The first Siskin of this Winter was on the back garden feeders Christmas Day morning. Today, we were back to two redpoll (I think the loner that has been visiting is a different bird), and seven greenfinches was a mood booster.
Visiting in Bolton and always watching the feeders in my son's garden Yesterday I saw nuthatch, treecreeper and two goldcrest in the same sycamore tree. Goldfinch, greenfinch and bullfinch on the feeders as usual.
On a wet and windy morning 8:45am today on and around my Stretford backyard feeders were - Goldfinch - c80. Ps. checked the 4 feeders at 2:00pm and all empty.
2 redpoll this a.m. after exactly two weeks since their last visit. Also a grey wagtail knocking about neighbour's roofs. Still waiting for bullfinch (!), blackcap, siskin and brambling this Winter. It's not a great one is it.
Female Blackcap in Old Trafford garden today.
Highlights since last post include Fieldfare that stuck around for 3 days (garden first) and daily flyovers of Grey Wagtail.
Bury . Three male , two female bullfinch on the feeders . Male blackbird landed on lawn and bowled over by the gusty wind ! Got up again and searching in leaf litter .
A Tree Sparrow on feeders in back garden,first one for several years. Also on feeders Great,Blue and Coal Tits, Greenfinch,Goldfinch and Nuthatch and several Pheasants still in and out of garden mopping up the droppings from the feeders.
The first Redpoll of this Winter was on the front feeders, amongst a good number of other finches including 5 greenfinch. Earlier, on a nearby rooftop, a starling was heard doing a passable imitation of a ring-necked parakeet. One of the latter flew over the back garden late morning.
Went out to top up feeders this morning and flushed 6 Pheasants out of back garden. This afternoon 3 Jay's in the garden at same time feeding on the fatballs(never had more than one before).
Bury. First lesser redpoll just now returned . Over a couple of weeks bullfinch and collared dove ditto. Approx 50 pink-footed geese , east , at 0940hrs .
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 12th of November 2024 01:24:40 PM
A mistle thrush was immitating a Harrier Jump-jet outside my dining room window this morning. It took off vertically 3-4 times to grab a berry from the Irish yew trees. This is just 6 feet from my front door. Also a nuthatch was on the pavement a few seconds later looking for discarded berry stones. I suppose I'd better put the feeders out tomorrow.
Another new bird for the Atherton garden this morning....a flyover from a Common Gull bringing the garden total to 73 in the last 3 years. Also another unusual flyover from a single Rook only the 3rd occasion
Another new bird for my flixton garden, a great spotted woodpecker this morning, first seen on the fence at the back of the garden then onto my washing line post but was then spooked by the magpies & up into my neighbours birch tree then soon flew off.
Not an accurate count due to trees but 60+ Pink-footed geese over at 12.15pm heading west/north west.
A new bird to my flixton garden list this morning, a female blackcap, it was feeding in the neighbours gardens birch tree but bypassed my garden, hopefully it will see the fatballs. Also this morning a male chaffinch & a stock dove amongst the usual house sparrows, starlings, goldfinches & collared doves. 2 blue tits 2 coal tits 1 dunnock 1 robin There has been 2 goldcrest & a chiffchaff recently.
Within 5 minutes of posting the female blackcap was feeding in my holly tree & then into my neighbours garden.
-- Edited by steven burke on Monday 28th of October 2024 12:33:40 PM
In the back garden this afternoon....
5 Pheasants, all female, presumably the farmer has put fresh stock down for shooting
Also a Ring Necked Parakeet (still a rare bird here)
2 Nuthatch on the feeders,plus plenty of Blue,Great, Coal Tits on them as well as 20 + Goldfinch, 6 Greenfinch,and a single Chaffinch.