I moved into my new home in flixton on sunday, I set up a feeding station with wild bird seed, sunflower hearts, sunflower seeds & fatballs I added a bird bath & a hanging water bottle & a tray for seed. All already attracting some birds.. 2 coal tits 2 blue tits 2 goldfinch 2 collared doves 2 woodpigeons These are all enjoying the feast
So far 15 species seen.. Rooks are over & on the roofs of houses which is nice to see as I never had a rook at my old Trafford garden. Blackbird Wren Robin Jackdaw Starling, one in particular sits outside my front garden on the telephone pole making lots of fantastic sounds. House sparrows Black-headed gulls over Buzzards over, 2 seen together this afternoon. Was hoping to get away from Feral pigeons but 5 were ween flying around the houses today.
An oystercatcher was heard this afternoon, probably at irlam locks as I'm just a stones throw from there . Looking forward to building a new garden list, I finished on 76 for my old Trafford garden.
A male blackcap was in full song again this morning, just beyond my garden. A female joined him on a feeder later. At least 5 siskins at one time, but probably as many as 7 last two days. The bullfinch pair visited yesterday for the first time in weeks.
-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Sunday 18th of February 2024 10:03:02 PM
3 Siskins (2m 1 f) together, and 3 Blackcaps (2m 1f), almost at the same time, today. Also 2 nuthatch, 2 greenfinch, 3 chaffinch etc... 6 buzzards could be seen to the East over Compstall/Etherow CP woods soaring in the early sunshine.
Blackcap was singing, quite loudly, on and off for 5 mins in the fog this morning, and was later in the garden. Now 2 siskins, 1m, 1f, but not at same time.
2 Raven over the garden this afternoon, one presumably the male spent 10 mins in aerial display whilst the other bird sat in a tree in next doors garden watching. Also in the garden a male Pheasant, male Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, 8 Long Tailed Tits together on the fat feeder,good numbers of Goldfinch and Greenfinch on the sunflower feeders with smaller numbers of Chaffinch feeding on them when they got the chance,plus all the usual suspects.
A male siskin, on a feeder this morning, was a first in the garden (or anywhere else for that matter) this year. The male and female blackcaps are seen on a daily basis, but not for long at the same time as the male always drives her off once she's been spotted.
Hi Chris, great you are getting blackcaps in your garden lately, unfortunately for me I haven't had any blackcap this winter in my old Trafford garden, disappointing as I had them every winter for many years now. I get the ring-necked parakeets every day had 23 just the other day, I'm moving house soon so maybe when I stop feeding the birds they will come to yours as you seem to be not too far away.
Hi Steven, do the parakeets take over / force other birds away? Or do they just visit once a day? It's a nice novelty for now but wouldn't want to start seeing them in the same light as grey squirrels and pigeons... not that I could do much about it if they did decide to visit regularly!
Hi Chris, will send you a pm, save discussing in the sightings thread.
Hi Chris, great you are getting blackcaps in your garden lately, unfortunately for me I haven't had any blackcap this winter in my old Trafford garden, disappointing as I had them every winter for many years now. I get the ring-necked parakeets every day had 23 just the other day, I'm moving house soon so maybe when I stop feeding the birds they will come to yours as you seem to be not too far away.
Hi Steven, do the parakeets take over / force other birds away? Or do they just visit once a day? It's a nice novelty for now but wouldn't want to start seeing them in the same light as grey squirrels and pigeons... not that I could do much about it if they did decide to visit regularly!
Been seeing a female blackcap at the feeders (Old Trafford/Firswood) most days over last couple of weeks - at one point there were two together. both female. Strange that others in Old Trafford seem to be getting only males - maybe they'll get together in the spring.
Other regulars - Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Robin, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Blackbird. Long-tailed Tits slightly less regularly.
Also, ring-necked parakeet on feeders yesterday (first ever seen).
Hi Chris, great you are getting blackcaps in your garden lately, unfortunately for me I haven't had any blackcap this winter in my old Trafford garden, disappointing as I had them every winter for many years now. I get the ring-necked parakeets every day had 23 just the other day, I'm moving house soon so maybe when I stop feeding the birds they will come to yours as you seem to be not too far away.
Been seeing a female blackcap at the feeders (Old Trafford/Firswood) most days over last couple of weeks - at one point there were two together. both female. Strange that others in Old Trafford seem to be getting only males - maybe they'll get together in the spring.
Other regulars - Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Robin, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Blackbird. Long-tailed Tits slightly less regularly.
Also, ring-necked parakeet on feeders yesterday (first ever seen).
A Reed Bunting was just at the front garden with a few goldfinches. An absolute mega and, of course, garden first after 37 years.
Not long after this moment of excitement, there was another unusual visitor, this time in the back garden - when a female blackcap was seen at a feeder. One of the males was also on view, the other male not having been seen for 4 days. It's been many years since a female was recorded here. Two nuthatches was also the first multi- number sighting of the year.
A second male blackcap joined the 'resisdent' bird this morning, both on view at the same time. No aggro, so far. Makes up for the lack of birding interest in the local area just now.
Hardly anything on and around my Stretford backyard feeders over the cold snap just a few Goldfinch now and again but this morning as its slightly warmer there were c40 Goldfinch at 9:15am. At 12:30 pm Goldfinch - 21. Blackbird - 1f. Blue- tit - 2 (usual pair).
Bury . Due to the cold , we added meal worms to our garden menu . Soon after , along comes a pied wagtail and two , male house sparrows , which we are trying to nurture . Goodoh !
Bury . Large party of redwings sorting through the leaf litter and grass , underneath the beeches , in the sun-shine . One of them chased off an inquisitive carrion crow . Treecreeper on the apple tree . Where are the house sparrows ?
Male blackcap seen late afternoon, first time since Sunday. Looks like he's got over Winter's first hurdle. Things otherwise poor, with just song thrush, nuthatch and bullfinch not everyday birds. Where are the redpolls/siskins?
Bury . Lesser redpolls have returned to join two pairs of bullfinch , many goldfinch , blue , great and coal tits and occasional long tailed tits , on the sunflower heart feeders .
New addition to the garden list yesterday with 2 female Pheasants helping themselves to a bit of spilt seed. There are 2 in the picture if you look closely.
The first redpoll of this Winter on my back garden feeders this morning. Things picking up again after a very quiet period (e.g. first nuthatch in about a month today). Also, two ring-neck parakeets flew across neighbouring gardens at rooftop height.
On and around my Stretford backyard feeders at 9:45am were - Goldfinch - 25. Wood pigeon - 1. Carrion Crow - 1. Magpie - 1. Blue-tit - 2 (always in a pair). COAL TIT - 2 (not seen on the backyard feeders before but have been seen years ago on the street tree feeders opposite my house which had to be taken down) . The 2 Coal tits were chased off by the 2 Blue-tits.
A belated Happy New Year to everybody from our Stockport garden.
Negative news on the Blackcap pair, they are unseen for a week however good news is that House Sparrow numbers are up to 30, Long-tailed Tits are at a steady 11 and a pair of Sparrowhawk find all this plus the other birds hard to resist.
Species total for 2023 was 30 a record, first day of 2024 and we are on 14 already with another 365 hard days ahead.
2 Ring-necked Parakeets (first time visitors) to my parents garden in Newall Green, Wythenshawe yesterday. They prospected the peanut feeder mid-afternoon before flying off.
Hopefully they'll return.
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Sunday 17th of December 2023 08:02:10 AM
2 Ring Necked Parakeets on bird feeders this morning,still a rare bird round these parts. Also in garden up to 12 Greenfinch at any one time,Goldfinch,2 Pheasant, Great Spotted Woodpecker,Nuthatch, several Chaffinch plus all the usual. I've not seen a Willow Tit on feeders for over 2 years now,once a regular visitor to the garden,but unfortunately not any more.
After the arrival of the male Blackcap on Sunday 3rd it has been sighted in the garden every day since. Yesterday I caught a brief glimpse of a female Blackcap next door then this morning she visited our feeders and has done throughout the day, interestingly she only has one eye.
Other birds seen each day are, Robin 1, Dunnock 2, four tit species occasionally together, Blue Tit 5, Coal 2, Great 1, Long-tailed 11, Blackbird 5, Collared Dove 2, Woodpigeon 7, Redwing 15, Jay 1 harassed by Magpies 2, Carrion Crow 3, Jackdaw circa 150 flying over only at dusk.
Finally a male Sparrowhawk which is attracted by all the little ones on the feeders.
Rather large gardens at Hulme Community Garden Centre where a flock of Long Tailed Tits descended with friends. 8.45am then traipsing round our trees for 40 minutes. I had to count several times! I think our resident Robins, Blackbirds and Blue tits were a bit miffed, the Robins especially. The Dunnocks couldnt care less. 19 long tailed tits 2 coal tits 3 blue tits 2 goldcrests
Late news for 1st December. 35 pink-footed geese West mid pm directly over garden. Just before dusk, a female sparrowhawk landed on the fence with prey it had just caught, and spent the next 20 minutes plucking and eating it until it was almost dark.