My post was 1 day too soon!
First Goldfinch after 40 days in the new house, interestingly it only stayed for about 5 seconds but landed on the Robin feeder near the kitchen window rather than the nyger and sunflower heart feeders further down the garden, also the greenfinch returned for a little longer. Still no Great Tit!
I backed onto the High School so that is the very area. I also like to think they were there because of my feeders, they were never let run dry for 4 years and I had at least 20 each day. Just need to send them a message that I'm now in Pennington, but this is Lancashire and that was Cheshire!!
Regarding your old house, don't know if this is of any relevance Keith, but I'm pretty sure there's a Goldfinch roost somewhere near Lowton High School. For some years now I've often seen large numbers of Goldfinches around the Shepherd's Inn at dusk, often perched on the telegraph wires. Maybe your feeders were the first/last stop on their way into and out of the roost?
Coming up to 6 weeks since the move now and still no great tits or goldfinches. I had my first greenfinch this morning only for Mr Robin to escort him off the premises.
Daily, I get
M & F blackbird - no territorial squabbles 2 dunnocks - just seem happy to have a larder on their patch as they sit and watch it throughout the day. 2 woodpigeon 2 feral pigeon 1 robin
Occassional
2 long tailed tits 2 magpie
The jungle drums in the bird community are not beating fast round these parts but I suppose the intrigue at what may turn up next is what keeps us all watching
Morning All
Distance wise to Bunting Hide, I am about the same as my previous house and the day I left (and took my feeders down) I had 20 Goldfinches sat in the garden wondering if they had come to the wrong garden! Bird count, I had approx. 70 birds a day visit the feeders regularly.
Food wise, I have 2 x large peanut feeders, 2 x fat cake feeders, 1 x large sunflower heart feeder and a nyger feeder. I also put out dried mealworms, kitchen scraps and crushed fat balls, so I don't think the food menu is wrong.
Predators, I have seen no cats in the garden, though I have a 13 year old specimen, who barely leaves the house. Saying that, I do sense some of the smaller birds are sparrowhawk nervous as they regularly tilt their head to look at the sky! I have seen the sparrowhawk fly over once.
At present there doesn't seem to be many small birds about, hence the original post, given that the surrounding gardens are large and very mature with many tall trees as well as shrubbery, this for me would also rule out another well stocked set of feeders locally, as I would expect to see more small birds knocking about than I am!
I'm just hoping word has not got around yet in the bird community of a new larder in the area! I'll just have to keep my eyes peeled whilst hard at work, though I haven't been able to get out once yet since the move, bl....y painting!!!
Add 2 x very skittish Long tailed tits to the list
Thanks for the responses.
Keith
could be a nearby neighbour has a well stocked feeding station.
Bunting hide at penny is close by and full of common garden birds, finches atc that could drag a lot of garden birds from that area, Greenfinches, tits etc always in good number there and has for goldfinches a good number is always present at Pennington, Quite often 60+ are present near the visitors centre at roost in the evening. where you live can affect the amount you get in the garden, local cats etc ,bird are quite clever and soon stop visiting gardens where predators are present. Also if like me you are getting less this winter, it could be just the mild weather, and a lot of natural food still around, as there has not been a covering of snow or hard ground yet. I have also had little at my feeders this winter as many friends have,and my thought is that its just that the birds are finding their own food easy enough,and many are already displaying and pairing up,as it seems like its going to be an early spring for many birds.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 26th of February 2014 07:31:15 AM
Hmmm there's no real logic to the visitees TBH I don't see Goldfinch all that often at Pennington, although obviously they are about - but it would be absurd to say that that neck of the woods is just low on the commonest finch going... or is it??? Definitely strange about having no Great Tits that's super weird as they should be a visitor to 99% of British gardens - my only thought on that is that the grub you're putting out isn't to their liking ;) Don't forget, it swings in roundabouts and a Blackcap is a nice garden tick at this time of the year, so keep observing and keep the feeders topped :)
I moved house at the beginning of feb and having the luxury of working from home, my desk overlooks my garden birdfeeders (sunflower hearts, nyger, peanuts, fat cake, kitchen scraps). I moved from near Lowton High School about 1 mile (if that) as the crow flies to Pennington, basically I crossed AtherLeigh Way.
In my previous home, daily I would get:- 15/20 Goldfinch with 40 one day Greenfinch Pied wagtail - due to the school carpark behind Collared dove Woodpigeon Blue tit Great tit Long tailed tit Coal tit 3 Robin 2 Dunnock Wren 30 House Sparrow 15 Starling Magpie 3/4 Blackbird
Occasional visitors Goldcrest Sesser redpoll Sparrowhawk Red legged partridge - once Bullfinch Reed bunting Siskin Brambling Jay Song thrush Great spotted woodpecker
In my new house (I have a tall laurel hedgerow and adjacent gardens have tall trees, many bushes, etc) , in the first 3 and a half weeks, I have seen (with extra feeders up):- 2 Blackbird - protecting feeders 2 Dunnock - protecting feeders 1 Robin Magpie Woodpigeon Wren F Blackcap - new garden species for me Feral pigeon 2 Coal tit - 1 day only 2 blue tit - 1 day only, checking out the birdbox
My main surprise is the lack of finches especially goldfinch for such a rural setting, literally 30 seconds walk from open fields and Hope Carr Nature Reserve, Pennington Park, Penninton Flash, etc all close by, and noting my daily count at the previous house not too far away. Also no Great Tits.
Thanks for the responses.
Keith