Garden (Yard) List 2012 (1 Viewer)

[Jos Stratford]

Jos, see my comments on your numbering of birds seen in post # 236. You have two entries for your # 9 bird on your Vilnius list.

I can correct the numbering if you wish.

Ah yes, please do :t:

 

[Larry Lade]

* Numbering is now corrected, Jos.

 

[KenM]

Black Woodpeckers never use feeders.

Dreamt many a day about this holy grail of the woodpeckers dropping down onto a feeder, wishful thinking indeed. Experimented with different foods over the years, never tempted them in.

Strange tell-tale signs over the last couple of weeks however were beginning to make me wonder if the unimaginable had actually happened - one of the wintering Black Woodpeckers had been showing a decided interest in the area immediately around the cabin, one heavy-duty feeder had mysteriously become dented in at the bottom. Hmm, years of hammering by even White-backed Woodpeckers had failed to dent that, it would seem something with a hefty bill was in action.

And then today, crunching through the snow, I topped up the feeders, then retired to my chair at the open door, gas fire on full blast. Many birds in and out, a Willow Tit new for the year, joining the Marsh Tits, off yonder one or two of the three Black Woodpeckers that are wintering this year.

An hour in, temperatures still well below minus 20, in swooped a male Black Woodpecker. A tad nervous, flitting around from tree to tree, probably seeing me quite clearly, the bird seemed very intent on coming in. I froze and crouched a little, onto the feeder tree. Stone me, it really appeared he was going to come to feed, I couldn't believe it. A Great Tit upset affairs for a second by flying into the cabin straight over my head. Two loops on the room, out the door again. Wriggles around the trunk, sidles down to the feeder, I am astounded - a full-blown male Black Woodpecker on the feeder four metres in front of my nose!

Bloody amazing!

And there he stayed, near half an hour, back and fro onto the feeder, even down onto the bird table at one stage (a metre and a half from me!). Middle and Great Spotted Woodpeckers dwarfed by this splendid bird, the titmice mere specks in comparison.


So there we have it, congratulations Larry, not an addition to the year list, but certainly destined to be one of my highlights of the winter.


18. Willow Tit.

.

Fantastic shot Jos.....a would be lifer for me!...anyway hoping this makes you ''green with envy''...as this dropped in below me yesterday!

 

[Larry Lade]

Finally got this bird beneath the feeders in our yard.

14. American Robin

 

[Jos Stratford]

.....a would be lifer for me!...
...anyway hoping this makes you ''green with envy''...as this dropped in below me yesterday!

Indeed you do get me envious, Green is the only LT woodpecker I have yet to record at my site.

I do get Grey-headed though - haven't seen so far this winter, but they usually start visiting when it gets really cold, so am expecting any day now - I was actually waiting for this when the Black dropped in instead.

More than welcome to pop over and collect your lifer(s) - another shot from today.

 

[KenM]

I posted images on the Q&A forum yesterday concerning a putative Meally Redpoll which had appeared at my feeders on the day (not today though). The general consensus supported the claim, on that basis I'm more than happy to include it on my garden list...which puts me on 50. The Redwings dropped by c70% yesterday...but today..have increased again to almost former levels..with a big increase of Fieldfare! Once again visiting trees bordering my abode (but not in the garden). Looking forward to tomorrow as the ''white stuff'' is laying.

 

[KenM]

Indeed you do get me envious, Green is the only LT woodpecker I have yet to record at my site.


I do get Grey-headed though - haven't seen so far this winter, but they usually start visiting when it gets really cold, so am expecting any day now - I was actually waiting for this when the Black dropped in instead.

More than welcome to pop over and collect your lifer(s).

Another would be lifer for me Jos....''Snap''...you've turned the tables! If the bird gods (and the missus..are willing) I might just take you up on that offer :t:

cheers

 

[chowchilla]

Life has a habit of interfering with fun activities such as birding. Hence I've hardly done any over the last week or so. Nonetheless, a pair of Masked Lapwings overhead is an addition from mid-week.

These birds' typical habitat is car parks and the middle of roundabouts. I occasionally hear their hysterical screaming at nights.

I may not have had much time for birds this week -(although our resident Red-necked Crake is putting in daily appearances in the courtyard at work)- but the frogs are simply loving the wet weather and are out in force. I have heard nine species calling as I cycle home from work, the latest being Little Red Tree Frogs calling near the tennis courts on the Mulgrave Road last night.

62) Masked Lapwing.

Fantastic Black Woodpecker btw Jos! What I'd give to have one in the trees around the apartment.

 

[Bananafishbones]

a good few days here, especially this morning

35. Reed Bunting (Jan 27th)
36. Gooseander - 2 flyover (Feb 3rd)
37. Mallard - 2 flyover (Feb 4th)
38. Blackcap - (Feb 4th)
39. Grey Heron - being mobed by a Carrion Crow over the garden area- (Feb 4th)
40. Bullfinch - pair(Feb 4th)
41. Jay - (Feb 4th)
42. Brambling - pair (Feb 4th)

 

[KenM]

Nos.35,37,40 and 42...would be gratefully received ''darn-ear''.

cheers

 

[halftwo]

All except three (37, 40, 41) are still missing from my list, well done! Too foggy to see much today. Frozen rain now thawing.

 

[Jos Stratford]

Crested Tits prominent by their absence this morning, I do hope they have not become victims of the cold.

A tad warmer at minus 28 this morning, but I need not have feared for my Cresties - they were back on the feeders this morning as usual.

One addition to the Vilnius garden - a Raven cronking away from a pine at the garden's end.


Vilnius

14. Raven.

 

[halftwo]

Despite the fog a single male

53 : Siskin

managed to find my niger feeder.

 

[joannec]

The snow brought:

44) Common Gull
45) LBB Gull

and a hungry flock of about 25 Meadow Pipits in search of a meadow but I'm still missing some easy ones like Mallard and Moorhen.

 

[dantheman]

Forgot to post a photo of my good bird from the other day - clearly identifiable in the centre of this image.

 

[Jos Stratford]

Forgot my photo from the other day - clearly identifiable in the centre of this image.

Top left of the picture, you got a Black Woodpecker too

 

[dantheman]

Top left of the picture, you got a Black Woodpecker too

I just saw that too - I'll happily have it if you say so, even though it's more likely to be a fly on the window ...

(Actually just looked at the camera lens - filthy dirty tbh!!)

 

[joannec]

Forgot to post a photo of my good bird from the other day - clearly identifiable in the centre of this image.

Illuminated Barn Owl?

 

[Larry Lade]

Yah, right, clearly identifiable. Looks like a lightening bug to me.

Forgot to post a photo of my good bird from the other day - clearly identifiable in the centre of this image.

 

[dantheman]

Maybe this one will help. It's the Shelduck of course