The Blue Streak Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 Wow quite busy this morning, 40 to 50 Zebra finches, 3 white browed warblers and a few bronze wing doves out the front eating bird seed. A dozen or so silver eyes out the back scratching around for insects. A pair of twenty eights in the elm and a mix of Galahs and Corellas in the big Gum tree. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 So we throw bread out to feed the birds - and this comes along and eats it! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium dhjgreen Posted February 8, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 8, 2018 So we throw bread out to feed the birds - and this comes along and eats it!Nibble.jpg Looks like a pet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 (edited) I can assure you it is completely wild - and has been visiting since last spring - it used to visit with a sibling when they were small, but we think the sibling may have become victim to a cat - we also have a hedgehog who used to visit in late evenings in the autumn, but he hasn't been seen for some time. Edited February 8, 2018 by shortliner 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted February 8, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 8, 2018 I can assure you it is completely wild - and has been visiting since last spring - it used to visit with a sibling when they were small, but we think the sibling may have become victim to a cat - we also have a hedgehog who used to visit in late evenings in the autumn, but he hasn't been seen for some time. The hedgehog should be hibernating this time of year. They do need to be a certain weight though if they are going to survive the winter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve1 Posted February 10, 2018 Share Posted February 10, 2018 Fairly positive ID of a Greenfinch on the fat ball feeder this morning. First time spot in the garden. steve 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Downendian Posted February 11, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 11, 2018 Signs of spring here in South Devon. I’ve just been in the back garden tidying, and goldcrests are flitting around inside our large Bay tree, i suspect building nests. A Robin sat in the crab apple tree marking out its territory and a Song Thrush singing earlier in the hedgerow opposite dawn chorus. Tawny owls last night also kicking up a racket. With plenty of Daffs out here, feeling like spring is just round the corner. Neil 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted February 13, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 13, 2018 (edited) Something new (for around here) is lots, 50 or 60, Gold Finches gathering in next door's Ash tree. This year is the first time in the 10 years living here that I have seen it. I first spotted it a few weeks ago but due to the height of the tree and the poor light levels couldn't positively identify which birds they were until today They arrive in three or four groups from the South, which is open countryside, spend up to 30mins chattering away together loudly in one mass and then depart Northwards towards the Birmingham suburbs, again in three or four groups. I assume they are going to roost and use the tree as a staging post. Has anybody else noticed this and is this common behaviour? Cheers Keith EDIT Shortly after I posted another group of maybe 30 individuals arrived and later departed making a total of approaching 100 birds. I never realised there were so many Goldfinches around! Edited February 13, 2018 by melmerby 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted February 13, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 13, 2018 (edited) I bought my wife a new bird feeder for Christmas (Yes, I do know how to please her) It has been a slow start, but the local birds now seem quite keen on it. This chap: Appeared a week or two ago. Several attempts to photograph him mainly got the back of his head, or with his head buried in the feeder, but today I got lucky. Not sure what it is, though. Despite looking at her books (Other Christmas pressies), I have failed to identify it. Over to you knowledgeable chaps & chapesses. Regards Ian Try putting out a feeder with niger/nijer/nyger seeds in. http://www.gardman.co.uk/wild-bird-care/feeders/flip-top-nyger-seed-feeder.html You might find similar in one of the bargain shops They are designed for birds like Goldfinches and have a very small slot only they can get their beak into. It is supposedly their favourite nibble but our garden visitors have taken to mealworms over the colder months, ignoring the niger seed which went off. Keith Edited February 13, 2018 by melmerby Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mallard60022 Posted February 15, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 15, 2018 Not a bird.....but a field mouse grazing beneath one of our feeders this afternoon. Not the first time but have not seen one for ages. Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve1 Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 (edited) Heron spotted high stepping its way around the flooded fields at the back of the house. steve Edited February 15, 2018 by steve1 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hayfield Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 Had a trip along the Blackwater estuary on Sunday, thousands of birds flying about, plenty of geese migrating etc. Lovely sight 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MinZaPint Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Are we soon to hear the patter of tiny feet Inspection and hole enlargement! This is a new box only put up last week! Ah we're in! Wonderful time of year, just hope it doesn't give her ladyship ideas, with my back! 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Same here, there was a blue tit inspection of the nestbox a few weeks ago, and they've been returning pretty much daily since. Though we've also noticed a third blue tit who sometimes appears; maybe he/she is a relative, but I'm not an expert on blue tit relations. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hayfield Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Seem to be a bit of pre-spring action in the garden and on the feeders, Goldfinches seem to be missing, but have a pair of Wrens 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Tim Dubya Posted February 21, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 21, 2018 ... but have a pair of Wrens Spotted a pair of Wrens for the first time the other day, usually just see (or hear) just the one. Can only mean one thing... baby wrens on the way! YAY! 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jbqfc Posted February 21, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 21, 2018 i have noticed blue tits wrens and goldfinches going around in pairs the dunnock he has 3 or 4 on the go 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mallard60022 Posted February 22, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 22, 2018 One of 'our' Dunnocks was so excited the other day that he was displaying to some of the Sparrows. They took zero interest and so he just did even more wild flapping.....silly s#d. Phil 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapford34102 Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 Hi, Not garden birdwatching but what with the weather and decorating decided we'd take ourselves out for the day up the Stour Valley to see what was around and call in at Godmersham Church (between Ashford and Canterbury) to find the Hawfinches before they go. It's been something of a hotspot for a while now but numbers seem to be dropping so off we went. After a fruitless 15 mins my wife found one deep in one of the Yew trees and overthe next half hour or so we had certainly 4 visible at once and likely a few more in the Yew behind us. A worthwhile trip. On the downside the local green woodpecker has wrecked our birdbox ! Cheers Stu 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mallard60022 Posted February 25, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 25, 2018 (edited) Hi, Not garden birdwatching but what with the weather and decorating decided we'd take ourselves out for the day up the Stour Valley to see what was around and call in at Godmersham Church (between Ashford and Canterbury) to find the Hawfinches before they go. It's been something of a hotspot for a while now but numbers seem to be dropping so off we went. After a fruitless 15 mins my wife found one deep in one of the Yew trees and overthe next half hour or so we had certainly 4 visible at once and likely a few more in the Yew behind us. A worthwhile trip. hawfinch 2.JPG On the downside the local green woodpecker has wrecked our birdbox ! Cheers Stu Ace bird; lucky you. Silly Woody though, probably couldn't resist the sound it made. Also not in my first garden but in my other one yesterday afternoon.......large flocks of Siskins. Same place as where we have had large flocks of Yellowhammer and Meadow Pipet along with numbers of Brambling, Tree Sparrow, Reed Bunting and Wagtails (these went about 6 weeks ago) during the last few months. It is an interesting, rectangular area of about two acres where all this takes place, with small trees on one short border, a long and ancient hedge on another 'touchline' border and then open and quite rough unplowed cereal land which is quite wet in places with a public path along the other long touchline border. and animal fields beyond that. A couple of Hawfinches have been seen on the Reserve, but not by me unfortunately and not in this 'patch'. Phil Edited February 25, 2018 by Mallard60022 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted February 25, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 25, 2018 Local woodpeckers have been drumming a lot recently. There were 3 or maybe 4 in different trees exchanging messages yesterday. Keith 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremyC Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 (edited) My son has just removed all our bird feeders because it appears we have an outbreak of trichomonosis. This is something to watch out for, particularly if you get finches at your feeders. https://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/gbw/gardens-wildlife/garden-birds/disease/trichomonosis Edited February 26, 2018 by JeremyC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Tim Dubya Posted February 26, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 26, 2018 My son has just removed all our bird feeders because it appears we have an outbreak of trichomonosis. This is something to watch out for, particularly if you get finches at your feeders. https://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/gbw/gardens-wildlife/garden-birds/disease/trichomonosis Oh dear,sorry to hear that We're in Bath, where are you? Would like to keep all our feeders out as long as possible as snow is imminent here. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Blue Streak Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 That sounds very nasty. I don't think we get it in Oz, thankfully. At least not in the West. I would be most upset if anything happened to our garden bird visitors. I hope you get the all clear soon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremyC Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 Oh dear,sorry to hear that We're in Bath, where are you? Would like to keep all our feeders out as long as possible as snow is imminent here. Edinburgh area Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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