A few local (Chadderton) garden sightings for the first two-thirds of December.
In the garden - I've increased feeding during the cold spell. Loaves of supermarket value bread, lightly spread with marge and cut into small cubes and also re-hydrated value sultanas, both distributed thinly across the lawn and flower beds of the back garden. This has brought many more birds into the garden including some common birds not usually seen. Since 2nd - Blackbirds, numbers anywhere up to about 17 birds - usually come in at the very first light and then throughout the day. Also regularly, 2 Song Thrush (only ever seen in the garden in harsh weather) and 1 Mistle Thrush. Up to c60 Starlings and c25 House Sparrow regularly during this period. At the moment they are eating between 2 and 3 value loaves each day as well as 1kg of sultanas every day!

Up to 3 Dunnock, 1 Wren, 1 Robin (occasionally seen chasing away other Robins), 2 Magpies, a pair of Collared Doves (which look like they might have been building a rudimentary nest in a tree in next doors garden in the early part of the month!) they have also been observed during the harshest weather inspecting, on several occasions, around the back of a satellite dish, where Collared Doves have attempted to build nests (and failed) in the past, 1 Sparrowhawk (most days), 1 Goldcrest (4/12 & 8/12 & 18/12), 5 Long-tailed Tits (4/12), 1 female Chaffinch (4/12) 1 male Chaffinch (8/12).

At the bottom of the garden I have a large winter flowering mahonia shrub which in some of the past winters has attracted wintering Blackcaps feeding on the flowers. Have spent a good while watching this recently and the tree immediately above it for any signs of them but as yet with no luck. Probably not going to happen this year now, as the flowers have been damaged by the cold weather. However whilst scanning the tree on 2nd December and looking through the flock of birds in there, amongst the tits and sparrows, was a Chiffchaff! That was the second wintering Chiffchaff I had then seen in the space of 6 days, after 1 seen amongst a mixed tit/crest flock in waterside vegetation alongside the River Irwell near Peel Park, Salford on 27th November. Small numbers of Blue and Great Tits seen on some days, but not all. The House Sparrows have actually been observed eating the flowers of the mahonia, whilst the tits just appear to be taking either pollen or nectar from the flowers? The Sparrows have also been seen as well chewing on pyracantha berries. Also Jackdaws and Carrion Crows on the roofs of surrounding house - again only really seen here in harsh weather. 1 Jackdaw collecting food from the back garden on 18th.

On 8th at 14.45 from a very brief "out of the corner of the eye sighting" and without binoculars an owl species was spotted flying south over the house at moderate height. Broad, shortish and rounded wings, with quick wing beats interspersed with glides might suggest Tawny possibly? Seems a strange time of day for this species to be on the move though! Maybe a cold weather movement?

Cheers,

Bill.