[Fozzybear]

I may still be off work ill and feeling rather rough* but I had an absolutely superb bird day today! This morning I saw two Dunnocks in the garden rather than the usual single, and they started courtship displaying with lots of following around and wing flapping going on - brilliant! My male and young female Blackbird are looking a little more together too.

To top that just a little while ago I was doing a little washing up and I looked out to see... three Long-Tailed Tits in my Elderberry! First ones I've ever seen in the garden and a bird I've been longing to get as I know they are in the neighbourhood. That really, really cheered me up! Probably the only time I've ever been glad I've been ill too - I'd have missed them if I'd been well as I'd have been at work.

Yay!!!




*cold/virus thing that's going around. Have shifted most of the symptoms but am still feeling pretty weak and woozy

[White*Kite]

Very envious of the Bahrain list! Some lovely species there.

Congrats on the Long-tailed Tits Fozzy, they're about my favourite bird to see in the garden. I get a flock of about 10 daily, they descend every afternoon and I just love watching them!

I have around 8 Redpolls daily too, about 10 Goldfinches and 4 Siskins now. The male is just so beautiful, he stands out like a little beacon on the nyger feeder. The Goldfinches had given up on the nyger and were sticking to sunflower hearts until the Redpolls turned up the other week - now you can't move them from the nyger. When they're around, they spend half their time chasing off the Redpolls and Siskins from the nyger.

Haven't seen the Nuthatch again yet, but the Stock Dove is still here every day. I never see it during the summer.

[Larry Lade]

The sub-freezing weather here in Missouri for the last couple of weeks really has the birds coming to our backyard bird feeders here in Missouri.

Today we had the ever present House Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, American Goldfinches, with a smattering of House Finches, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, also a Carolina Wren and three RED CROSSBILLS. * This is the seventh (7th) consecutive day that the crossbills have been at the feeders. They seem to arrive about 8 AM and come back at around one hour intervals until 1 PM. There are always three crossbills coming, one male and two females. The red male and one olive-yellow female seem to be a typical (type 3 or 4 Red Crossbills). The other female is much larger than either of these, is much, much grayer and has a larger, stouter bill. I believe it may be one of the those considered to be a distinct species. *I have not heard any of them vocalize though!

[Moraybirdlover]

Originally Posted by Fozzybear

To top that just a little while ago I was doing a little washing up and I looked out to see... three Long-Tailed Tits in my Elderberry! First ones I've ever seen in the garden and a bird I've been longing to get as I know they are in the neighbourhood. That really, really cheered me up! Probably the only time I've ever been glad I've been ill too - I'd have missed them if I'd been well as I'd have been at work.

Yay!!!

Hi Fozzy ,so glad you have had some long tails at last!!! Such beautiful little birds. Sounds like you've had the Flu, hope you are feeling better soon.

I did the garden birdwatch at the weekend. An hour to sit watching the birds, what luxury!
Saw all the usual birds. But very surprised when I counted up the dunnocks as there were six of them, we haven't had that many before.

[Bananafishbones]

its nice to see new contributers to this thread as well as the new birds to the gardens...
I like Larrys "with a smattering of woodpeckers" not one but two species!! and heres me not seeing the Greater spotted since late 2008.

After my last post today the Redwings had numbered 3 all sat in the tree togather although 2 did come to ground, the most I have seen at once in the garden. (I love this thrush, great markings)

Dave & Richat I would still be incredibly happy to get the Blackcap and Brambling

Fozzy, hope your feeling better soon.

Dave

[Fozzybear]

Originally Posted by White*Kite

Congrats on the Long-tailed Tits Fozzy, they're about my favourite bird to see in the garden. I get a flock of about 10 daily, they descend every afternoon and I just love watching them!

Thanks White Kite, really great to see them here, really love Long-tails and have been hoping for ages to get some visiting. If they stick around I might get some decent photos... hopefully!

Originally Posted by Moraybirdlover

Hi Fozzy ,so glad you have had some long tails at last!!! Such beautiful little birds. Sounds like you've had the Flu, hope you are feeling better soon.

I did the garden birdwatch at the weekend. An hour to sit watching the birds, what luxury!
Saw all the usual birds. But very surprised when I counted up the dunnocks as there were six of them, we haven't had that many before.

Thanks MBL. Not sure it's the flu as I've had full-blown flu before and while this was pretty nasty it wasn't as bad - I wasn't confined to my bed. It's certainly viral though and has knocked me for six! I came down with it on Monday with lots of regular cold symptoms, and stuck it out at work until Thursday. I was getting weaker through the week and Thursday was when I finally gave in to it and left work at lunchtime to come home. Have been stuck in the house on my own over the weekend (thank god for the telephone and internet!) and yesterday was my first attempt as a short walk. Was pretty weedy still, it was very hard going just walking the two minutes to the shops, but I managed that and in the afternoon took a slightly longer walk along a little old footpath just round the corner (tons of birds singing there, Spring's on it's way!). Am off work again today but if I take it easy but try one or two very short walks again I'm hoping I'll build up my strength a bit. Would like to go back to work tomorrow or thursday but will have to see how it goes - really must make sure I don't overdo it or go back too soon, which I've a tendency to do!

[Larry Lade]

Today in addition to the House Sparrows, House Finches, American Goldfinches, Dark-eyed Juncos, RED CROSSBILLS, Carolina Wren, Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers we had a Northern Flicker come into our backyard feeder.

[Bananafishbones]

Nice view at my feeder this morning 2 male & 2 female Redpoll also single female Siskin

Song Thrush in the tree, Goldfinch 8, Greenfinch 12, Goldcrest still on its own

Good morning all

[Henstooth]

Goldcrest..First seen in my garden.
Starling, Collard Dove, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Wood Pigeon, Blue Tit

[Disneynut1973]

Very busy day all day here. We've had Sparrows, Starlings, 6 Long Tailed Tits, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Magpies, Collard Doves, Blackbirds, Robin, Dunnocks and best of all the Grey Wagtail too, he was in the garden for a while, I barely breathed while he was there, the slightest movement even in the house and he is off!

I love having a day off!

Pam

[Larry Lade]

First PINE SISKINS of the year (for our yard) X 2, the three RED CROSSBILLS showed up for five (5) visiting birders up from Kansas City, Missouri, this morning. Other birds making an appearance at our backyard feeders here in Saint Joseph, Missouri: American Goldfinches, Dark-eyed Juncos, House Sparrows, House Finches, Carolina Wren, Downy Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Northern Flicker and European Starlings.

[Bananafishbones]

Hi all

I really do enjoy this thread, love see what is out and about in the UK, and also enjoy reading about birds in back yards across the waters of the world. I will try and remeber to give a weather update in my messages, you just cant get better all round info than that!!

Question though: Henstooth has just got a first GOLDCREST, fantastic garden bird to watch and study, and I have have a single Goldcrest every day for about 3 months now, I know it nests in either my Fir trees or the neighbours fir trees (it flys between the both),. however it is definatly a single bird, why no partner? will it find one? does it get lonely?

All other birds seem to be part of a family, unless a single just passes through on route to somewhere else... My Goldcrest is a genuine resident on its own!!

Is this normal?

[Moraybirdlover]

Hi BFB, We had a single male housesparrow for a couple of years (we don't normally get house sparrows here). He used to chirp away in springtime but never attracted a mate and I used to feel very sorry for him. He disappeared after a couple of years so I imagined he must have decided to go in search of a mate instead!! So I hope your wee Goldcrest has better luck!

Larry ,any chance of 1 or 2 photos of your garden birds please?

[socksitis]

I do find this thread interesting, love hearing of what you get in your gardens. I would like to see Long tailed tits, they are about here but not visitors in the garden - yet.
I have noticed the bird song has changed this past week, they are more dawn chorus style, maybe they think spring is in the air - well not next week!
Also there is an increase in the activity at the feeders - some days it is fairly sensible out there but today I would describe the activity as manic - anyone else notice a difference in the level of activities on different days - maybe they have heard the weather forecast?

[Howard King]

A Stonechat visited the garden this morning

[Larry Lade]

As per request above, I will attach a few photos of some of the birds we get at our backyard bird feeder here in northwest Missouri.

1. American Goldfinch
2. Carolina Wren & Pine Siskin
3. Dark-eyed Junco (slate-colored race)
4. House Finch
5. House Sparrow

[Moraybirdlover]

Thanks Larry, love the House Finch!! Are they a common visitor?

[mattsharps]

Those House Finches are beautiful birds. Are they common?

[Larry Lade]

The House Finch are very common now. They used to be only a western US bird. Some were trapped and sold as cage birds mostly out of New York City in the early 1900s. Laws changed and in 1940 all the pet stores turned the caged birds loose. Now, I believe, the birds are found in all lower 48 states in the US. We started getting them in Missouri ten or so years ago. Bottom line, they have done exceedingly well and are very common.

[Larry Lade]

Here are five (5) more photos of birds we have coming to our backyard bird feeder here in Saint Joseph, Missouri.

1. White-breasted Nuthatch (on peanut feeder) & American Goldfinch (on nyger sock feeder)
2. Pine Siskin (on top of sock feeder, with two American Goldfinches and a House Finch)
3. BLUE JAY
4. Downy Woodpecker (female), American Goldfinch (center) and two House Finches (right)
5. Dark-eyed Junco (lower left) in the company of a couple of goldfinches and five House Finches

[Moraybirdlover]

What is the lovely bird on the third photo Larry?

[Bananafishbones]

Mbl, without wishing to steel Larrys thunder, I think this is a Bluejay

I saw one in Kansas (fleetingly) back in October.

[Larry Lade]

Originally Posted by Moraybirdlover

What is the lovely bird on the third photo Larry?

The bird in photo three (3) above, is a Blue Jay.

[Larry Lade]

Here are a few more Saint Joseph, Missouri, yard birds at our feeders.

1. Carolina Wren
2. American Goldfinch and Pine Siskin
3. Red-breasted Nuthatch
4. Red-bellied Woodpecker

[Mary]

Thanks, Larry, lovely pics! It's fascinating how nuthatches can be so similar in colouration, presumably same origins eons ago. Same with woodpeckers - so many are a mixture of black, white and red. Would love to watch a live webcam from your garden!!!!