I was sorting out some of the food in my Radcliffe garden when a jackdaw flew in very close (10ft?). I was quite suprised not only do I only occasionally see them in summer around our estate - but more to the fact that it's only their 2nd recorded garden visit in 18 years!! (Officially- the 19th year starts in about a weeks time). 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
The highlight of Chorlton Open Gardens was an juvenile heron landing in a pond in chorltonville, catching a frog, posing for photos and making it's way off to the neighbours. It seemed oblivious or unconcerned about the dozen or so people admiring it's abilities.
And I didn't do very well at the quiz featuring 42 species that another resident had observed in their garden. It's about twice that which I've seen.
Lots of activity recently in my old trafford garden with at least 17 starlings ( here's hoping for a rose-coloured ) Goldfinch Greenfinch Blue tit Great tit Coal tit Robin All above with juveniles. Chaffinch Bullfinch 2 jackdaws.
On Tuesday morning a single oystercatcher flew over.
1 Willow Tit in Stott Drive,Flixton garden this morning. 1 Ring-necked Parakeet flew over heading towards Wellacre College field. Nuthatch and Coal Tit heard in field behind garden.
I heard yesterday evening the blackbirds were agitated along with a couple of other birds in my Radcliffe garden. I went to investigate and saw a herring gull attempting to land!! He must have been more curious than anything and disappeared soon after as I don't have anything worthy of pickings for such. 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
Threw the remains of a chicken carcase on the lawn this afternoon and it was soon totally devoured by 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, [2 adult and 1 immature, ?2nd summer? along with Corvids, Woodpigeons and Feral Pigeons.
It appears that I have just had a peregrine passing over my Radcliffe garden but some way up with a herring gull warning it off (the shape and size was just right). Also I have 2 very tame blue tits and a great tit after our waxworms from the adapted mealworm feeder. They are battling to get a couple in their beaks each trip before the house sparrows get them all. 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
20+ sparrows which is fun to see, a racing pigeon taking a breather and a crow who had a good go at the fat balls, looking very out of proportion to the usual birds I see on there. Fortunately didn't stay long as was devouring large chunks at a time.
This evening brought a quintessential English garden scene to Romiley with a rose-ringed parakeet squawking noisily from a neighbours eucalyptus tree!! Seriously though, a long-dreaded garden first which made me glad I'd taken the last of my feeders down a few days back!
-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Wednesday 30th of May 2018 03:32:01 PM
Starlings have been flying over our Harwood, Bolton garden all day in twos and threes. At one point there was a flock of over 100 birds, which alighted into the surrounding trees. Usually we only see about half a dozen up the road from us.
While sitting in the back garden on Sunday afternoon enjoying the sunshine, I heard a commotion at the end of the garden and was surprised to see a Magpie with a live Sparrow in its beak, frantically trying to release itself. The Magpie was being hotly pursued and harassed by half a dozen other Sparrows trying to help their pal.
After a few moments, the Magpie flew off, still with Sparrow in its grasp and still being pursued by the other Sparrows. I couldn't tell whether the unfortunate Sparrow was a juvenile.
The starling flock is now greater than the number of birds I can easily count at least 20+. They haven't all landed in my garden at once but keep a vigil in surrounding trees. Lots of juveniles.
Bullfinch pair this morning viciously attacking dandelion heads to great delight. Looks very silly with a beak full of fluff.
Six starlings hogging the feeders this morning. Two adults and four juvenile. One of those ambivalent species, that I know are in decline, but I can't get excited about. Fun watching the greedy kids begging for food, and then when parent's back is turned quite happily foraging on their own. Noisy! Sparrows weren't too concerned.
Male sparrowhawk made an appearance this morning. Landed on our roof long enough to get some pictures- nice!!! Nothing else worthy to note at the moment apart from our house sparrows are devouring all my mealworms for their chicks as soon as I put them out in the feeder. I'm having to feed them only twice a day (morning and evening) to keep costs down as I also want to use some for our blackbirds and robins when they ask me for some. 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
At least a dozen swifts 'screee'ing far overhead yesterday; two long-tailed tits flitting quite close as we lounged in the garden, and bats flitting over the hedges at dusk - chorlton.
A Blackcap has been singing from first thing this morning until now, moving around a few of the adjacent gardens. It was singing from a tree in our garden almost above my head as I had breakfast at around 8am, trying manfully to compete with the various Blackbirds and Robins that seem to around in very good numbers this spring. Also nice to see 3 fledgling House Sparrows being attended by adults, first seen on Saturday. Not a garden bird around here but also noticed 3 Swifts moving through at height this afternoon.
Irlam garden: 2 Swift this evening - seem to be back on territory nearby. 1 Swallow over. 1 Buzzard circling over the garden this afternoon mobbed continuously by a Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Finally, 3 resident swifts back in old trafford feeding above all the neighbouring houses this afternoon/ evening & 1 paticular pair going into my neighbours eaves. 5 swallows & 1 house martin over. Sparrowhawk circling overhead. Pair of bullfinch 4 greenfinch 12 goldfinch 2 jackdaws enjoying the fatballs.
Four magpies thugging around today. Cascades of apple blossom coming down when they were squabbling in the apple tree. Sparrows didn't seem to disturbed though.
Its looking like a good year for nesting in our suburban Bramhall garden this year. Blue tits in the nestbox, blackbirds in the hedges both front and back gardens, and woodpigeons in the pyracanthus. And a lovely little cup shaped goldfinch nest in a bush outside the front room window. Not forgetting a bees nest in a crack in the wall of the porch.
Very early this morning got a surprise when stepping out of the door, a singing Garden Warbler in one of the tall trees 50 yards from the house, a first record for this Bolton street!
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Tuesday 1st of May 2018 07:43:23 PM
2 bullfinch visiting my Radcliffe garden feeders this morning. Also, our Robin tried to take possession of the mini mealworms on the ground from a female house sparrow but failed miserably as she stood her ground! Ta!
__________________
Which bird is ideal for keeping cakes in? I asked. The answer: a Bun-tin.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/135715507@N06
Nice to see a pair of bullfinch on my feeders in my old trafford garden on Wednesday, not seen since but hopefully it's the same pair that bred locally last year. Still good numbers of goldfinches daily 4 greenfinch 2 starlings spending most of the time on the fatballs. 2 blue tits 2 great tits Male house sparrow calling just under the eaves of my house, think he has a mate on a nest in my loft. No signs of any resident swifts yet, they are late, usual return date is 21st -24th. Male sparrowhawk getting chased by 3 goldfinch yesterday morning. Grey heron landed on roof of house across the road from mine this morning but soon flew off.
1 lesser black backed gull calling and circling over so very low I honestly thought he was going to land, This means I now can add this bird to my garden tick list rather than just one passing overhead.
No sign of those wrens unfortunately, but are singing within the vicinity. It therefore doesn't look like they are nesting in my garden after all, still- plenty of time yet!
Ta!
__________________
Which bird is ideal for keeping cakes in? I asked. The answer: a Bun-tin.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/135715507@N06
Female sparrowhawk over my Chorlton back garden just, heading SE; pair of greenfinch over W a minute or so before.
Blackcap heard singing frequently from an area roughly N of the garden from yesterday morning onwards (a particularly cheering sound to rise to, as I have the last couple of mornings).
Four years since House Sparrows were round our Failsworth house Leicester Rd /Warwick Ave a pair were on Warwick Ave Sunday afternoon then 5pm female was on feeders in our garden Leicester Rd
Still getting plenty of Brambling in garden ,they seem to be around most of the day,and there's some stonking males in with them,a couple now in full sum plum.
From my Atherton garden in the past hour... - 2 Chaffinch - 2 Goldfinch - 1 Willow Warbler (singing) - 1 Chiffchaff - 1 Lapwing (in adjoining field) - 1 Mediterranean Gull (same as above)