Today at the feeder (1 Viewer)

[Larry Lade]

We had three Pine Siskins, a Red-breasted Nuthatch at our feeders here in Saint Joseph, Missouri yesterday. The siskins have been regulars here this winter. The nuthatch was coming in regularly but recently has only been showing up occasionally. The regulars continue to come in: Dark-eyed Juncos, Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers, House Finch, American Goldfinch, European Starlings, Common Grackle, Northern Cardinals, House Sparrows and White-breasted Nuthatches. I have not seen the Carolina Wrens coming in for peanuts/suet for serveral days now.

 

[Duke Leto]

Had my 1st ever Siskins recently, followed up with a Green Woodpecker and this week had my 1st Redpolls, just need to work out which ones they were.........will upload a picture when I catch up

 

[Fast_falkon]

Blackbirds are making a nest in my garden at the moment. Also some long tailed tits, great tits, blue tits, green finches, Jackdaws and a Jay today

 

[DragonHeart]

The male Downy Woodpecker stopped in for brunch while I was cleaning up a bit outside. Not five minutes after I'd gone back in, the female took her turn on the suet. Shortly afterwards I glimpsed a male Northern Cardinal as he flew across the yard. Two Mourning Doves, one feeding and one in a tree some distance away, and a pair of White-breasted Nuthatches rounded out the day for me.

I heard quite a few other birds in the area, but I'm still not getting a lot of visitors. I'll try to be up earlier tomorrow to see if I can catch some early morning feeders, as the seed level in the feeders has been dropping noticeably in the past week or so.

~DragonHeart~

 

[Euan Buchan]

Had a few Blue Tits in my feeder earlier

 

[DragonHeart]

2 Mourning Doves, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, half a dozen crows, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Tufted Titmouse, and 2 White-breasted Nuthatches. Not bad, considering the moderate wind.

They didn't stop on my property, but I also noticed two flocks of Canada Geese heading in a general northern direction.

I was also continually frustrated by a gull and a bird of prey, neither of which I could get a positive ID on.

~DragonHeart~

 

[cnybirder]

Today we had a Hoary Redpoll and 25 Common Redpolls at our feeder here in Camden, Oneida County, NY.

This is the second time I've seen one.

 

[Parus major]

I've had loads of Blue tits at the feeder this year, more so even than Great tits. Usually it's the other way around.

I also think I saw a Dunnock under my balcony feeder yesterday, but am wondering if this is possible. It flitted off too quickly for me to get a positive ID, but I can't think what else it might be. It was on the balcony floor salvaging crumbs dropped by the tits. Does anyone know if Dunnocks are confiding enough to come to a balcony feeder?

 

[snowyowl]

My feeders are still very busy. Common Redpolls are the biggest group at around 100 but there are also lots of A. Goldfinches, Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, DE Juncos, House Sparrows, a pair of Downy Woodpeckers, a Hairy Woodpecker (m), Black-capped Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches.
A careful check through the Redpolls will usually turn up a Hoary.
I've had hardly any native sparrows this winter and no Purple Finches or Pine Siskins. it's really been strange and a little worrying. I hope those species aren't going the same way as the Evening Grosbeaks.
A lot of people here have been reporting Pine Grosbeaks and White-winged Crossbills at their feeders this winter but I haven't had any at mine.

 

[Quercus]

Parus major... It could well have been a dunnock, they are usually ground feeders and will often be seen under my bird table, they are quite flitty, dashing back to cover at the slightest hint of danger.

 

[Larry Lade]

Dan, I don't think you have to worry to much about the Pine Siskiins and the Purple Finches. We have been getting a lot of them down here in Missouri. Perhaps something just caused them to more further south this year!

 

[cavan wood]

Dan, I don't think you have to worry to much about the Pine Siskiins and the Purple Finches. We have been getting a lot of them down here in Missouri. Perhaps something just caused them to more further south this year!

Good to hear. I havn't had either species this winter either, but I did see a group of evening grosbeaks on an outing last weedend, across the road from a feeder station.

Here it's the usual crowd, A. goldinch, bc chickadee, mourning doves, hairy and downy, wb nuthatch, cardinals, juncos, a few house finches, but no redpolls for a week or two now.

Scott

 

[Peewit]

Bramblings

Hi there

Thought I would share my findings here and go further afield to this thread. I have had Brambling's at my feeding stations over the last 7 days now

Brambling's, Yes, they are still here. - all day today. Put out lots of food out today to keep their interest going, including crumbled up fatballs. Not seen them sitting on the feeders as such, just on the the floor under the feeders.

I have worked out there are 2 males and 2 females. They like to be among the Chaffinches we have here.

I wish our jumpy Woodpigeons would stop flying off for no reason as it causes all the birds on the ground to bolt from into the trees each time.

So pleased to have the Brambling's going at the moment.

Anyone local to Bedford/close areas have the same thing going - just wondering here?

Kathy
xx

 

[Parus major]

Thanks, Quercus! Good to know my eyes aren't likely playing tricks on me. If it indeed was a Dunnock on my balcony, that would be a first (that I witnessed).

Peewit, that sounds lovely! I hope they stick around.

 

[snowyowl]

I was sitting at my desk a short time ago, editing pictures, when I realized that everything had gone very quiet outside. I searched the trees and shrubs for the sharpie that I'm sure was there somewhere but couldn't find him. I put my coat on and went out in the wind but still no luck. A pair of Downy Woodpeckers were absolutely frozen against branches in the lilac. My Downies are very tame anyway but this time I thought that I could have almost picked up the female. I took a few pictures and went back in from the cold. The woodpeckers didn't move for about another 15 minutes then went back to behaving normally.
I don't get upset when the sharpie picks off a jay or dove, after all he has to eat too, but I don't want to lose my woodpeckers.

 

[cavan wood]

I was sitting at my desk a short time ago, editing pictures, when I realized that everything had gone very quiet outside. I searched the trees and shrubs for the sharpie that I'm sure was there somewhere but couldn't find him. I put my coat on and went out in the wind but still no luck. A pair of Downy Woodpeckers were absolutely frozen against branches in the lilac. My Downies are very tame anyway but this time I thought that I could have almost picked up the female. I took a few pictures and went back in from the cold. The woodpeckers didn't move for about another 15 minutes then went back to behaving normally.
I don't get upset when the sharpie picks off a jay or dove, after all he has to eat too, but I don't want to lose my woodpeckers.

I had almost the identical experience about a week ago. No birds, then I spooted a downy on the inside of the balister on my deck (never see them there). So I started looking beyond the opposite side of the ballister, and sure enough there was the sharpie in a spruce tree (probably chased a chickadee in there). When the sharpie moved, so did the downy, to keep the ballister between her and the hawk.

Scott

 

[snowyowl]

Yesterday I saw the first Common Grackle of the season. I suppose I'll soon lose my redpolls the various black birds will replace them for a while. At leastt he grackle is a sign of spring.
I was outside shortly after sunrise and it was wonderful to see and hear all of the geese flying up from the river to head out to feed in the fields.

 

[cavan wood]

The grackles, red-winged blackbirds, and even a starling have been around the feeder for over a week now, but not too many. The chickadees, house finches, mourning doves and even the robins are singing. The redpolls left my place a couple of weeks ago, but are still in the area, and the juncos are still around.

Scott

 

[Larry Lade]

I made a mistake a few days ago of throwing out some stale Corn Flakes (breakfast food cereal) and some uneaten (by us) biscuits. The starlings, grackles and House Sparrows came into our yard from all over!

However, the regulars are still coming in but are frightened off everytime one of these larger birds comes into the area.

Regulars are Red-bellied Woodpecker, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, Mourning Dove, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin and Pine Siskin. The Red-breasted Nuthatch has again showed up today as well as a pair of Carolina Wrens!

The Downy Woodpeckers and Blue Jays usually put in an appearance, but I have not seen them today.

 

[amasara]

Along with the spring birds comes the RAIN - buckets of it!! Does wash everything clean expect the muddy deer feeding area and the DOG!!
Grackles dropping by in small groups - not my regulars yet as they aren't cleaning out the feeders!! Have seen a few redwings that come with them - the only reason I'm ever glad to see the gs. A few house finches dropped in - looking healthy but not the usual squabbling bunch! Even saw a tree swallow in the martin house yesterday - suspect it's the male scout. A pair of swallows nest in the huge m.house every Spring - never see any martins?? At least it's getting used. C.wrens are busy in the garage building a nest in the same box they used last year. Saw a bluebird in front of his house Sun - have another one cleaned out and ready....