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Post Info TOPIC: County garden birds
Rene Griffiths


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RE: County garden birds
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My suburban Golborne garden (in a housing estate) had the below when I spent an hour watching (around a week ago) after filling up the feeders, we have 4 medium sized (12ft or so) trees and I regularly fill up the feeders with a variety of food (mixed seed, fat balls, suet blocks, mealworms,sunflower hearts, berry suet pieces, peanut nibs, chopped apple, golden syrup coated seed from Bents sparingly too). I've been building my bird feed area up a lot in the last couple of years (with a wooden gazebo I can spy with my binoculars from like a bird hide) and I can now easily spend an hour in my garden with a coffee looking at the birds. It just shows it can be done anywhere!

4x LT Tit
1x Siskin
2x Coal Tit
3x Blue Tit
1x Great Tit
1x Willow Tit (I have seen the garden Willow Tit a handful of times, couldn't actually believe my eyes as it's not usual for my garden by any means, it seemed to be travelling with the other Tits, coming from "The Bonk" disused mine area, this is probably the most exciting sighting ever recorded in our garden :) )
1x Wood Pigeon
7x Collared Doves
1x Goldcrest
3x Robin (which I thought was strange)
2x Blackbird
25+ House Sparrows
15+ Starling
1 Goldfinch
2 Chaffinch

Not during this hour but at other times in the same garden we've had Grey Wagtail on our pond, there is usually a Wren, we see 3 Buzzards circling regularly (and one landed on the neighbour's roof one day), A frequent Sparrowhawk visitor and I have seen a Kestrel hovering nearby several times but not directly inside my garden. Someone else said they have seen a Peregrine at The Bonk wasteland nearby but I have not seen that yet myself. Never had a Nuthatch or a GS Woodpecker, not sure what I need to do to attract them but that would be exciting for me to get those in this garden. Also Lesser Redpoll sound fantastic, I would definitely drop my binoculars if I saw them here but nice to see all can be possible since the birds fly. Some great things happening in people's gardens! :)

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PHIL GREENWOOD


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A first for me in my Flixton garden today was a Willow Tit, along with 2 Nuthatches and 3 male Reed Buntings, etc.
As I've been suffering from a heavy cold and not getting out, it's the only birding I've done in the last few days.

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Karen Foulkes


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In the garden late afternoon

A Goldcrest was present at the back of the garden.
Song Thrush singing
I was also dive bombed by a Long-tailed Tit as it was carrying nesting material into a neighbour's garden!

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Richard Thew


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Breaking news! I am absolutely over the moon now as I was in my hidden corner of my Radcliffe garden when a male siskin popped on the feeders!!!!! As I suspected in November after my redpoll invasion finally at least one has arrived - a real beauty too! (Pictures will be posted at some stage here). Also a female pied wagtail turned up yesterday and also this morning is the usual lesser redpoll gang and grey wagtail Ps. I've thrown in below a picture of one of my long tailed tits in the adapted feeder for mealworms since I know some of you have been intrigued by my earlier posts with the wren.

-- Edited by Richard Thew on Friday 16th of February 2018 10:56:34 PM

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Tony Koziol


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Adult male Sparrowhawk sat on "bird feeder" stand this afternoon for thirty minutes or so generally having a good preen then hopping onto hawthorn hedge just above two blue tits which were safe as houses in the dense framework of growth. This was barely thirty feet away. Pity I've not moved onto the camera stage yet.



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Richard Thew


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New garden record! I couldn't believe my eyes when I counted 10 blackbirds- (9 easily counted with another one heard flying away to a tree). It's not as if I provide enough food as most of the food is only accessible to smaller birds- even the starlings haven't reached 10 this winter unlike previous years!!!! Ta!

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Richard Thew


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Been a very good week since Saturday at my Radcliffe garden for activity. The lesser redpolls have now increased to 7 on the feeders and no two are ezactly the same as they vary very slightly in markings or shade etc. And I'm getting to know each one and I am convinced I have all 8 former regulars (from late last years peak) at least! Also noteworthy - my grey wagtail has been showing exceptionally well lately and the long tailed tits may have reduced to 2 but they are behaving like they have bonded to each other and I've seen both in the mealworm feeder together whilst avoiding the wren. I'm hoping to get fresh pictures when I can but I have to time it between my busy schedule and the weather, Ta!

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Steve Judge


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Goldcrest in my Eccles garden at 09:20 hrs this morning.

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Reynard Spiess


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Sparrowhawk (m) having an early breakfast on my chorlton lawn this morning. Good start to the day. It was still quite dark at 7:30 and I didn't realise they were active that early.



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Ian McKerchar


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Originally posted today by David Coupe:

I have a overwintering Female Blackcap in my garden, also seen a male Blackcap on two occasions in Jan 2018. I have been putting out apples for them



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steven burke


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A Mediterranean gull flew low over my old trafford garden at 4.08pm calling & headed towards Salford quays.
The female blackcap has been enjoying my garden for a week,feeding on the apples, fat balls, foraging under the bushes through the leaf litter & even been on the sunflower hearts feeder. But not seen her for a couple of days now.
Photo attached from last Friday.

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Mike Cooper


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3 Fieldfare over my Hopwood heywood garden at 09:00

Seem to be a movement in the area?

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Andy Bissitt


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I missed redpoll yesterday (first time in 24 days), but four were seen today. Siskins kept up their ever-present status since January 13th. Best other sighting was of a pair of bullfinches, the male feeding on the floor just 4 feet from my front window.



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Richard Thew


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Just to update; My Grey wagtail has been coming back these last two days in my Radcliffe garden, yesterday that dark burnt looking lesser redpoll had returned but still no sign of the Mealy redpoll which I've only seen on that one day so far. Still- winters not over yet! 2 chaffinches looks like they are going to be permanent regulars which is great! Ta!!

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Nigel Troup


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I have just seen two Blackcaps in my Woodsmoor garden: one male, one female - a pleasant surprise at this time of year.

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Andy Bissitt


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The chilly, wet weather pepped up the count today, with 8 siskin and 4 redpoll the obvious stars.



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Karen Foulkes


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A Goldcrest visited the garden this afternoon.
Birds in and around the garden included Song Thrush and Dunnock singing and a Great Spotted Woodpecker

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Shannon Llewellyn


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Beautiful male sparrowhawk just flashed through my Chorlton garden, perching up on a neighbour's fence.

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Richard Thew


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No sign of that mealy redpoll nor the grey wagtail today cry , hopefully they will return, but at least I still have my 6 lesser redpolls, the females came down first only feeding on the Niger seed, and strangely 3 males settled after but only feeding on the sunflower hearts.

Word is spreading amongst the long tailed tits as 3 are now regular taking mini mealworms from the feeder.

Attached- one of the male lesser redpolls and one of the females.

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Richard Thew


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Breaking news! I've just had that paler redpoll visiting my Radcliffe garden feeders and I can confirm looks just like a Mealy redpolI from where i was stood as it looked extreamly grey compared to the others and i cannot believe my eyes. Unfortunately I wasn't able to grab my camera as I would have frightened it off. Thanks to my mother who got some pictures through the window and I've had them analized and it is infact Elton's missing Mealy redpoll (new garden tick). Many thanks to Ian for the help in confirmation and my appologies to Steven for bribing it to come to my feeders. Attached pictures are from my mother, the window has affected the quality but nobodys complaining!

-- Edited by Richard Thew on Thursday 1st of February 2018 05:48:09 PM

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Andy Bissitt


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Both siskin (2) and redpoll completed a run of 19 consecutive days of visits in January today, which has kept me busy looking out for them. An ominous pile of pale feathers were in the garden when I first looked out this morning. Might have been a close call for a collared dove because there were still 4 today.



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steven burke


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Female blackcap has spent a lot of time in my old trafford garden this morning feeding on the fat balls.
1 goldcrest also enjoying the fat balls.
18 goldfinches
2 greenfinch
1 chaffinch
1 Robin
1 blackbird
1 coal tit
2 blue tits

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Richard Thew


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Me again! The neighbourhood has been quieter today after 2 weeks of noise- enabling my lesser redpolls to return with at least 6 or 7 (but still no sign of that unusual dark one or that paler one). Also the grey wagtail has been getting more tolerant to us providing we stick to a routine. And the cheeky wren is getting bolder by staying in the feeder for longer and is literally living in the shrub just a short hop from the mealworms (like breakfast in bed)- Can't say I blame it! Ta!

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Keith Mills


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This am a Sparrowhawk flicked up into our Larch tree, paused, and then flew down the back gardens.
This pm when topping our feeders I noticed a distinct lack of the usual Feral Pigeons, on the neighbour's ridge tiles. Over the fence I observed the pile of feathers, the remains of 2 pigeon wings, and what looked like a thorax?

-- Edited by keith mills on Tuesday 30th of January 2018 03:43:43 PM

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Andy Bissitt


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A memorable moment at dusk this evening as I was filling the two feeders at the front of the house. As I hung the second back on the tree (the two are less than 5 feet apart), a single redpoll flew in, called, and proceded to feed from the other feeder nearly within touching distance. I've rarely had a better look at any passerine without the use of a hide and without optics. I felt privileged. 



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PHIL GREENWOOD


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RSPB Birdwatch in a Flixton garden, Saturday, January 27th.

Nuthatch 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Blackbird 2
Robin 2
Dunnock 2
Magpie 2
Blue Tit 8
Great Tit 4
Woodpigeon 1
Collared Dove 2
Goldfinch 1
House Sparrow 1
Long-tailed Tit 8
Coal Tit 1
Starling 1

Obviously pot luck with the temperature, as cold weather would have brought possibly Wren, Reed Bunting, Chaffinch and Song Thrush, and greater numbers of the other birds.

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Andy Bissitt


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RSPB garden birdwatch and, as usual, it was a case of some you win etc...

Ones that didn't go by the script were great tit, greenfinch and collared dove, which all turned up in the following two hours or so. However, redpoll (3), the male bullfinch, and 1 siskin (although there were 6 later) did make it a worthwhile exercise. Note to RSPB though: it needs to be earlier in the month what with climate change and all that!



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Richard Thew


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I was about to report that no sign of any of my regular lesser redpolls in my Radcliffe garden since my last report. Just logged in and guess what? 4 turn up with 2 male and 1 female bullfinch (a garden rarity here). Non of the lesser redpolls contained either that very dark burnt looking one or that very pale one. However, It was interesting to watch a long tailed tit venture in my adapted mealworm feeder and picked out a mini wriggly. Plus the usuals. No grey wagtail seen or heard today (so far) but did come yesterday. Ta!

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Richard Thew


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At least 5 lesser redpolls visiting my Radcliffe garden feeders still but- one male that I've not seen before is very very dark. But, I'm more interested in another very pale larger looking male (sat directly next to the others) as it looked very similar like the Mealy redpoll that is seen at Elton (but obviously not the same bird I must add). But unfortunately I couldn't manage to get a picture of it and has now since vanished so I ain't gonna risk saying it was a mealy as I've been fooled before but it certainly was different from normal and i will keep eyes open. Also grey wagtail and wren still. Ta!

-- Edited by Richard Thew on Sunday 21st of January 2018 03:06:26 PM

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Keith Mills


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Nice to see a Song Thrush feed on my back lawn and then around the borders; for 20 minutes as I ate my breakfast today.

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Andy Bissitt


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A day for window birding. A new winter high of 10 (maybe 11) siskins on feeders/ground. They only get a chance when the goldfinches take a breather. Still 5 redpoll, and the nuthatch returned for the first time in a while. The most pathetic sight was of a male bullfinch reduced to picking fragments of sunflower heart from the top of one of my waste bins, its head being too large to use the feeders! From my windows today I reckon I saw about 27 species (inc. lesser black-backed gull, jay and starling which did not use the garden), more than I saw on a trip to Audenshaw yesterday!



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Kristian Wade


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In the horse field behind my house today:

149 Starling
38 Jackdaw
5 Carrion Crow
84 Black-Headed Gulls
8 Herring Gulls
8 Lesser Black-Backed Gulls
7 Great Black-Backed Gulls
2 Common Gulls

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Mark Walsh


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A steady stream of Siskin have been visiting the garden these past few days, only ever in small numbers though, 2 -3 birds. In addition the first Blackcap of the winter has been making an appearance, a male visiting for the past 3 days.

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steven burke


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Male & female blackcap in my old trafford garden this morning, feeding on the apples but spending more time on the fat balls.
2 goldcrests also enjoying the fat balls.
C30 goldfinches
1 greenfinch
1 chaffinch
18 house sparrows
2 blue tits
2 collard doves
2 blackbirds
1 Robin
And a male sparrowhawk chasing a sparrow out of the garden as I was about to leave for work.

-- Edited by steven burke on Thursday 18th of January 2018 01:06:33 PM

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Andy Bissitt


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New high of (at least) 8 siskins today, and still 5 redpoll. A post-Christmas high of 4 greenfinch also. Yesterday, 12 chaffinches was a winter high (possibly most ever), and a similar number were about today.



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Andy Bissitt


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The day of the winter so far. Redpolls up to 5, with 7 siskins joining them. This alone would have been enough, but in mid-morning bullfinches (a pair, of course) visited the garden for the first time this winter, and brought the male blackcap with them! With green, gold and chaffinches, that made six finches totalling about 40 birds! Also a buzzard drifted over quite low in mid-morning. Why go out, I say?



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Steven Nelson


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A Chiffchaff visited my Irlam garden this morning 10.35am. A garden first!

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Andy Bissitt


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Things perked up today with the arrival of 4 redpolls (common or garden variety only). This makes all the expense worthwhile. Also a single siskin on the feeder at the same time as redpoll on one occasion. Chaffinch numbers rose again today so I'm hoping they'll drag in a brambling during next weeks cold spell.



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Richard Thew


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Upto 5 lesser redpolls still visiting my Radcliffe garden feeders. Also the grey wagtail, a sneaky wren thats after the mealworms (live minis) and a daily spectacular flying in and out visits from a 1st year male sparrowhawk! Plus the usuals. .... ta!

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Andy Bissitt


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A welcome return for siskin today, a single female. 95% certain also had a redpoll in the early gloom (well, early for me at 8.45 a.m.), but it was in a tree at the bottom of the garden against the 'light' with its back to me. Flew off on its own whereas all the goldfinches which were also in the tree stayed. Hoping for another visit to clinch it.



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Andy Bissitt


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First blackcap sighting since before Christmas (female) in my Romiley garden. I wonder where they go in the meantime?



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Mark Walsh


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A really good hour spent watching the garden feeders;

23 (at least) Goldfinches
6 Greenfinch
4 Bullfinch
4 Chaffinch
3 Siskin
2 Jay
1 Lesser Redpoll

And one flyby Peregrine, a tick for the Garden.

All in Heavily, Stockport biggrin

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Christaylor


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4 male Bullfinch 2 female Bullfinch In our Beaumont Chase garden. Regular visitors but first time we have seen 4 males together.

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Charles Farrell


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More birds than I've seen for some time in my mum's Alkrington garden

- 1 Male Bullfinch
- 1 or 2 Goldfinch
- c6 Lesser Redpoll (first I've seen here for several years)
- 1 Coal Tit

plus plenty of Blackbird, Great and Blue Tit, Feral Pigeons and Corvids.

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Nick Isherwood


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A male Blackcap in my garden in Lowton this morning. 



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Richard Thew


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Perfect weather for garden watching with the option of a nice hot drink in the hands. This morning visits; my Grey wagtail greeted me as I topped up the mealworms, at least 5 lesser redpolls still, greenfinch, goldfinch, long tailed tits, 6 blackbirds, the sneaky wren and the usual other suspects too. Ta!

-- Edited by Richard Thew on Tuesday 26th of December 2017 03:01:00 PM

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Shannon Llewellyn


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Blackcap flitting around the trees behind my Chorlton garden this morning; also c 10 redwing. Coal and blue tit both busy on my feeder.

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Paul Heaton


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3 lapwing just flew over my garden, now thats a first considering nearest ones will be Flixton or the mosses , its an odd record .

Keep looking up  

 



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Andy Bissitt


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Male blackcap made a reappearance today, also one siskin. Masses of goldfinches (c20) pushed me further towards the workhouse by downing sunflower hearts like it was Christmas!



-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Friday 22nd of December 2017 09:09:48 PM

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Paul Thompson


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I was surprised to see a male Blackcap in my garden today. I supposed it's a sign of global warming etc. 



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