My Highland garden (1 Viewer)

[Keith Dickinson]

And there's me thinking it was gonna be an eagle species. Still a sparrowhawk is still a nice bird.
Our local one seems to have found another garden to haunt as we've not seen it for a little while.

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Details from the BTO ringing attached

The BTO caught 71 birds in total (see attached). The majority of the godwits were young birds, which probably means that they will summer in the area. The only bird that was ringed previously was the curlew, which had been ringed in Finland, the BTO caught it at the same site 15 years ago!

 

[ring ouzel]

Cue questions along the lines of 'are you still seeing that Finnish bird Marcus?'

My neighbour just informed me we had a pair of bullfinches in the garden at 6am this morning. He thought about shouting to me but decided against it, probably a wise move!

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Wow, would love some Bullfinch.

Bizarrely Keith I now have two Greenfinch on the Sunflower Hearts nearly permanently. Cheers for sending them my way.

Birds are everywhere. Over 60 Linnets are chuntering away along with 30-40 Sand Martins hawking over the garden. Best of all I was out doing circuits of the garden watching the birds and a Tree Sparrow was sat on the roof. Couldn't believe my eyes. Went for a shot and it was off. Food out all winter and nothing - the sun is out and the birds are flowing. It's incredible right now.

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Having fed the birds all winter without much success I now have 2 Linnet, 5 Greenfinch and 3 Goldfinch permanently gorging on the Niger ad Sunflower Hearts.

I guess these could be birds that didn't spend the winter here.

 

[James Thomas]

Well spotted that man!

We've had Sparrowhawk, but never added on the Bridtrack

Moved to East Yorks?

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

An Osprey performed a spectacular and successful stoop just outside the house this evening. Wonderful to watch.

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Quite a few recent additions; swift, arctic tern, whitethroat and sedge warbler.

Swallows nesting in garage along with Pied Wagtails. Pied Wags have fledged five chicks, though only one has made it out of the garage the others are still in there but not in the nest.

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

A family of six Stonechat about half a mile up the road.

Couple of House Martins made their way onto the list and 5 Pied Wagtails fledged. Judging by the activity this afternoon they should be having a second brood too! now up to two pairs of Swallows in the garage.

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Checked one of my Swallows nest this morning - three chicks!

(GUTTED to have missed the Humpback Whale yesterday though!!)

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

The feeders are now a top draw and we a pulling in huge numbers of birds;

- 50+ Starling
- Max count of 63 House Sparrow!
- Two Tree Sparrows
- Chaffinch
- up to 30 greenfinch
- Two Siskin are new today
- Goldfinch

Looked offshore to see a post breeding flock of 23 Red Breasted Merganser, very nice. Normally get ones and twos.

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Got Whitethroat too- did I mention that?

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Stonking male Yellowhammer just come in!!

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

This the male Pied Wag that nested in the Garage

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

8 tree sparrows this morning - news must be spreading

 

[delia todd]

Wow Marcus, you really are building up a cracking garden list aren't you.

D

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Hi Delia,

And there was me complaining about the lack of action on the feeders. Just covered in birds - looked out now must be over 100 birds in the garden.

Hoping we can keep them through the winter this time.

Am not sure on the status of tree sparrow here, but it is not that common, so to have eight is superb.

Marcus

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

This cheeky chap regular sings from the washing line - often just as the rain starts (so a lot at the moment!). Not sure what the purpose is, but as soon as I hear him the rain starts coming.

A kind of coincidence that the washing line is his choice to sing in the rain - quite a good alert to get the clothes off the line!

 

[delia todd]

Ha ha! Just wait till the youngsters have fledged - they'll all be sitting there wanting fed.

Er... where will the washing go then:-O

D

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Ha ha - to be honest I have never brought the washing in my life. Well maybe once or twice.

The gloomy weather is actually quite good for some hide work in the garden. Tree sparrow obediently using the perch. Should get a nicer branch but it'll do for now. EDIT and should put it horizontal!