Very busy at the bird feeder today! (1 Viewer)

[Disneynut1973]

That's how I found this forum too SpinneyGal, though I was a member for quite a while before I posted regularly.

Ok so Chiffchaff it is, I seem to have trouble with my warblers!! :eek!: Very pleased to get a new garden bird, I wonder what the rest of the week will bring?

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Do Willow Warblers And Chiff Chaff Have Different Coloured Legs?

I Thought They Had. I May Be Wrong But Chiff Chaff Grey? Legs And Willow Warbler Orange.

In theory yes they do have different leg colours as dave says this is not 100% certain (see below). The best guaranteed method is by checking the primary projection. The Warbler pictures are of a Chiffchaff.

Yes, as a rule Chiffchaff has darker (black legs), but not quite 100% safe as an ID tool, however around the 99% mark should be good enough to call on a garden record for or against Chiffchaff.

Yes I thought that Willow Warblers have lighter coloured legs than Chiffchaff do, does this mean that everyone agrees on WW or should I post in the id bit just to be sure?

If you can see the primary projection then that will help confirm the id

CB

 

[Bananafishbones]

That's how I found this forum too SpinneyGal, though I was a member for quite a while before I posted regularly.

Ok so Chiffchaff it is, I seem to have trouble with my warblers!! :eek!: Very pleased to get a new garden bird, I wonder what the rest of the week will bring?

CONGRATS PAM... GARDEN MEGA :t:

 

[bongofury]

Well done, Pam with the 'Chiffchaff' (btw, that would be my call as well - I don't suppose it called/sang?)

Lots of goldies here atm, with many juveniles amongst them. The GSW numbers are dropping off now, with max 3 seen at any one time. Presumably the youngsters are dispersing now. There are still 2 youngsters and they are starting to moult, but I can't be sure of the sex just yet.

 

[michael23]

Just seen your pics pam, nice chiffchaff there. Speaking of chiffchaffs not quite in my garden, but a nice surprise today, went to get my daughter from school, and 5 minutes into my walk, saw 6 Chiffchaffs! A record for my area close to my house and garden,

Now onto garden sightings, 4 Buzzards, all of which were calling and swooping at one another over the house, 6 great tits, c12 blue tits, 5 dunnocks, 2 robins, 5 greenfinch, 5 goldfinch. This evening, a mixed flock of c100 house martins and swallows were gathering to feed, which was a great sight.

Also Grey wagtail over too.

 

[Disneynut1973]

Thanks for the comments, i'm taking notes to try and help next time I see one, unfortunately it wasn't singing so no help there. Michael I was excited to see one never mind 6!

Bongofury I have a lot of juvenile Goldfinch here too, they have certainly increased in numbers recently.

Also pleased to report finally had a Dunnock in the garden again, they are few and far between at the moment.

 

[Shirley Roulston]

I think I had a Mistle Thrush to-day he was perched on a bt wire and making a loud warning noise, I could tell by my binoc's that it had a grey head. No chance of a photo my one and only battery was on charge. I was wondering if he knew that maybe a Sparrowhawk was about.

 

[Disneynut1973]

So this morning I opened the curtains at the front to two Dunnocks and several Sparrows. At the back 14 Goldfinch, the 2 Juvenile Greenfinch, 3 Blue Tits in roses around the door, a large crowd of Starlings on the neighbours elderberries, a Robin, Dunnock, Great Tit, more Sparrows and 2 Blackbirds in the tree.

Then something else in the tree - only a GS Woodpecker, I nearly sprained an ankle leaping over the little one for the camera, unfortunately it flew of before I could get a photo! I've never seen a Woodpecker in my town before never mind in the garden. So is there any food I can put out that may entice it back??

At the moment the trees are full of Goldfinch and they are all over the floor and feeders. Fighting mid air too.

I wonder if I can find a job that would pay me to watch the garden, then I wouldn't have to go back to work next week!!! :-O Can this week get any better?

 

[captaincarot]

evry time i've had gsw on my feeders they've been on the peanuts,

 

[SPINNEYGAL]

We Also Get Woodpeckers On The Peanuts Buts Also On The Suet Pellets And Even When I Have Put The Fat Cakes Out They Have Been On Those As Well.

Hope It Comes Back For You!

 

[Bananafishbones]

Garden fever hits the busy at the feeder thread....

B

Pam is on a roll...... Lard does it in my garden, scrape it onto a tree trunk

Well every man and his dog has been getting Nuthatches...:t: Me too now:

A garden lifer and
Species No 47 for 2010:

NUTHATCH ...... how about a pair of Nuthatches :t:B :t:

Happy days

Back later.... they are still here
Dave

 

[Bananafishbones]

I think I had a Mistle Thrush to-day he was perched on a bt wire and making a loud warning noise, I could tell by my binoc's that it had a grey head. No chance of a photo my one and only battery was on charge. I was wondering if he knew that maybe a Sparrowhawk was about.

In my excitement I missed this Shirley. Well done with the Mistle Thrush. In the severe weather last winter l had frequent visits from the MTs, very close up on the patio too. I hope for more visits later in the winter but without the mega cold and snow

 

[theconstantwalker]

Well every man and his dog has been getting Nuthatches...:t: Me too now
Happy days
Dave

Nice one Dave chuffed for you. :t: .. Has anyone got any idea why we are all getting them at the moment?

 

[Disneynut1973]

B

Pam is on a roll...... Lard does it in my garden, scrape it onto a tree trunk

Well every man and his dog has been getting Nuthatches...:t: Me too now:

A garden lifer and
Species No 47 for 2010:

NUTHATCH ...... how about a pair of Nuthatches :t:B :t:

Happy days

Back later.... they are still here
Dave

Well humpf, now you get the Nuthatches too am I the only one who hasn't?! (Still quite happy with my 2 garden firsts in 2 days though :king. Congrats :t:

I shall be out with the lard in the morning, anything that may help, will try and do it when the neighbours aren't looking! :eek!:

Here are a couple of photos from the garden today, I sat on the upturned laundry basket in the middle of the garden and blended in with the washing to get some closer shots & didn't realise I had the wrong setting on the camera at first!

 

[captaincarot]

you're not the only one without nuthatches, we don't have them either.

mind you we don't have a garden to have them in.:-C

did get a pigeon on the windowsil earlier, a flypast by 2 skeins of canada geese, and 4 mallards.

and the pylon had a good accumulation of gulls just before it went dark

 

[Bananafishbones]

Nice clear images Pam, you blend in well girl....

Coalies are never easy to get right with the contrasting Blacks and whites, you did very well, lovely Juv Goldie too, I will try to post one of mine with the start of the colouration on its face.

 

[bongofury]

a GS Woodpecker, So is there any food I can put out that may entice it back??

'Mine' love my homemade peanut cake:

1. Melt 2 blocks of cheap lard in a saucepan
2. Add a half a mug of cheap supermarket own-brand oats
3. Add half a mug of peanut granules. (You can buy these pre-crushed, or do it the hard way using peanuts in a freezer bag and a rolling pin)
4. Add half a mug of plain flour
5. Mix it all up, add more of each ingredient as needed to make a mushy, but still liquid consistency
6. Put approx 14 muffin cases on a baking tray and fill them with your mixture
7. Put into fridge to set
8. Transfer a few at a time into a feeder in the garden
9. Make a nice cuppa, sit, wait and watch!

 

[bongofury]

Dave, well done with the nuthatch! If I get one, I'll be delighted - I'm just about on their northerly breeding limit here. I see them at my local RSPB reserve a few miles away, so there is always hope!

 

[Bananafishbones]

Cheers Bongo

BTW nice recipe, sounds good enough to eat yourself. I will try making some with the youngest over the weekend.

Here is an image of the JUv Goldfinch with the start of its red facial disc. You can also just see the start of the red under the beak aswell.

Greenfinch image added from this evening

 

[Disneynut1973]

CC, if I get one in the garden i'll share!

Bongofury, i've copied that recipe and i'll have a go at the weekend,, looks like messy fun that my little one will enjoy too!

Thanks Dave, I guess I don't look in the least bit threatening or the birds took one look and thought you have no chance of getting anywhere near me! The Blue Tit's did keep a close eye though. Nice photos too, we have an awful lot of Golfinch in various stages at the moment but that's the best shot i've managed so far.