Birds in my garden (1 Viewer)

2slo · Dec 16, 2011

As mentioned above, six long tailed tits paid us a visit this morning. I couldn't get a shot of all of them together but I hope you enjoy these three photos I took over the space of several minutes whilst they were here. Nice to see they get on well with the bluetits etc as well:

Mark |=)|

punta · Dec 16, 2011

lovely photos - what camera do you use for these?

2slo · Dec 16, 2011

punta said:
lovely photos - what camera do you use for these?

Thanks, I use a Canon 7D. Unfortunately the camera has developed a fault today which will require it to go back to Canon UK, so sadly no more pics on here from me until at least mid Jan 2012 |=(|

2slo · Dec 18, 2011

If anyone is interested, I've managed to find a temp solution to the camera problem so I can still post pics here until early January when it gets sent to Canon.
So today, very busy in the garden, more bluetits and coaltits than I can count (well into double figures for both, hard to be precise as some hang back whilst others feed) no sign of the long tailed tits, Nuthatches and Woodpeckers have both been seen this morning along with the 4 Blackbirds, several chaffinches (all female today) and 5 or 6 Woodpigeons like this one who was braver than the rest of his group:

Mark

2slo · Dec 19, 2011

Not as much activity at the bird table today, strange since it's barely got above freezing here. The residents have all been to the table, just not as much as usual. No sign of any Chaffinches today though.
The number of Woodpigeons visiting seems to be on the increase, I counted 8 today at one point. They don't seem to bother or be bothered by the other smaller birds though, so that's fine:

Mark |=)|

punta · Dec 19, 2011

Sorry to hear about your 7D, I hope you get it back soon.

2slo · Dec 19, 2011

punta said:
Sorry to hear about your 7D, I hope you get it back soon.

I've still got the 7D (can't send it to Canon until January as everyone is off for xmas apparently) the fault is with the computer connectivity and a temp fix is I've got a card reader to import the RAW data. Takes a long time to download though as most shots have in excess of 20 mb of data due to being max res 18M pixels.
So I'll still post pics until I send it away |=)|

2slo · Dec 20, 2011

Might well post two updates today as it's been very busy in my garden. I'll leave the variety for the second post and keep this one for the new bird we had today. I'm fairly sure it's a Willow tit. I say fairly sure because firstly I'm no expert on different bird species and secondly, after doing a bit of research, the willow tit is very similar to the marsh tit. One of the ways to tell them apart is the light wing banding of the willow tit (which this has) so that's what I think it is. If I'm wrong though, let me know, I won't be offended |=)|

1st shot with one of our Coaltits:

3 more on it's own:

Mark.

2slo · Dec 20, 2011

Well I'm ready to post another update, but a second new (to me) bird has landed today and I'd like to know what it is first. Pics in ID section to save duplication if anyone wants a look.

Mark

2slo · Dec 20, 2011

Third and final update for today. There's been loads to see today, apart from the willow tit (still waiting to have that confirmed) and the second new visitor which I'm told is a Dunnock. Great, Blue and Coal tits in abundance, 1 Robin, 1 male and 3 female Chaffinches, 2 Blackbirds, 8 Woodpigeons and 2 Nuthatches. No sign of the G S Woodpeckers or long tailed tits. Some photos from today below:

Mark

2slo · Dec 21, 2011

Similar bird count to yesterday so very busy again. No sign of the willow tit or the Dunnock unfortunately but, on the positive side, the G S Woodpeckers are back after a few days no show. The female only came as far as the trees but the male was only about 12 feet from me here:

Mark |=)|

2slo · Dec 23, 2011

Decided to alter the food I put out today as the 'bird seed mix' I had been using seemed to be popular until the nuts and sunflower seeds were used up and the small yellow seeds then get left behind. So I mixed up sunflower seeds and peanuts and added some carrot peelings. That seemed to go down very well, possibly because the carrot peelings have moisture in them? I also hung a suet ball on the end of the bird table (see 1st pic). Most of the regulars have had a look at it but seem a bit wary so far, perhaps I'll get up tomorrow to find it gone!
Some pictures below taken today:

Mark.

2slo · Dec 24, 2011

I need not have worried whether the suet ball I hung on the bird table yesterday would be touched. Most of the birds today have been eating that and ignoring the peanuts and sunflowers on the table. Plenty of it knocked down by the Nuthatches hammering away at it. That has been quickly cleared up from the grass by the Woodpigeons and Chaffinches. See todays pics below and a Merry Xmas to everyone on here:

Mark.

bongofury · Dec 27, 2011

Some great pics again, Mark. It may be an idea to remove the suet ball from the mesh bag they came in and instead use a metal / wooden feeder. Birds' legs have a habit of getting trapped in the mesh and the general advice is to discard of them. I wouldn't want your Nuthatch to be hopping around in your photos:t:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/feeding/whatfood/index.aspx

2slo · Dec 27, 2011

bongofury said:
Some great pics again, Mark. It may be an idea to remove the suet ball from the mesh bag they came in and instead use a metal / wooden feeder. Birds' legs have a habit of getting trapped in the mesh and the general advice is to discard of them. I wouldn't want your Nuthatch to be hopping around in your photos:t:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/feeding/whatfood/index.aspx

Thanks and I appreciate the advice about the suet ball, done as suggested.

First post for a couple of days due to Xmas, however rest assured the birds got fed as usual |=)| Today I had 20 minutes to watch the activity outside and a couple of things were noticeable. Firstly, how aggresive woodpigeons can be. I watched a group of four happily pecking away at seeds on the grass, but when a fifth tried to land, a couple at the 1st sitting drove it away. The tactic was to fly towards the unwelcome visitor, whilst raising one talon like a bird of prey. It worked after 3 abortive landing attempts.
Second thing I noticed was that the smaller birds weren't keen on coming to the table today. Plenty were visible in the trees with the odd one flying in and grabbing something on the wing but very subdued compared to usual. Perhaps a visit from a predator had put them off? Very little worth photographing today, other than quite a few of these flying over, not certain what they are (heavily cropped photo):

bongofury · Dec 27, 2011

You really need a gull expert, which definitely isn't me! Possibly a Black-Headed Gull?

2slo · Dec 27, 2011

bongofury said:
You really need a gull expert, which definitely isn't me! Possibly a Black-Headed Gull?

Possibly, I don't know. I'll post it on the ID section |=)|

ETA: now confirmed from the ID section, a black headed gull. I've seen a fair few flying over late in the afternoon in the last few days. I assumed they were a sea bird, apparently not, they can be found almost anywhere inland according to the RSPB info here: http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/b/blackheadedgull/index.aspx

2slo · Dec 28, 2011

Very windy here today, have a look at this Nuthatch doing an impression of a Puffafish:

Coaltit hanging on tight:

Pleased to see the Willowtit back again. He's been here most of the morning:

The only birds not bothered by the wind seems to be the Woodpigeons, they get bolder every day. Look how close this one came. The shot is virtually uncropped:

2slo · Dec 30, 2011

Shame the weather wasn't up to photography today, apart from the regulars, we had a visit from the long tailed tits. I counted six at one point. Also a male pheasant crossing the garden (probably escaping the rough shooters in the adjoining woodland).

Mark|=)|

2slo · Dec 30, 2011

Thanks to Will562 for reminding me I hadn't got confirmation of what I thought was a Willowtit which visits my bird table sometimes:

Several members commented when I posted the pics in the ID section and all agree it is (rare to find everyone agreeing about anything!)
The RSPB reckon theres about 8500 breeding pairs of these in England, apparently only as far north as the Scottish borders, so possibly a fairly rare sight where I live up in north Durham. Nice little bird, not aggresive at all, I hope he or she continues to visit.

Mark |=)|

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