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BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> GREATER MANCHESTER BIRD SIGHTINGS -> County garden birds
Post Info TOPIC: County garden birds
Richard Thew


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RE: County garden birds
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Radcliffe garden update; long tailed tits are still after the mini mealworms and the house sparrows are again starting on them too with disputes between them as spring arrives (they don't tend to bother too much with mealworms outside the breeding season). Also a suprisingly stubbed female lesser redpoll is still active on the feeders- the longest running redpolls on record!!! Previously they all vanish by mid February and the last time I had 5 together was just a few days ago! Also noteworthy was a singing male bullfinch just in the last hour!!!! Ta!

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Andy Bissitt


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After too much walking around for nothing this week, decided to do a garden migration watch for about 30 minutes p.m. Only bird to fit that description was redwing, with 9 over low (came down in fields to the north of house). Even so, about 20 species was better than many places I've been this week, and included Mandarin duck (first positive i.d. from garden I think), grey heron, lesser black-backed and black-headed gull, 4 jays and so on. Redpoll and siskin stopped coming to the garden almost as soon as sunflower hearts ran out. Fussy sorts!



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Ian McKerchar


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4 Brambling and 2 male Blackcap, one of the latter of which is in song occasionally, in the Cadishead garden of Dave Steel today.



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Ian Campbell


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Just had a nice male Siskin feeding on Niger in my Radcliffe garden.
Cheers Ian

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Chris Greene


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Three Grey Wagtails currently back in our Stockport garden, they seem to have become somewhat addicted to the grated Red Leicester cheese I sprinkle on the grass each morning wink. Otherwise up to five Bullfinch,a few Chaffinch and Greenfinch,plus a few dozen Goldfinch.Blackbird numbers now down to four ....Three male,one female, plus usual tits robins etc.

Cheers Chris



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Keith Mills


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Before 8am this morning: 4 Greenfinch on my garden feeders.



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Shannon Llewellyn


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Grey heron flying over my Chorlton back garden this morning.

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Paul Heaton


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Ashton on Mersey Garden, this morning

Goldcrest x 2

Wren

Dunnock 

Goldfinch, Chaffinch Bullfinch

Redwing x 5 ( very chuffed )

Blackbird Songthrush

Ring Necked Parakeet 

Keep Birding 



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Richard Thew


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My Radcliffe garden has had an unbelievable 75 starlings this lunchtime. This is almost double the record!!!

Also noteworthy is the 5 lesser redpolls still and the 2 long tailed tits are regular at the mealworms. Apparently they only vanished for a week and came back days before the cold snap.

2 days ago I could hear a bullfinch chirping in one of our trees but couldn't see it.

Ta!

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Which bird is ideal for keeping cakes in? I asked. The answer: a Bun-tin. http://www.flickr.com/photos/135715507@N06
Karl Liptrot


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First ever Reed Bunting in my Aspull garden this morning.



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nigel charlesworth


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4 goldfinch in my Failsworth garden first time for over 2 years



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Ian Campbell


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Just noticed a Blackbird has begun building a nest in the pyracantha growing next to my front doorsmile, Spring is springing.
Cheers Ian

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Keith Mills


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Just now a male Sparrowhawk in our garden Larch tree, surveying the feeders.

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John Rayner


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Hazel Grove:

Greenfinch singing in the garden is the first for many years.

(Also first frog spawn today)

Cheers John

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David Morris


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1 Ring-necked Parakeet in my Chorlton garden about 30 minutes ago, first one in a while.

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Andy Bissitt


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Expected a drop in numbers/species today with the milder conditions, but in fact the opposite happened.

Male bullfinch and nuthatch were both the first since January, whilst two coal tits have also returned in the last 2-3 days.

Others increased e.g. chaffinch (9), siskin (4), and redpoll (3). Two long-tailed tits as well, so it was all fairly entertaining. Also saw a female blackbird apparently carrying nesting material.



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Kristian Wade


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Nice Gull flock in the horse field behind my garden consisted of (minimum):
-133 Black-Headed Gulls
-94 Herring Gulls
-82 Lesser Black-Backed Gulls
-5 Common Gulls
-1 Great Black-Backed Gull
-Plus 10-20 Jackdaw

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Mike Cooper


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In my Hopwood Heywood garden today

3 goldfinches on sunflower hearts

Goldcrest singing
Dunnock singing
Chaffinch singing

Wren returning
Long tailed tit 2
Blackbird 2
Magpie 2



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Richard Thew


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I knew this would happen! Just did a full garden report update and a male siskin just popped in. Also 5 blackbirds!! Maybe I need to do more updates like that to get more different birds in?

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Which bird is ideal for keeping cakes in? I asked. The answer: a Bun-tin. http://www.flickr.com/photos/135715507@N06
Richard Thew


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Radcliffe garden update;

Everything has dramatically calmed down since the cold snap, in fact it looks like I'm at the end of a historically productive winter garden activity and the current pattern seems to indicate that the birds are now getting ready for the spring. Below is a list of birds that have made this winter extra special and those that are still visiting is a note saying 'still' Any other birds not listed are my usual regulars but are likewise not is numerous (goldfinch for instance had peaked at about 20+, now it's currently half a dozen)

Cormorant (was new as it flew super low over garden)
13 blackbirds (max of 3 still)
Blackcap (male was new- had female in past)
2 mistle thrushes (almost 10 years since last seen)
Mealy redpoll (was new and rarest ever)
8 Lesser redpolls (max 5 still)
3 bullfinch
Siskin
Grey wagtail (was new)
Pied wagtail (last visit was in 2005, one landed on house roof this morning)
Long tailed tits (eating mealworms in feeder which I've never seen before)
Goldcrest (eating mealworms - still)
Wren (eating mealworms - still)
Reed bunting

Ta!

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Ian McKerchar


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In Dave Steel's Cadishead garden today:

Male and female Blackcap. male Brambling and two Siskin.



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Dave Cropper


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Bizarre sight of a male Pheasant in my Sale garden this afternoon

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steven burke


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A nice surprise of a single fieldfare eating the apples in my old trafford garden early this morning.
Female blackcap
Goldcrest
15 goldfinches
2 greenfinch
2 blue tits


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Ian McKerchar


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15 Fieldfare around the Astley garden early afternoon today.



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Kristian Wade


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10 Lapwings in horse field behind garden today. Garden nest boxes being visited by both Blue and Great Tits, Blackbird and Dunnock pairs also about.

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Karen Foulkes


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Male Bullfinch in the garden this morning, along with four Woodpigeon. Three Blackbirds seemed more intent on chasing each other around the garden, rather than eating the food I had put out confuse

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PHIL GREENWOOD


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Afternoon Flixton garden birdwatch.

Fieldfare 1
Jay 2
Nuthatch 1
Coal Tit 2
Blackbird 8
Robin 3
Dunnock 2
Reed Bunting 2m 3f.
Mistle Thrush 1
Long-tailed Tit 8
House Sparrow 2m.
Great Tits
Blue Tits
Collared Dove 2
Starling 4
Goldfinch 7 behind garden.
Raven 1 overhead.


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Phil Greenwood
Rene Griffiths


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3 goldfinch on niger feeder, 2 Great tit, 3 blue tit, 2 coal tit. Around 25 house sparrows, 30+ Starling coming in a big flock, demolishing the feeders and taking off again. 1 Wood Pigeon, 5 Collared Doves, 3 Robin, 1 Dunnock. All that is normal but the thrushes are taking over the garden at the moment. Around 7-8 Blackbirds at any one time (both sexes, often chasing each other away) A Song Thrush. Also had a small flock (10 or so) of mixed gulls (black-headed, herring and not sure about the rest since I am not great with gulls but probably second winter/third summer or whatever of the types mentioned!!) eating someone's chips off the road nearby.

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pete berry


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I popped out this morning to buy some apples for the thrushes and whilst I was out my missus counted over 30 Blackbirds in the garden at the same time!! The apples have attracted a few Fieldfare which were in the garden within 10 mins of putting the apples out.Strangely the Blackbirds don't seem interested in the apples,conversely the Fieldfares only seem to eat the apples and are not interested in the other food I've been putting out which the Blackbirds are devouring at a fast rate.Good numbers of Goldfinch,a few Greenfinch and up to 5 Bullfinch on the garden feeders.

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Ian McKerchar


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A brief visit by Pete Berry late morning today coincided with three Lapwings in the field just 10 feet from the back of my garden and at least one Fieldfare still around.



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Richard Thew


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Activity so far this morning in my Radcliffe garden,

13 Hungry blackbirds eating the apples (5 at least female, one male is very possessive of the apples- he just sits on the ground facing one piece- head up and tail spread with all feathers fluffed to make himself look bigger and won't let ANYTHING else near it).
8 starlings
5 lesser redpolls
Goldcrest, long tailed tits and the wren in for the mini mealworms
Grey wagtail (picture to go on Flickr at 6pm)
Plus the usual other tits, Dunnocks, house sparrows and finches
(and not forgetting 2 collared doves and woodpigeon -which only seem to come to rest on the trees and the top of the main feeding station).
Ta!

-- Edited by Richard Thew on Friday 2nd of March 2018 01:30:39 PM

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steven burke


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Female blackcap back this morning.
Song thrush still around
Just 3 chaffinch
1 goldcrest
2 blue tit
1 blackbird
2 Robins chasing each other around
2 mistle thrush over
7 goldfinch.

My sister has had 3 lapwings just beyond her garden fence in easbrook, Urmston this morning.


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Mike Cooper


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Heywood

Only winter resident birds left blackbird, Robin, coal tit and Goldcrest over last days of the beast

Finches and starlings off to warmer climes?

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steven burke


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Only 5 goldfinch in my old trafford garden this morning.
Nice to see 4 chaffinch though, 1 male, 3 females one with metal ring on right leg.
1 goldcrest
2 blackbirds
2 blue tits
2 great tits
And 2 birds that I haven't seen for a long time in the shape of a song thrush & a wren.

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Ian McKerchar


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A single Fieldfare also in Dave Steel's Cadishead Harden today.

 



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Andy Bissitt


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2 fieldfare yesterday was either first or second record in 31 years! Also 2 long-tailed tits yesterday. Today, 1 jay briefly, as well as usual siskins/redpolls, though 10 house sparrows and a minimum of 12 blackbirds (just three fems) using garden (not all at same time). Survival of the fitest time.



-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Thursday 1st of March 2018 09:16:10 PM

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Ian Campbell


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A negative post here, hardly any birds on my feeders today when there are usually there a plenty, have they all died in this awful weather.
Cheers Ian

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colin moran


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3 fieldfare .2 mistle thrush. in my worsley garden today plus new garden bird snipe over



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Karl Liptrot


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Eight Fieldfare in my Aspull garden every day since Tuesday



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Jon Bowen


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First ever Brambling (male) coming to my the feeder in my garden in Horwich for the last 3 days
2nd ever Fieldfare today
Up to 14 Goldfinches and 12 Blackbirds (11 male)
plus the usual which for me are Great, Blue,Coal, Long-Tailed, Willow Tit etc...

-- Edited by Jon Bowen on Thursday 1st of March 2018 12:53:52 PM

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Chris Greene


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Been ground feeding a similar concoction to Pete recently ,with the addition of a few grapes and chopped up Christmas puddings, waffles and croissants.Max number of Blackbirds at any one time is 11 , eight males to three females! The three Grey Wagtails have disappeared recently, however just had four Redwings briefly, a Mistle Thrush and a Black-headed Gull ! Finch numbers are generally down ,but still up to five Bullfinch regular though, plus usual tits,robins etc.  All very near central Stockport.

Cheers Chris



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Ian McKerchar


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Six Fieldfare just landed in my Astley garden, taking shelter in bushes!



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Steve Judge


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Eccles garden 28th February - 1st March 2018.

Mistle Thrush x 1 (has set up residence in the garden over the last couple of days - attacking any birds trying to get food from the bird feeds) including:

Collared Dove x 2
House Sparrow x 1
Blue Tit x 2
Blackbird x 2
Starling x 10
Dunnock x 1
Goldfinch x 1
Feral Pigeon x 3
Magpie x 1 (left alone by Mistle Thrush - must have been a bit too big!)

Also, I saw a Grey Heron fly over (from direction of local mosses).




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pete berry


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I've had a max. of 23 Blackbirds in the garden at one time today,feeding on a mixture of Lidls cheap wholemeal bread,raisins , suet pellets, sunflower hearts and cheese,costing me a fortune!! but well worth it. Its interesting that males outnumber females by up to 5-1,wondering if other people have noticed this difference in male to female ratio?

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Richard Thew


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I'm putting extra apple halfs out on the ground as our blackbirds and starlings are struggling to find food. These Apples are instantly going! I'd advise whoever hasn't to see if they can follow suit. Usual bunch coming in with larger numbers of goldfinch. They are kind of flighty though - no doubt due to the Beast from the East. Snow has been getting into the mealworm feeder so I'm having to watch out for that covering the food (The wren was one of the first to get some grub from it- (sorry for the pun)).

-- Edited by Richard Thew on Thursday 1st of March 2018 09:19:22 AM

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Richard Thew


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This cold snowy spell has forced a return of my grey wagtail in my Radcliffe garden!

This has made my week as it's been 10 days since his last appearance.

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Andy Bissitt


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Noting a definite drop in numbers in last 3 or 4 days. Hopefully birds are moving west away from what is coming rather than mortality. Still, three greenfinches yesterday was an increase, and both siskins and redpolls have now appeared on 44 successive days (apart from one 'miss' for redpolls). Everyone make an effort to feed and water the birds this week - it's going to be tough for them.



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Richard Thew


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Just a quick update;

Goldcrest, Wren and long tailed tit from this afternoon visiting the mealworm feeder.

Also lesser redpolls still but again- and still no sign of the grey wagtail.cry


-- Edited by Richard Thew on Sunday 25th of February 2018 09:29:37 PM



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Davd Coupe


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Female Blackcap in my Didsbury garden daily since 10/12/17. I have put out apples for it as recommended on the RSPB website. See pic

 



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Ian McKerchar


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Male and female Brambling plus male Blackcap in Dave Steel's Princes Park, Cadishead garden today.



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