It was only yesterday that I put the feeders out and announced in my blog that there were four birds I would love to attract sometime this winter.
This morning, I was busy cleaning the windows upstairs at the back of the house (from the inside) and, lo and behold, as I looked out at the feeders, there was a Great Spotted Woodpecker on the peanut feeder!! I really could not believe my eyes. I called to my wife, and frightened it off. Never mind, five minutes later it was back again.
I quickly finished my chores and went to sit in the conservatory with a cup of tea. The Woody came back once more to attack the peanuts. I was over the moon.
Then, as I was still finishing my cup of tea, I noticed a bird on the floor, beneath the feeders. It was only there for a second or two, but it looked like a Brambling - another of my target birds. I quickly found my binoculars and sat waiting. Sure enough, a few minutes later, a lone Brambling came back again. No other finches, not even a Chaffinch, just that lovely lone Brambling!
I just cannot really believe that 24 hours after announcing 4 birds I really want to have visit the garden some time in the next four months, two of them turn up immediately!!
My challenge now is to photograph them. I need to put up a log with peanuts wedged in holes for the woodpecker and construct a low feeding station/perch for the Brambling - if they ever come back again.
Oh, am I happy. It was also nice that my wife Billie also saw both birds - so I was not hallucinating.
The Woody came back again after lunch and spent over five minutes on the fat ball feeder.
I realise the other two target birds, Siskin and Nuthatch are going to be much harder, but who knows with my luck!
This morning, I was busy cleaning the windows upstairs at the back of the house (from the inside) and, lo and behold, as I looked out at the feeders, there was a Great Spotted Woodpecker on the peanut feeder!! I really could not believe my eyes. I called to my wife, and frightened it off. Never mind, five minutes later it was back again.
I quickly finished my chores and went to sit in the conservatory with a cup of tea. The Woody came back once more to attack the peanuts. I was over the moon.
Then, as I was still finishing my cup of tea, I noticed a bird on the floor, beneath the feeders. It was only there for a second or two, but it looked like a Brambling - another of my target birds. I quickly found my binoculars and sat waiting. Sure enough, a few minutes later, a lone Brambling came back again. No other finches, not even a Chaffinch, just that lovely lone Brambling!
I just cannot really believe that 24 hours after announcing 4 birds I really want to have visit the garden some time in the next four months, two of them turn up immediately!!
My challenge now is to photograph them. I need to put up a log with peanuts wedged in holes for the woodpecker and construct a low feeding station/perch for the Brambling - if they ever come back again.
Oh, am I happy. It was also nice that my wife Billie also saw both birds - so I was not hallucinating.
The Woody came back again after lunch and spent over five minutes on the fat ball feeder.
I realise the other two target birds, Siskin and Nuthatch are going to be much harder, but who knows with my luck!