pigeon - 2.
Common Buzzard - 1 (fairly low, drifting North to South).
Plus another Goldfinch futher down the road somewhere, singing it's head off.
disturbed at the backyard feeders over the terrace, and they still gravitate to the place where the feeders were.
Two Long-tail tits also payed a visit recently but didn't stay long.
On the backyard feeders several visits by Goldfinch today with 26 on and around, several times today - seems like the word is getting around.
Over the terrace on the backyard feeders there were :-
Goldfinch - 23 .
Pigeons 8.
Blue tit - 1 heard only.
Plus the occasional Magpie and black headed Gull over.
I'm not too bothered about the officials,but I don't want to add any extra stress to the already ill neighbour so I've taken the seed feeders down but left a fat block up as its only used by blue tits and nothing drops for the pigeons.
I've continued with my backyard feeders as his wife says he can't access or see the backyard.
Today on the street tree (minus feeders) :-
Goldfinch - 13. ( Probably disturbed from backyard feeders).
Blue tit - 2.
Magpie - 1.
Also last week over the yard was a Grey Wagtail bobbing about the roofs and gutters acting very agitated and calling in answer to another one somewhere nearby.
There has been 2 Blue tit also using the feeders as well as a fat block (which the goldfinch never touch).
A Sparrowhawk drifted over, scattering the finches and ferral pigeons on the pavement below at 4pm ish.
It made an unsuccessful on the feeders and ended up sat in an adjacent Sorbus tree. After I took a few photos on my mobile the Sparrowhawk shot off to the right and flipped over the Beech hedge. I could make out a disturbance at the bottom off the hedge in the ivy and think it caught a female Blackbird.
After a short while 57 Goldfinch turned up back at the feeders.
Ps. I hope the photos turn out the right way up as I changed my mobile
Across the road in my backyard yesterday I saw a pair of Blue tit checking out a nest box on my back wall, they also looked at my neighbour's flue to his boiler plus a hole in his brickwork.
Today I also spotted a Greenfinch on the street feeders with growth on it's upper mandible. (Photo attached ... I hope it's the right way up). Doh! Stupid phone.
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Tuesday 9th of October 2018 05:53:25 PM
Size is fine Phil it's just sideways!
Yesterday afternoon (01.10.18) at 5pm on and around the feeders :-
Starling - 40 nervously moving to and from the adjacent Sorbus trees, later splitting into smaller groups.
Blue tit - 1.
Goldfinch - 64 , which moved across street to my backyard feeders (photo).
Carrion Crow - 4 (uncommon visitors ).
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Tuesday 2nd of October 2018 12:31:52 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 2nd of October 2018 12:36:50 PM
I was watching the Goldfinches though my slightly ajar kitchen door (8ft away ) when a Sparrowhawk silently swooped in and around the feeders scattering the Goldfinch in all directions !
It left empty handed as the time it took to circumnavigate the feeders gave the Goldfinches a head start.
Great view for me though !
This was the first day this summer that I haven't heard a young Goldfinch begging food from it's parents at the feeders.
Again large numbers of Goldfinch (adults and juveniles ) c50 on and around the feeders, with some Goldfinch sat in adjacent Rowan trees ( Sorbus Intermedia ) ripping the Rowan berries apart, unlike the roving parties c30 of Starling using hit and run tactics to pirate the red berries from the trees.
Also a Greenfinch turned up to feed with NO mandibular growth.
Over 1kg of sunflower hearts were eaten by the birds between 12pm and 6pm .
Again a Sparrowhawk has also been hunting around the feeders with a headless Pigeon ,breast ripped open being found
across the road behind the terraced houses in the alleyway very close to my backyard feeders .
Hi Phillip,
I am contacting you from Garden Wildlife Health, which is a wildlife disease surveillance project based at the Institute of Zoology in London. We have received several reports of greenfinches with large mandibular growths recently that we have been trying to investigate further, and one of the reporters mentioned to us that they had seen similar reports on this forum. Having seen your post from 9th August, I wondered if you might be willing to contact us at gwh@zsl.org so that we can discuss your observations further? If you had any photographs of the affected birds, they would also be gratefully received.
Many thanks,
Vicky Wilkinson
Wildlife Veterinarian/Research Association, Garden Wildlife Health (www.gardenwildlifehealth.org)
Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London
Forgot to mention in earlier posts that quite a few juvenile Goldfinch are beginning to gain colour around their heads with black and red (actually orange ) showing and adult birds are loosing head feathers with the black and red feathers looking really tatty - soon to be renewed.
A couple of Blue tit have been at the feeders today, but I haven't seen any Greenfinch.
September now , and young Golfinch are still arriving begging food from parents .
One flew so close it swerved a few feet in front of my face, chased by a Sparrowhawk inches behind it !!
They disappeared past my bay window and up over the roof.
This explains the dead pigeon outside my front door the other day . As the pigeons scatter from the road, some have an unobstructed exit down the street and away from danger, while some choose for going over the roof ...... big mistake because they only have a short distance to gain height and speed and get away .
Seems like the Sparrowhawk has adapted it's method of hunting as pigeon remains have been found on the pavement
outside my house and in my little 12"x3" front garden a while ago.
ps. fate of pigeon unknown .
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Wednesday 29th of August 2018 07:31:05 PM
Greenfinch arriving 2's and 3's plus the occasional Blue tit.
A Sparrowhawk has been seen (by my neighbour )being mobbed over the feeders with remains of two pigeons ie. wings and feet the only body parts left. This includes the one I found on my path near the front door this morning , freshly killed with a severed head attached to a full crop of my Sunflower hearts. The wings were severed and the ribcage was broken open with all the tasty bits missing. The carcass wasn't stripped of feathers , probably because Burleigh Rd is quite a busy street , hence the "smash and grab" tactic.
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Monday 27th of August 2018 12:27:08 PM
Two new Blue tit youngsters have also been showing plus single adults over the last month .
Several adult Greenfinch have been seen with large growths on the upper mandible but this hasn't stopped them feeding vigorously.
Some of the juvenile Goldfinch are now starting to show a little blackish colour near the eyes and a darker brown colour
on their shoulders.
Today around 17 Goldfinch and 3 Greenfinch plus 1 Blue tit have been present with several Goldfinch feeding on catkins on some nearby birch trees when the feeders are overcrowded.
Also Greenfinch turning up in ones and two's often.
Blackbird seen carrying food the other day as well.
Ps. I've put down 30ltr of water in the gutter adjacent the tree on several days but only seen one young Goldfinch taking advantage and having a drink, the ferral pigeons hog the water-hole by bathing or just sitting in it until a car comes and moves them on.
Only one or two Greenfinch seen, but at least one juvenile Greenfinch seen feeding itself.
No further sign of the Blue tit family.
Other birds about include Lesser Black-back gulls and Black-headed gulls over plus feral pigeons hoovering up below.
As I write I can see another youngster flapping and shouting to be fed through my window .... time for some doorstep birding - feeding usually finishes around 9pm. with over 1kg of sunflower hearts taken each day.
Several young Goldfinch have been seen begging and being fed (two maybe three today ) .
Blue tit young at the feeders earlier in the week and an adult this morning.
Over the last week there's been a lot of Woodpigeon in the tree trying to access the ripening cherries at the end of the branches . This looks quite comical at times with the size of the Woodpigeon.
Starlings have occasionally been doing the same - with more gracefull results.
The first Greenfinch turned up as well.
This morning as I was up the ladders finishing off filling the feeders when 4 fleged Blue tit turned up and clumsily flew to a feeder alongside my face with one just skimming my shiney head .
Ps. The local Blackbird has also been harvesting the ripening fruit .
(I tried some last year - " once bitten " you know the rest ).
Several people have been found and told by myself and neighbours to stop this practice ,hence no rubbish and also a great reduction of ferral pigeons ( up to 50 at times ) which keeps everybody onside .
My backyard feeders (at Burleigh Rd )now being used frequently and today whilst cleaning up the dropped seed a couple of Goldfinch turned up with a young bird begging food ,therefore I'll reinstate the feeders in the tree.
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Thursday 31st of May 2018 01:32:10 PM
Today 1.45 pm (ish).
Goldfinch - 6.
Greenfinch - 1 singing male.
* Oystercatcher - 2 over.
Cormorant - 1 over.
Also no Chaffinch seen for a couple of weeks as well.
It came in, in typical sparrowhawk style ie. along the back of the Beech hedge ,past the feeders, flipped over the 5 foot hedge onto the pavement side and lazily glided back the way it came, giving a "smashing" ,but brief view .
Ps.it left empty -handed again .
Moments later I saw two birds flying away from an adjacent tree with one just behind the other which was calling incessantly as young Goldfinch do to be fed. They then dissappeard over the rooftops. Definately a recently fledged young bird.
Last year I saw a young Goldfinch begging food on the 26.04.17 and thought that was early.
Ps. thought I heard one earlier this week but dismissed it, looks like I was wrong to.
Male adult Greenfinch was passing seed to a Female Greenfinch above the feeders.
I eventually went to the front door and spotted a Raven cronking away as it flew high over the feeders causing the birds to panic again and leave swiftly .
In my opinion it was probably a female (not a recently fledged juvenile ) initiating mating behaviour as I've seen Dunnocks do this without passing food. Any comments welcome.
The feeders over the bad weather needed filling by 11am but now are still half full at that time.
Before the freeze around 25 Goldfinch could be seen around the feeders, including -
Greenfinch - 4 .
Chaffinch - 4 ( 2 males +2 females ).
Dunnock - 2 .
Blue tit - 2.
Blackbird - 1m.
Lesser Black-back gull - 6 when someone put a load of grated cheese, pasta and bread under the feeders.
At the moment the quantity of Goldfinch has dropped off with 10 to 15 usually in attendance,with 3 Greenfinch and only 1 Chaffinch .The male Blackbird has been letting a female bird use his patch below the feeders for obvious reasons.
SISKIN - 1 ( on the feeders for over 20min until spooked).
Chaffinch - 2 with a male actually using a feeder rather than picking dropped seed from the forks .
Greenfinch - 1.
Chaffinch - c20 .
Blue -tit - 1.
Dunnock - 1.
Blackbird - 1.
As I filled the almost empty feeders at 1pm . there were at least 10 chaffinch 4 - 5 ft above me chattering away not at all bothered by my presence. I wonder if these birds are accustomed to people in general or could it be the same ones turning up time after time ? (or both).
Of note were 3 Dunnock moving back and forth along the adjacent Beech hedge until finally 3 became 2 ,and the female put her head down, tail up and began flicking her wings ready for mating. Both birds dissappeard into the hedge so it was only a Possible mating (Wednesday ).
Goldfinch - 50 + .
Greenfinch - 1.
CHAFFINCH - 5 (2m + 3f) never seen that many on site before.
Blue-tit - 2.
Blackbird - 1 m.
Because of the number of birds present I put an extra feeder in the tree which was of the standard type with ports and perches, this allowed a female Chaffinch to perch with the Goldfinch on the feeder. Until then I didn't realise the size difference between the two ,with the Chaffinch being a larger bird.
The male birds still didn't use either type of the feeders, but picked dropped seed from the forks of the tree and the ground.
Its 4.36pm and still quite light but the "Finch - Fest " has finished and no birds are present.
Male and female Chaffinch have been regulars coming to the feeders but not actually using them. They arrive at the feeders but can't seem to work them out (they are stainless steel nut feeders with diamond shaped holes - good for birds but not for squirrels ) , I've even put sticks to perch on , but they don't. They do pick dropped seed from the forks and the pavement , unless the resident Blackbird is about - I've seen it defend the area below the feeders ,chasing off several Dunnocks and Chaffinch.
The Blackbird has also been singing ...... but only at night i.e. 2.15 to 2.45am .
Ps.had a little song from a Goldfinch and Dunnock today but it didn't last long.
There was hardly any seed taken from the feeders this morning, and as I debated wether to bother filling them a Sparrowhawk flashed past and Skimmed the adjacent rooftop.
When things calmed down and birds re-appeared , a solo Goldfinch started a partial song away from it's companions who were still chattering amongst themselves. " Spring is on the way,maybe? "
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Monday 22nd of January 2018 12:13:46 PM
The seed taken daily is down by half. Has anyone else noticed a drop in finch numbers at their feeders ?
While watching telly and keeping an eye on the feeders (through the net curtains on my bay window) I caught a glimpse of a Sparrowhawk flash past and then spotted it again fly past and whizz over the roof.
Returning birds increased from only 10 to c50 mostly Goldfinch, with 1 Greenfinch and 2 male Chaffinch present.
Ps.I don't know why they call Goldfinch "A Charm " because they are always fighting and squabbling even when theres plenty of space at the feeders !
Goldfinch 32.
Greenfinch 1.
Chaffinch 2 (m+f).
Pied Wagtail 1.
Wren 1.
Robin 1.
Blue-tit 1.
Carrion Crow 2 over.
Plus the usual 20- 30 feral pigeons including one with Purple underwings and a orange ring on it's left leg which has been around for a couple of weeks.
And a pigeon with lacerations to the back of it's head and back is healing nicely.
(This bird was probably run over by a car ie. it went underneath and came out the back end).
Ps. a Grey Heron was spotted by a neighbour and myself in Burleigh rd allotments on Monday - I'd like to see one of them under the feeders .
Later sightings on and around the feeders ............
Goldfinch - c25.
Greenfinch - 1.
Blackbird - 1m.
Dunnock - 2.
Pied Wagtail - 2.
Starling - 2 (only saw 2 because of vehicles parked on the street ).
Starling flock - 14 over .
Black-headed gull - 4 ...... these were flying at head - height looking at the c30 pigeons picking up dropped seed. So I threw some brown bread down, which they gracefully picked up without landing and that's when the two Starling turned up.
Yesterday Thursday at 8.30 am ............
Golfinch - 40.
Greenfinch - 4.
Robin - 1.
Dunnock - 1.
Cormorant - 2 over (probably off to Salford Quays)
Carrion crow - 2 over .
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Friday 8th of December 2017 02:15:47 PM
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Friday 8th of December 2017 02:16:52 PM
Goldfinch - 24.
Greenfinch - 4.
Robin - 1 (picking bits of seed from the floor).
Plus 2 cats , one qietly ejected from my terrace garden, the other removed with a large stone "chucked" across the road at it as it looked to pounce on a victim behind a car at the base of the tree, possibly the Robin.
Also last week lots of visits from a male Blackbird picking seed from forks in the tree as it's Sorbus tree has no berries on it due to an invasion of a small flock of starling.
Two Pied wagtail were also seen picking seed from the floor.
Two Blue -tit showed as well.
The Sparrowhawk returned exactly 10mins later over the feeders ccausing more panic, but leaving empty handed over my roof.
On and around the feeders ......
Goldfinch - 25 .
Dunnock - 1.
Greenfinch - 2 (seen earlier ).
Sparrowhawk - 1 .
Its been a very quiet day today with very few people /cars passing the feeders disturbing any birds, unlike yesterday when the street was very busy with lots of noise and movement from delivery vans etc. although there were more birds about (around 35 goldfinch at times).
It only took 2 hours to empty the feeders of half their sunflower hearts.
Goldfinch - 20's
Chaffinch - 1 ( being bullied off the feeders by squabbling goldfinch ).
Robin - 1.
Dunnock - 2 (possibly 3) picking bits of seed off the pavement.
Carrion Crow - 1.
Had a visit from 6 long-tail tits and usually 3 Greenfinch last week.
Also lots of cats about - none wearing collars and bells.
A dead Goldfinch was found on a neighbour"s step a week or so ago, and I witnessed a cat ambush a ferral pigeon from under the beech hedge adjacent the feeders killing it and dragging the bird back through the hedge before I could react.
There's been up to 5 Greenfinch at a time on the feeders as well as the occasional Dunnock, Robin and Blue-tit.
The Sparrowhawk has been about the area, seen mainly by my neighbour Sue . And there was a head - less pigeon , together with a neat pile of feathers neatly plucked from its chest at the boundary of my 10ft x 3ft. front garden early this afternoon.
Needless to say the ferral pigeons are "crapping it" at the moment resulting in dropped and half eaten seed building up around the base of the tree and becoming a slippy sludge which needs to be swept up a.s.a.p.
Earlier on and around the feeders -
Goldfinch c 40 at 5pm (but not many throughout the day ).
Greenfinch 3 (2 juv and 1 adult earlier ) .
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 over .
Goldfinch c25 (many juveniles ).
Greenfinch 5 (including 1 juvenile ).
Blue tit 2.
Great tit 2.
Also checked the backyard feeders and BT wires.
Goldfinch 30.
Ps. I then put up extra feeders to cope with the demand (given to me by Steve Burke - thanks again Steve ).
Also over was a Gey Wagtail.
Yesterday 15.09.17
Goldfinch around 20 for most of the day .
Greenfinch 1 adult feeding 2 young then later 5 other adults.
Visits from -
Great tit 1.
Blue tit 2.
Robin 1.
Grey Wagtail 1 over .