Where have all our garden birds gone?

[Tim Hall]

Not quite in the garden, but found a flock of 20+ waxwings about a mile from home this AM. Put the news out straight away, and when I drove past later, there were several birders enjoying them Good deed for the day.

[Tim Hall]

Not quite in the garden, but found a flock of 20+ waxwings about a mile from home this AM. Put the news out straight away, and when I drove past later, there were several birders enjoying them Good deed for the day.

66 birds counted later!

[Mallard60022]

66 birds counted later!

Oh, so lucky......still not seen even one this year, or last!

Phil

[dhjgreen]

Oh, so lucky......still not seen even one this year, or last!

Phil

Not seen any here for a few years now. The goldcrest is coming regularly though.

[chris p bacon]

We've had a flock (6-20) of redwings over the last few weeks and they've slowly stripped the holly of berries, hopefully they'll move into the back garden and strip the windfall apples we leave on the ground.

[Mallard60022]

We've had a flock (6-20) of redwings over the last few weeks and they've slowly stripped the holly of berries, hopefully they'll move into the back garden and strip the windfall apples we leave on the ground.

Hire a pig for an hour and then enjoy the 'meat' some time later.

Porky Wotsits.

[dhjgreen]

We've had a flock (6-20) of redwings over the last few weeks and they've slowly stripped the holly of berries, hopefully they'll move into the back garden and strip the windfall apples we leave on the ground.

Absolutely fabulous, we have only ever had 1; it loved apple BTW.

 

Edit:  all the thrushes seem to like apple.

Edited January 7, 2017 by dhjgreen

[chris p bacon]

Hire a pig for an hour and then enjoy the 'meat' some time later.

Porky Wotsits.

A pig would work a treat on the apples, it would probably then move on to the lawn, veg plot, fruit trees,kitchen, carpet, tv, remote........etc

[jetmorgan]

Just ordered the big garden bird watch pack

 

http://www.rspb.org.uk/

 

But one of the Blue Tits visiting today seems to have a gammy leg...but it doesn't stop him or her from getting on with things.

 

 

[steve1]

There were at least a dozen long tailed tits on our fat ball feeder around lunchtime.

 

steve

[steve1]

So far, today's ball hangers have included robin, blue tit, tree sparrow and female blackbird.

 

Nice to see.

 

steve

[dhjgreen]

Tree sparrow, nice. The usual charm here, plus greenfinch and male and female blackbirds. Bullfinch yesterday.

[47137]

My pair of robins have devised an approach to the seed feeder. The male perches on the feeder, catching perhaps a third of what he picks out. The female hops around on the ground underneath, picking up the fallout.

 

- Richard.

[dhjgreen]

LTTs are loving the meal worms, at least 3 every day.

[dhjgreen]

2 mistle thrushes on the meal worms today

[hayfield]

I bought some suit berry flavoured Twiglet type things which the Thrushes and Blue tits love, Gold finches, Robins, Great & Blue tits on the  Sunflower seeds. Sparrows on the mixed seeds, with Blackbirds and Doves feeding under. Every now and then Long Tailed Tits on the fat balls and do get the occasional Jackdaws in the garden

 

Very interesting seeing the Goldfinches queuing up to take their turn on the feeders

 

I have an old apple tree next to the feeders, which sadly has to come down owing to building a rear extension to the property. Slowly taking it down over the past 4 weeks just not to spook the birds, next door has plenty of overgrown shrubs for the birds to escape to.  The apple tree will get replaced with a new one (plus 2 apples and a plum trees have been planted in the front garden) and will chose a new selection of shrubs with the wild life in mind when re-planning the rear garden. Will also have better views of the garden (and wild life) once the building is complete

[dhjgreen]

The goldfinches here do not take turns, just barge in and displace the sitters. They do seem to browse for a while.

[hayfield]

More well behaved in Essex

[dhjgreen]

Mistle thrush is now guarding the meal worms. A LTT came to take some, a hard stare with neck outstretched did not work so it was chased off, starlings can't get near either.

Edited January 26, 2017 by dhjgreen

[jonny777]

Well it might be a cold and cloudy day, but the collared doves are already loved up judging by the sexual antics on my fence just now.

[Mallard60022]

Goldfinch behaviour depends on the age of the group. Bossy adults will tend to be impatient and 'barge' onto the feeders. Younger birds wait their turn if older birds are feeding. If the group appear to be of similar age then they usually just take it in turns (up to a point).

I believe Collar Doves, as do Pigirons, enjoy mating throughout the year (not continuously.......). I suspect severe weather conditions will affect this?

In my 'other garden' yesterday there must have been circa 50 Pied Wagtails and in the same feeding area, around a dozen Meadow Pippets. They really enjoy the open field, recently cleared of Willow and planted with something grasslike and with some wuite big pools of shallow water. Pretty little birds.

Phil

[chris p bacon]

Making a sarnie at lunchtime I look out the window and see a pair of wood pidgeons making their own porn film......

 

Here a a couple taken from the living room window over the last week or so.

LTT bopping about, I had about 3 seconds to grab this shot.

Lady Bacon caught this BT 

 

And the last time we went to Peterborough we popped into Ferry meadows for a wander about and snapped this Kingfisher from a bridge, saw a 2nd one later on.

 

[Mallard60022]

Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend. I usually do it and choose the day report that most reflects what 'normally goes on' at 36E. Guaranteed to lose all birds for 'an' hour I choose, I am afraid I cheat and do several hours over the three days and submit the most realistic report.

I actually prefer the B.T.O. surveys but I have not done one for ages.

Phil

 

P.S. On the news this morning they are mentioning the invasion of Waxwings, Redwings and Fieldfare. In the 'Mail' it would suggest these are all coming over here, taking all our berries and moving in on the resident birdies territories.

Edited January 27, 2017 by Mallard60022

[47137]

My pair of robins have devised an approach to the seed feeder. The male perches on the feeder, catching perhaps a third of what he picks out. The female hops around on the ground underneath, picking up the fallout.

 

- Richard.

I've put out a feeder with four fat balls in it this morning. Hanging on the hook in front of the seed feeder for the being. Went back to work, looked up five minutes later and a robin was there, working like it hadn't fed for a week.

 

It looks like fat balls are going to be more popular than seed.

 

- Richard.

[Tim Dubya]

I've put out a feeder with four fat balls in it this morning. Hanging on the hook in front of the seed feeder for the being. Went back to work, looked up five minutes later and a robin was there, working like it hadn't fed for a week.

 

It looks like fat balls are going to be more popular than seed.

 

- Richard.

 

yep, we've upped our game fat balls wise too. Totally covered in Sparra's & Dunnocks.