-
BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!
Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Very busy at the bird feeder today! (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Moraybirdlover
- Start date
Hobbes2
Well-known member
Cor, house sales, cubby houses in gardens used as hides and pictuers of Blackbirds in Aus, days off to enjoy garden birding but having to look after little ones, Gos Hawks and Red Grouse, canoodling Red-shouldered Hawks and....Nimrods(!)....Great to see so much going on.
Exciting news from my garden this morning. The first (I've ever seen) pair of Goldfinches feeding from the sunflower hearts feeder! Very exciting. I've wanted Goldfinches in the garden for years but never seemed to be able to attract them (even with nyger seed). I've attached a few photos, really just record shots, but happy to have them
Hobbes
Exciting news from my garden this morning. The first (I've ever seen) pair of Goldfinches feeding from the sunflower hearts feeder! Very exciting. I've wanted Goldfinches in the garden for years but never seemed to be able to attract them (even with nyger seed). I've attached a few photos, really just record shots, but happy to have them
Hobbes
Attachments
Bananafishbones
Incoherently Rambling .....
Hobbes, you did good :t:
Always good to see a newbie, especially when its in your garden
Welcome back Michael
4 Redpolls still here
5pm: Wren under the feeders also a Common Gull in with the BH Gulls above
Always good to see a newbie, especially when its in your garden
Welcome back Michael
4 Redpolls still here
5pm: Wren under the feeders also a Common Gull in with the BH Gulls above
Last edited:
JWN Andrewes
Poor Judge of Pasta.
Had a record number of species visit my feeder last Saturday; eleven! Great, Blue, Coal & Long-tailed Tits, Nuthatch, Robin, Blackcap, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch & Jackdaw! Then Bullfinch on the Sunday. And that's not counting the ones foraging underneath (Blackbird, Dunnock, Collared Dove & Woodpigeon. The Greenfinches and Siskins flying over couldn't be tempted though.
James
James
Hobbes2
Well-known member
Thanks Dave. Glad your Redpolls are still around. :t:
Well, this afternoon, in the bright, crisp sunshine, I happened to catch sight of the Robin pair, who are nesting in my garden, mating. It looked like a successful 'conception' and I just wondered how long before the eggs are laid?
Attached are a few photos of the nest/nest site. I had to snap them quickly in case the Robins came back, plus, attached is one of the pair posing minutes before.
Hobbes
Attachments
Hi Hobbes,
It is great to see the Goldfinches in the garden. I first got them last year using nyger seed. This year they are also eating sunflower hearts like yours. Wonder why as last year they ignored them.
The numbers this year have been great and my record is currently nine on the feeders! Always a lovely sight.
It is great to see the Goldfinches in the garden. I first got them last year using nyger seed. This year they are also eating sunflower hearts like yours. Wonder why as last year they ignored them.
The numbers this year have been great and my record is currently nine on the feeders! Always a lovely sight.
Bananafishbones
Incoherently Rambling .....
Dunnocks are very vocal at the minute, and their singing is now coming from the top of the tallest trees, a complete contrast to the usual low lying and skulky birds that forage around hedgerows
Spring is most definatly here
Single Redpoll.... and a Squirrel keeping almost everything off the feeders
Will be out for most of the day Rambling locally with our works walking club, A circular walk from Poynton taking in Nab head and The Poachers arms in Bollington... 11 miles and a couple of pints!!
Spring is most definatly here
Single Redpoll.... and a Squirrel keeping almost everything off the feeders
Will be out for most of the day Rambling locally with our works walking club, A circular walk from Poynton taking in Nab head and The Poachers arms in Bollington... 11 miles and a couple of pints!!
Last edited:
Hobbes2
Well-known member
Hi Spock, I put out food year round. There's always a reason to find extra food useful, whether it be breeding season, feeding/raising young, cold/wet days, youngsters building up body fat before winter and so on.
Roger48, thanks for your comments on the Goldfinches. What a splash of colour 9 would be, especially in bright sunshine! Superb.
Dave, the Dunnocks in my garden are extremely frisky too. Lots of wing flapping, chasing around the garden etc.
The birds have been enjoying the bird bath today. I managed to get a few shots of a female blackbird swishing the water everywhere, lol.
Hobbes
Attachments
Love the bathing beauty photo, Hobbes!
Just normal birds in our yards at present. But I spent some time this morning watching the nesting Red-shouldered Hawks just up the road. Wonderful birds! Can't wait to see their chicks later in the year. In the meantime I put new photos of the adults on my blog. Photo below is the male.
Jeff
www.jeffincypress.blogspot.com
Just normal birds in our yards at present. But I spent some time this morning watching the nesting Red-shouldered Hawks just up the road. Wonderful birds! Can't wait to see their chicks later in the year. In the meantime I put new photos of the adults on my blog. Photo below is the male.
Jeff
www.jeffincypress.blogspot.com
Attachments
captaincarot
Well-known member
excellent pics all round again they're a pleasure to see.
highlight of the day has to be the greylag having a bath by laying on it's back in the water and waving it's feet about in the air. it reminded me of a dog trying to scratch an itch on it's back.
highlight of the day has to be the greylag having a bath by laying on it's back in the water and waving it's feet about in the air. it reminded me of a dog trying to scratch an itch on it's back.
Cheshire Birder
Well-known member
Only a couple Dave?
Today had a Reed Bunting return probably due to the hard frost overnight also Buzzard and nest prospecting Long-tailed Tits.
CB
Hard to believe you're still having frosts, CB. Definitely feels like spring here - it's warm, bugs and wildflowers are appearing, and the birds are getting ready for breeding.
Jeff
www.jeffincypress.blogspot.com
Disneynut1973
Well-known member
Jeff it got down to to minus 4 overnight, there's been a frost (or snow) every morning for weeks now! At least we have had some sunshine over the past few days too.
Will try and catch up on the posts later. Had a great day at Filey Brigg on Saturday (post on my blog) and saw 3 lifers.
The garden is still as busy as ever and all the usual birds have been in and out. The Goldfinch numbers have gone up again, we had 10 yesterday. Two Magpies came and ate all the suet pellets and peanuts I put out yesterday morning in about twenty minutes, a Blue Tit sat on the fence trying to sneak in.
The House Sparrows that hang about in the hedge in the front garden have started collecting twigs and feathers and it looks like they are building somewhere around the guttering in our house and a neighbours a bit further up. That will be something to keep an eye on!
Will try and catch up on the posts later. Had a great day at Filey Brigg on Saturday (post on my blog) and saw 3 lifers.
The garden is still as busy as ever and all the usual birds have been in and out. The Goldfinch numbers have gone up again, we had 10 yesterday. Two Magpies came and ate all the suet pellets and peanuts I put out yesterday morning in about twenty minutes, a Blue Tit sat on the fence trying to sneak in.
The House Sparrows that hang about in the hedge in the front garden have started collecting twigs and feathers and it looks like they are building somewhere around the guttering in our house and a neighbours a bit further up. That will be something to keep an eye on!
Azzy
Well-known member
Albeit much smaller
The mockingbirds are quite the characters though Seems like everybody is having a lot of success with their gardens, it's so great. Especially all the birds at feeders. Haven't had much success with the bath lately, first of all, it rained... a lot. And it hasn't been as warm, so I guess the birds have plenty of other water sources etc now. Still, the usual honeyeaters, the willy wagtail perched on the fence to chase flying insects. Had a wonderful male magpie chortleing on the back fence this evening. And this morning, when I left for work, I went to go out the back way, only to realise that I couldn't because the thornbills were on the driveway amongst a certain type of weed, eating something from it, they've been doing that alot. So I went out the front way instead so I didn't scare them away, hehe. They're such cute little things.
Congrats on the lifers, Pam! Always a thrill to see new species.
It sounds like an old-fashioned winter in the UK. From what I hear, plants etc. are emerging 2-3 weeks later than they have for 20 years; that is, spring this year is going to be on what used to be its normal schedule until global warming changed matters.
Jeff
www.jeffincypress.blogspot.com
It sounds like an old-fashioned winter in the UK. From what I hear, plants etc. are emerging 2-3 weeks later than they have for 20 years; that is, spring this year is going to be on what used to be its normal schedule until global warming changed matters.
Jeff
www.jeffincypress.blogspot.com
Hobbes2
Well-known member
Thanks Jeff. Your blog photos tell a good story. What an amazing bird to have on your doorstep!
CC, those Greylags sounds hilarious. CB, it really is darn cold still in spite of the sunshine. I keep going out expecting warmth and being frozen stiff, lol.
Pam, had a look through your blog entry. You got some great photos at Filey. I've yet to ID a med gull even though I apparently go to a place where they can be found, lol.
Had Starlings in the garden this morning. Not had them for ages.
Hobbes
Disneynut1973
Well-known member
Thanks Jeff, you're right about the slow start to spring here, It does remind me of the winters we had when I was a kid in the late 70's early 80's - if we had snow like that now we'd be really stuck!
Hobbes - I wouldn't have even thought about Med Gulls if I hadn't had the tip on here. They were very easy to find - almost waiting for us :t:
Azzy, I detour quite often or wait to empty the bins or hang out washing so I don't disturb the birds - I have been known to feed them before I make breakfast in a morning :-O
Hobbes - I wouldn't have even thought about Med Gulls if I hadn't had the tip on here. They were very easy to find - almost waiting for us :t:
Azzy, I detour quite often or wait to empty the bins or hang out washing so I don't disturb the birds - I have been known to feed them before I make breakfast in a morning :-O
hectorzaza
Well-known member
Will be moving house on the 31st so will be packing up all the feeders and taking them with us,we will miss all the birds that have given us so much enjoyment over the 9 years we have been here but I have to say we are looking forward to seeing the number of species building up as we feed them.The number of species we have seen over the 9 years numbers 56 which includes birds seen in and around the area of our house and flyovers,if anyone is interested here is the full list.
Grey Heron.
Canada Goose.
Mallard.
Sparrowhawk.
Buzzard.
Kestrel.
Pheasant.
Oystercatcher.
Lapwing.
Black-Headed Gull.
Common Gull.
Lesser Black-Backed Gull.
Herring Gull.
Feral Pigeon.
Woodpigeon.
Collard Dove.
Tawny Owl.
Swift.
Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Swallow.
House Martin.
Grey Wagtail.
Pied Wagtail.
Wren.
Dunnock.
Robin.
Blackbird.
Fieldfare.
Song Thrush.
Redwing.
Mistle Thrush.
Blackcap.
Chiffchaff.
Willow Warbler.
Long-Tailed Tit.
Coal Tit.
Blue Tit.
Great Tit.
Nuthatch.
Treecreeper.
Jay.
Magpie.
Jackdaw.
Rook.
Carrion Crow.
Starling.
House Sparrow.
Chaffinch.
Brambling.
Greenfinch.
Goldfinch.
Siskin.
Lesser Redpoll.
Bullfinch.
Last but not least strangest of all a Peacock which escaped from a collection 3 miles up the road and some how found it"s way into our garden.all thats left to say now is here"s to the next 9 years in our new bunglow and happy garden birding.
Grey Heron.
Canada Goose.
Mallard.
Sparrowhawk.
Buzzard.
Kestrel.
Pheasant.
Oystercatcher.
Lapwing.
Black-Headed Gull.
Common Gull.
Lesser Black-Backed Gull.
Herring Gull.
Feral Pigeon.
Woodpigeon.
Collard Dove.
Tawny Owl.
Swift.
Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Swallow.
House Martin.
Grey Wagtail.
Pied Wagtail.
Wren.
Dunnock.
Robin.
Blackbird.
Fieldfare.
Song Thrush.
Redwing.
Mistle Thrush.
Blackcap.
Chiffchaff.
Willow Warbler.
Long-Tailed Tit.
Coal Tit.
Blue Tit.
Great Tit.
Nuthatch.
Treecreeper.
Jay.
Magpie.
Jackdaw.
Rook.
Carrion Crow.
Starling.
House Sparrow.
Chaffinch.
Brambling.
Greenfinch.
Goldfinch.
Siskin.
Lesser Redpoll.
Bullfinch.
Last but not least strangest of all a Peacock which escaped from a collection 3 miles up the road and some how found it"s way into our garden.all thats left to say now is here"s to the next 9 years in our new bunglow and happy garden birding.