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Very busy at the bird feeder today! (2 Viewers)

JeffMoh

Well-known member
Are British Jays greedy?

Here I've seen a Blue Jay pack up to 24 sunflower seeds into its mouth before flying off to eat (or stash) them. Are your Jays equally greedy?

Jeff
 

ChrisKten

It's true, I quite like Pigeons
Here I've seen a Blue Jay pack up to 24 sunflower seeds into its mouth before flying off to eat (or stash) them. Are your Jays equally greedy?

Jeff

Not sure that they are greedy, but they can be a bit over the top when it comes to hoarding.

A few years ago I used to put loose peanuts in trays hung from my trees (I use nuts in shells now). I once watched a Jay put over 26 in it's crop before flying off. They were biggish peanuts as well, so I was very surprised that it wasn't too heavy to fly.|=)|

BTW, I stopped the loose peanuts because the Pigeons worked out how to get to the trays.
 

Bananafishbones

Incoherently Rambling .....
hi chris and dave----i was up macc forest on sunday evening[mainly for a nosh and a pint or two at the leather Smithy] Loads of swallows around the the 'res' opposite the pub and large flock of swifts[i'm sure there is a collective name for that], presumably ready for the off.-----Highlight of the venture up in the the hills[apart from the wildboar casserole] was seeing a Sparrow Hawk nab a a dozing wood pidgeon in a field on the way back to sunny Macc. [at least it did'nt know much about it]---Not much on the water apart from a weary pair of Tuffties and our mates the mallards.Getting back to the thread i'm dead chuffed that the Nuthatch is as regular as the usual garden birds [or is that worrying in terms of natural food supply?] Had a Red- legged partridge rooting around the lawn at breakfast time[a juvenile i think]--A family of great-tits scrapping around the feeders are a cheery sight first thing in the the morning.

Nuthatch is a cracker, especially if it is regular and Red LP :t:

Still got my juvenile GSW everyday
 

Bananafishbones

Incoherently Rambling .....
It's been very quiet really in comparison with a month ago, the Collared Doves are still coming to the garden (and spotted two young doves here yesterday that were begging from an adult!), still plenty of Starlings and House Sparrows and the one young Dunnock that seems to have adopted my garden, but very few sightings of the Robins, Greenfinches and Tits.

I think the Robins are going into their summer quiet period, keeping out of sight for the most part. I saw one (and heard it calling) just now in the garden but it is very timid indeed. I still have a Hedgehog visiting as I found its poo outside my back door this morning, and sitting outside earlier I saw a Grey Heron fly over, which was great to see. Am pretty sure there have been a number of Sparrowhawk attack runs here recently, sometimes I'm out in the garden and all of a sudden all the birds in the local area will go absolutely bezerk and as one fly up into the air in a panic and fly around and around.


Fozzy dont the Grey Herons look even bigger when flying over rooftops
 

Bananafishbones

Incoherently Rambling .....
I dont normally get a great many varying Butterflys in the garden, usually just Pianted Ladies and small whites however just seen a brown one and have ID it as a Speckled wood........ not sure how common these are but i have one :t:

Back to birds:
Starlings back in good numbers, as are Swifts 30-50 today.

Robin showing well Fozzy and looking especially well coloured, must have completed a moult.

LBBGs and Black headed again

GSW again :t:
 

Bananafishbones

Incoherently Rambling .....
Very busy on the feeders yesterday morning with the following seen in an hours watch.

Greenfinch 2
House sparrow circa 12 max
Goldfinch 4
Blue tit 3
Great tit 2
Coal tit
Long tailed tit 3
Bullfinch 1 (male)

Plus the following species feeding on the ground table feeder.

Chaffinch 5
Blackbird 3
Song thrush
Dunnock 2
Wren
Starling circa 10 max
Collared dove 2
Woodpigeon 2


Dave.


Davebutterflyman your species list is not too disimilar to mine, your not that far away I guess. How do you do for the Corvids? I have alot of Carrion crows ([email protected]@dy noisy too especially at 4am) at the moment with an Odd Rook showing up. Jackdaws in large numbers.

Dave
 

Fozzybear

Ich bin ein Vogelbeobachter
Fozzy dont the Grey Herons look even bigger when flying over rooftops

They really do - I wondered what on earth it was for a moment! I don't look enough but I know my house is on a route that these birds take as walking near the river just across the main road I've seen birds flying that same flightpath before so if I'm lucky I might get a Little Egret or Cormorant sighting.
 

Bananafishbones

Incoherently Rambling .....
Had been quiet in the garden since finishing work mid afternoon then 5pm ish 4 Long Tail Tits flew in, unfortunatly 60+ Starlings also flew in shortly after.... and their squabbling got rid of everything including the GSW.

Lots of activity with the House Sparrows and Blue tits now

Carrion crows still noisy

A bit overcast now but still warm enough to don the shorts and enjoy a cool one on the patio watching the activity
 

Cheshire Birder

Well-known member
....Getting back to the thread i'm dead chuffed that the Nuthatch is as regular as the usual garden birds [or is that worrying in terms of natural food supply?] Had a Red- legged partridge rooting around the lawn at breakfast time....

Both excellent garden records!!! :t:

They really do - I wondered what on earth it was for a moment! I don't look enough but I know my house is on a route that these birds take as walking near the river just across the main road I've seen birds flying that same flightpath before so if I'm lucky I might get a Little Egret or Cormorant sighting.

Cormorants typically use the rivers to navigate between local feeding sites. that said however they also regularly fly in a straight line between key sites. So if you are on a direct flight line between two large reservoirs you have a much improved chance of seeing one.

CB
 

Disneynut1973

Well-known member
My garden has been very very quiet this week! Had the odd Goldfinch, Blue Tit, a few House Sparrows, a Starling and a 4 Collared Doves! There are plenty of birds flying about they just aren't stopping for food.

I think my neighbours must have really scared them at the beginning of the week :eek!:
 

Bananafishbones

Incoherently Rambling .....
My garden has been very very quiet this week! Had the odd Goldfinch, Blue Tit, a few House Sparrows, a Starling and a 4 Collared Doves! There are plenty of birds flying about they just aren't stopping for food.

I think my neighbours must have really scared them at the beginning of the week :eek!:


Hi Pam, It could just be the warmer drier weather (like us humans not eating when we are warm) My Garden has just picked up again with another major Sparrowhawk attack.
I have been sat in the garden with family (2 children as well and still plenty of birds around the feeders) when I spotted a female cruising over, quite high up. 30 minutes later a major Swoop across the garden after a pigeon, all to the amazement of everyone... Great stuff to see close up. all to quick to see if it was the female or not.

GSW been drumming in next doors garden then flew straight over our heads to the lard on the trees :t:

Long tails in with the Blue tits.

Dave
 

ChrisKten

It's true, I quite like Pigeons
Pam, I almost wish for a quiet garden sometimes, but only for a short break from the money it costs me.|=)|

I had a quick count of the Sparrows today, it was a little easier to count, as some were in next doors garden for a while, some on the fence, and the rest at the feeders. An exact count is impossible, but I'm now sure there are at least 30. They seem to have been very successful this year. I've only seen one juvenile killed by a Jay, whereas I'd expect to see at least 5 killed by Sparrowhawks.

Same with the Starlings, I've got at least 30 regular juveniles, these are joined by others at times throughout the day. I think there were only 2 juveniles taken by Sparrowhawks so far, again, that is a lot less killed than usual.

All of the other birds are still in the garden every day, including the Corvids, Collard Doves, Tits, and Pigeons.


Dave, I think you must have the most inefficient Sparrowhawk ever.|=)| I've never seen so many failed attacks without a few successes in between. It must be killing elsewhere, if not, it will be dead soon.
 

Bananafishbones

Incoherently Rambling .....
Pam,
Dave, I think you must have the most inefficient Sparrowhawk ever.|=)| I've never seen so many failed attacks without a few successes in between. It must be killing elsewhere, if not, it will be dead soon.

Your right Chris, could be dumb-bird the Sparrowhawk.....

It is getting closer with its attacks now, or a better description is that its getting more serious with its attacks, swooping lower, and more frequent, and while we are in the garden

I am enjoying the thrill of the chase :t:
 

ChrisKten

It's true, I quite like Pigeons
Your right Chris, could be dumb-bird the Sparrowhawk.....

It is getting closer with its attacks now, or a better description is that its getting more serious with its attacks, swooping lower, and more frequent, and while we are in the garden

I am enjoying the thrill of the chase :t:

Yeah, it's exciting, but the children won't want to see a successful attack, not if they are young. It takes quite a bit of getting used to, seeing a bird eaten alive. I still find it difficult to watch, and I've lost count of how many times I've seen it.

I suppose if the children are young you could say the birds are play fighting, then take them inside before the blood starts.|=)|
 

Bananafishbones

Incoherently Rambling .....
Yeah, it's exciting, but the children won't want to see a successful attack, not if they are young. It takes quite a bit of getting used to, seeing a bird eaten alive. I still find it difficult to watch, and I've lost count of how many times I've seen it.

I suppose if the children are young you could say the birds are play fighting, then take them inside before the blood starts.|=)|

I try not to have the young kids around to often, it costs me ice cream money ;)
 

Disneynut1973

Well-known member
Lol Chris, tried that one trick with the ice cream van - kids have wised up though o:D

It has saved on some money the past couple of weeks, which is quite nice. We have a Blue Tit, which is a regular in and out all day and a couple of Doves too.
At least I can hang out my washing without fear of it being hit by the bird droppings at the moment! ;)

Dave great to be able to see the Sparrowhawk in action so close up.
 

Cheshire Birder

Well-known member
A good day for me - Buzzard, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch, Jay!! Needless to say this is because i've spent quite a bit of time by the window today.

CB
 

Fozzybear

Ich bin ein Vogelbeobachter
Cormorants typically use the rivers to navigate between local feeding sites. that said however they also regularly fly in a straight line between key sites. So if you are on a direct flight line between two large reservoirs you have a much improved chance of seeing one.

Interesting - will be keeping an eye out!


A good day for me - Buzzard, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch, Jay!! Needless to say this is because i've spent quite a bit of time by the window today.

CB

That's great! Very good ones to find around the garden! :eek!:

Sitting in the garden earlier I was listening to a Green Woodpecker somewhere off to the east in the village, possibly in the old oaks in the old wooded footpath nearby, or at the recreation ground... seemed a bit closer than that though. First time I've heard one from my garden, although I've seen Great Spotted Woodpeckers in the big old oaks around the corner.

When I'd recovered a bit from my long walk this morning I went out to put a little seed in the feeder and as I was hanging it back on it's place in the big cotoneaster I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. I looked up and the young Dunnock had flown across and landed in the cotoneaster just by my head. It flew down to the ground and spent a couple of minutes hopping around and feeding just a couple of feet from where I stood before flying off into the trees again... superb! |:D|
 

Bananafishbones

Incoherently Rambling .....
I have not been around too much over the weekend but the GSW has been back everyday now for a while and sometimes 3 times a day.

I enjoy the Coal tits and Great tits busy activity at the moment, the Coal tits especially vocal in the morning.

Sparrowhawk made a brief flyover this evening send everything up again but didnt make any attempt to hunt or hide.

Have attached a few pics from the weekend when I have been around

Dave
 

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