Quite a lot of birds in my back garden over the festive period. A record number of 7 Woodpigeons, 2 Collared Doves, 3 Blackbirds, 30 Starlings, too many House Sparrows to count - all at one time.

The resident Robin has also been going crazy for crushed fat balls.

A prolonged period of cold weather, and it is all change in the garden. This weekend there has been a lot of activity in my garden. I have increased the amount of feeding and there has been an increase in the number of species. This weekend there have been, Woodpigeon, House Sparrow, Starling, Collared Dove, Blackbird, Dunnock, Longtailed Tit, and a garden first a long awaited..............Goldfinch

Mike..That section of the Irwell opposite the garden centre and upriver to Irwell Vale is in my mind the best section of the Irwell in its entirity..Walked all the Irwell from salford to Deerplay(33 miles...big day out!!} a few years ago but in summer the Summerseat bit is the best for woodland birds in my opinion.. Dont know about the specific foods Mike..Just get a big bag of mixed seed and fat balls from the pet shop..Rob

hi Mike.. I do agree with you about bird numbers decreasing.. I was out birdwatching all day yesterday from my house in Ramsbottom from dawn till dusk on the moors woodlands and rivers and noticed a significant decrease, possibly by about 75 percent in some species compared to the same walk I did a few weeks ago prior to the prolonged spell of frosts. Long tailed tits were particularly thin on the ground up here. They were everywhere a few weeks ago in big social groups. I also saw only 2 Dippers yesterday along maybe 5 miles on the Irwell where I would always see plenty more than 2.. Dont know if they are known as a species to suffer in the frosts but they always seem tough little birds to me..Either way, they were few and far between. I used to get up to 9 bullfinches at the same time on my woodland feed station near the quarry.. I saw only 1 female yeaterday. On a brighter note saw a good variety and numbers of raptors including 2 Peregrine 2 Kestrel ! Sparrowhawk and heard 2 Tawny Owls in separate sites ..Rob

I recently made a bird table out of scraps of wood in the garden. I've just put two apples, a bit of seed and a crushed suet ball on there. Robins, House Sparrows and Blackbirds love their new restaurant!

It's excellent you still get House Sparrows Mike. They've died out around my area and many other areas too. As a red-listed species your feeding is helping their plight greatly in your local area. Keep up the good work.

Ways to get more birds into the garden in winter include adding bushes and trees if possible, organic gardening practices and having somewhere for the birds to drink/bathe. This cold weather should bring a few more birds in over the next few days.
Thanks. Henry.

Hi Mike I get up to 10 Goldfinches on my Niger seed feeder. I live just off Edenfield Rd in Norden. It took quite a long time after I put up the feeder for them to find it but they have been coming ever since. I also get a few lesser redpoll from the golf course later in the year and just into the new year.
Cheers
Pete

Interesting to see a flock of c.30 Starlings push the Woodpigeon of the seed tray this morning!

its all very quiet at the moment - just blue tits and robins to report. Ive no idea why its so quiet?

Quite strange to hear Canada Geese flying over at 11.00pm on Saturday night. They should have been well on the roost by then! Anyone got any ideas apart from them being disturbed on the roost?

Nothing much over the weekend. Juvenile Coal Tits, Dunnock, Magpie, Blue Tits, Robin. Seems to be a lack of House Sparrows at the moment?

Early morning and late evening there are a lot of Canada Geese about at the moment. Last week a skeine of 50 flew over in the direction of Whitworth. On Friday night 20 in the direction of Greenbooth Resr, and then Saturday morning, 10 in the direction of Heywood.

Not much to report. Just the usual - Collared Dove, Woodpigeons, Blackbird and Blue Tits

Mike Bisson wrote:

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does anyone hate cats as much as me?

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See this thread:

http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?aBID=96752&p=3&topicID=28635426

A classic of its time, and one that could do with resurrecting.....

early thie morning:

Juv Coal Tit
Juv Great Tit
Adult Coal Tit
Adult Great Tit
Robin
Juv Blue Tit
House Sparrow

nothing to report this weekend other than a jivenile Robin. Nice to see this though!

Nothing to report today other than the same old woodpigeon. I dont know where all the birdies have gone!

Is it possible that there could be a Reed Bunting in my garden in Norden. There aren't exactly many patches of wetland and reeds around!

A male Reed Bunting in moult?

Pilsworth!

In Rochdale they are, they have not really been in the Norden area for 20 years? My Grandma lives near to Bagslate Quarry and all she gets its lots of House Sparrows. Would be great if you had found some though.

Dave

Yes absolutely. My garden backs onto Bagslate Quarry which is the quarry you can see from Norden Village. It looks like I've unearthed something here. I didnt realise that Tree Sparrows were so scarse. Perhaps you need to have a mooch round in the quarry Colin

Regards

Mike

Mike

To my knowledge nearest tree sparrows are at Pilsworth. Would be delighted if you are right. Where abouts in Norden are you? We are talking Norden, Rochdale are we?

Similar this morning, just a Woodpigeon on a tray full of Niger seeds. I think I might just stick to Value brand seed - it might be cheaper!

get a rottweiler