[Cheshire Birder]

Lovely pics Green Eyes!

Hope the weather is not going to be p***ing down all day tomorrow. We need some dry weather here (not as much as those in cumbria tho with over a foot of rain in 24 hours!).

CB

[Jabberwocky]

Originally Posted by captaincarot

we're getting autumn, spring then winter happening over here quite frequently.
then summer turns out to be a combination of the other 3 seasons.

had a reasonably busy day at the feeders today. refilled the seed feeders put out some raisins couple of slices of bread (hovis) some meal worms an the monkey nuts for the squirrels.

our visitors were great tits, blue tits, a couple of coal tits. (no long tailed tits today) robin,

i also put out 3 roosting pouches, it took 20 minutes for 2 wrens to investigate and there's one in there at least roosting now so that's a nice result. 3 hours from hanging to first use must be some kind of record.

also had visits from 3 magpies a couple of blackbirds and one solitary male chaffinch stiing in the bush behind, though he didn't venture out on to the feeder.

there were flyovers from a sparrow hawk and a grey heron which was nice to see also.

I've been wondering about those roosting pouches myself. Think I'll give them a try if they're that successful, We've got a few wrens around. Maybe a good idea for a Christmas present.

[Jabberwocky]

Thanks for your comments on the Sparrowhawk Dave.

Its a little difficult to keep an eye on Jasperpatch from here, we've got a trip planned to visit her next September. Should add a few birds to the list as I've never been that side of the pond before.

Still too dark weekdays to see much in the garden. Only saw one Pheasant this morning before I left. Did hear a Tawny Owl calling from one of our Ash trees a few nights ago, couldn't see it though. I wonder if those night scope things are any good.

The weekend doesn't start till Sunday for me. I will be working tomorrow so I'm hoping for a good day then. Might have a day out birding if I'm lucky.

Have a good weekend everyone

Lewis

[karpman]

Pretty busy here today!

Missus has had me brothers 20 month old all day and due to the mild weather they been out in the garden harassing my wildlife!

But was good before work this morning 5 chaffinches a feeder full of greenfinches the starlings seem to be coming later in the day to clear me out at the minute.

Happy days
Karpman

[captaincarot]

we have a well established apple tree at the bottom of the garden i hung 2 of them in the over hanging branches and one quite close to the trunk. absolutely everything in the garden has had a good look at the ones out in the branches and quite surprisingly this is where the wrens went.

i found the pouches in B&Q for the princely sum of £1.50 each

[JeffMoh]

It's been raining since yesterday morning. Not on the Cumbria scale but a few inches. (We do sometimes get 12" in 24 hours, though; doesn't cause too many problems because Houston is equipped for heavy rain.)

Only had a few minutes in the yards yesterday. A Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a constant visitor now, and Chipping Sparrows are sharing the feeders with our resident Hose Finches. An Orange-crowned Warbler turned up for a while, as did a Northern Mockingbird. I was pleased to see a male Northern Cardinal, too; first one since we got back.

I'm off to Costa Rica on Saturday. Work, but will have all day Sunday and then Tuesday morning to do a bit of birding. Think I'll hire a taxi for Sunday so I can get out to a couple of good sites. Hard to decide where to go, though. Too many possible places to choose from.

Jeff

[Disneynut1973]

Bit behind on the thread, will try and catch up! Jeff I have been reading you blog, love the Flamingoes - what an amazing sight. Bet you can't wait for Saturday!

My garden has been non stop this morning, a dozen Starlings, about the same in Sparrows, 8 Goldfinch, 4 Blue Tits, a couple of Collared Doves, 3 Dunnocks, a Great Tit, Blackbirds, it's great to watch.

[AlanCh]

Raptors aren't too uncommon over my North Leeds garden - Red Kites most days, because we are only a few miles from the original Yorkshire release site, such a privilege; Kestrels passing over and the occasional Peregrine high above - but none of them use my garden. Sparrowhawks do, probably because I have so many feeders and a varied population of small and not so small birds.

At this time of the year its mostly finches - Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Bullfinch, Tits - Coal, Blue, Great, Long Tailed and an occasional Marsh, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Nuthatch, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon and Collared Dove.

In the past I've had a staring match with a female Sparrowhawk when she stunned a Collared Dove by chasing it into a window, and then sat on our flat roof guarding it, and I've caught glimpses as others sped through. Today we had a visit from a male - as I was sitting eating lunch and looking out at my feeders he swept in from above me, jinked around the shrubs and perched on top of one of my pole feeders. And there he sat, 20 yards away, for several minutes, very alert for any movement, head turning backwards and forwards, but otherwise quite relaxed. A great view - I'd never before noticed white patches on the back of the head. Are these normal?

[green eyes]

Thanks chaps, at least the light was good yesterday, today started off with fog which quickly turned to wind and rain....light? what light?

All the usual visitors were at the feeders, and I put some extra apple, seed and nuts on the ground for the shyer types.

[michael23]

Very happ today, had a new species in the garden, a JAY! Now it didnt hang around for long, but hopped into my neighbours garden. Incidentally what do they feed on the most in your gardens?

[karpman]

Originally Posted by michael23

Very happ today, had a new species in the garden, a JAY! Now it didnt hang around for long, but hopped into my neighbours garden. Incidentally what do they feed on the most in your gardens?

Hi mate,

Never had one but from what i can pick up they like the peanuts in shell's "monkey nuts" as we call em over here.

Had the goldfinch back today well one but i was chuffed to bits, Counted a mixed pod of greenfinch + chaffinch had 29 individuals on the floor feeders tree and fence at the back.

I may have counted 1 twice but i may have missed one also

all the best!
karpman

[Bananafishbones]

Mega busy this morning:
11 Greenfinch (at least), Goldfinch 5, Dunnock 3, Coal tit 3, Blue tit 6+, Robin, Starlings 20+, Wren, Blackbirds 5, Jackdaw 6, Collared dove 2, Chaffinch 3, Great Tit, Magpie 2, Feral Pigeon upto 14 are being dive bombed by the Carrion Crows, Woodpigeon 2, House Sparrow 5+ and a very persistant Squirrel taht is coming to the back door....

The feeding is frantic, the chasing is constant especially with the Coal tits and Blue tits

Just waiting to see the Song Thrush and the GSW


Michael well done with the Jay!!

[michael23]

will get some monkey nuts in, hopefully he/she will be a regular visitor now, but there maybe some squabbles between it and the squirrels, will have to wait and see. Feeders are running towards empty, till tomorrow or tuesday.
Out to put the remainding fatballs out.

Just as an aside after watching autumnwatch on friday and hearing the comment about birds legs, im certainly thinking about getting a fatball feeder and taking them out of there nets. Anyone do that already?

[Bananafishbones]

Originally Posted by karpman

Had the goldfinch back today well one but i was chuffed to bits, Counted a mixed pod of greenfinch + chaffinch had 29 individuals on the floor feeders tree and fence at the back.

I may have counted 1 twice but i may have missed one also

all the best!
karpman

Cracking numbers

[Bird spotter]

It's certainly been a busy morning despite the rain and high winds

Blue Tits
Great tits
Starlings
House Sparrows
Collared Doves
Wood pigeons
Magpies
Black birds
Wagtail (New to the garden)
Robin
3 stunning Goldfinches in a tree sheltering from the wind (Collective name is charm of finches)

[Bananafishbones]

Managed a few minutes in the garden (while the dark clouds dispersed) with the camera plus also a shot from inside the house of the Squirrel

Its just gone very very dark, looks like the rain is set in for the afternoon now

michael I am going to remove the fatballs from the green netting also

[michael23]

considering my feeders are virtually empty, have had coal tit great tit and blue tits on my fatballs, and nuts. Chaffiches on the ground, goldfinch and greenfinches too.

A strange occurance, (to me anyway) I have had dunnocks landing on my fatballs and feeding on them. Anyone else experienced this in their garden?

And now for 2 days running JAY AGAIN! Really pleased with that, although hes not staying put just yet, at least he/she is in and out of the garden, really must have my camera ready....

[Bananafishbones]

Originally Posted by michael23

A strange occurance, (to me anyway) I have had dunnocks landing on my fatballs and feeding on them. Anyone else experienced this in their garden?...

Yes, but often they are a bit more cunning and feed underneath the as the starlings drop more than they eat

They do sometimes feed from the seed feeder too

[michael23]

i have seen them feed from seed feeders before, but the fatballs was a new one, there were 3 other dunnocks "hoovering" as well.

[wayne1983]

Not posted for a while, but just thought id say, not sure if its due to winter months but i havent had to fill sunflower seed feeder up for a bit, is this 'normal' so to speak?

[Bananafishbones]

Originally Posted by wayne1983

Not posted for a while, but just thought id say, not sure if its due to winter months but i havent had to fill sunflower seed feeder up for a bit, is this 'normal' so to speak?

I am a bit suprised Wayne. You were getting Coal, Great & Blue tits earlier in the Autumn add to that most Finches like them, it does seem a bit strange.

With the weather turning for the worse and the nights getting colder stick with it as I am sure they will return to feed

[ChrisKten]

Originally Posted by wayne1983

Not posted for a while, but just thought id say, not sure if its due to winter months but i havent had to fill sunflower seed feeder up for a bit, is this 'normal' so to speak?

TBH, I'm not sure, Wayne, as my garden seems to be different from most people's. My garden is full of birds all year round, and I have to refill feeders twice a day (more if I was a millionaire ). But others seem to have less activity at certain times of the year.

So, not much help really.

[Cheshire Birder]

Bfb,

Like the pics. Is it the windy blowing around or has your Coal Tit got a lot of black on its side?

CB

[Bananafishbones]

Originally Posted by Cheshire Birder

Bfb,

Like the pics. Is it the windy blowing around or has your Coal Tit got a lot of black on its side?

CB

Hi CB
Its been in a state of moult for ages now, I certainly find it cute but it makes counting them alot easier when one looks completly different.

here is close up of same bird from a while ago for comparison

[ChrisKten]

While I'm here, a quick update on the Jay plan:

You may remember that I hung a string of nuts closer to the house, so I could watch the Jays more closely. The Squirrels didn't like the pole that the nuts were hung from, so it seemed like a good plan. For two days it was working great, but it was too dull to get any pictures.

Then Friday I noticed the nuts were all over the floor, and the string was still hanging from the pole. I thought the Jays must have pulled them off, or that I tied the knot too loose. But Saturday I saw one of the Squirrels run up the Pole, grab the nuts and shake and pull, until the string snapped. So the bottom of the pole was surrounded by loose nuts.

Like a fool I put up another string of nuts, only to watch another Squirrel run up the pole, bite the string at the top, and run off with the whole string of nuts.

This morning I hung a string of nuts from the pole again when I filled the feeders. I then had a bath, looked out the window, and the string and nuts were gone. I don't think you need to be a Detective to work out what happened.