Very busy at the bird feeder today! (4 Viewers)

[Bananafishbones]

Here in the French Alps I'm seeing plenty of the first four species Rich, though the LtTs only appeared last week, good numbers of Marsh Tit, a single Crested for the past two months and a couple of Willow Tits when the snow was really heavy a few weeks ago. Other regulars are Chaffinch and Goldfinch but Greenfinch thin on the ground as are Siskin. Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodies are regular as is a Middle Spotted Woodpecker which has wandered up to our level and seems OK with the minus 8C nights. Before the snow got too bad we had c20 Brambling but there are only a couple about now. The cheap 'budgie' seed I put down is popular with around 25 Yellowhammer (and some pesky Jays!).
No House Sparrow for at least six weeks though!

Great birds
How high up are you?

Here in Turkey I am only 700m up on a plateau but completely surrounded by much higher mountains up to 2000m close by.

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Interesting with species distribution in gardens.
Starlings obviously tend to flock and often settle into a good reliable food source, maybe your neighbour now feeding (possibly all year) will be the catalyst for that species sticking around.
Always good to see the Bullfinch, cheers any day up.

There are a few locally Dave, but they don’t often come to our feeders. Bullies are great. Seem to do quite well around here. I often see them when walking the dog up the lane.

Had a cracking Red Kite low over the house last week as well. And the local Ravens are cronking away.

Rich

 

[Bananafishbones]

Two more for the garden
Crested Lark
Willow Warbler

Flock of Serin feeding on the grasses along the lane

 

[Richard Prior]

Great birds
How high up are you?

Here in Turkey I am only 700m up on a plateau but completely surrounded by much higher mountains up to 2000m close by.

Cheers, a bit of a change from when I lived at sea level on the Sussex coast ! We’re at exactly 1000m on the side of a valley with mountains around us up to 2500m. If it works here’s a link to the thread I started, post 17 has a photo attached showing the area: Birding halfway up the Alps
Willow Warbler must be a rare one there at this time of year?

 

[Bananafishbones]

Cheers, a bit of a change from when I lived at sea level on the Sussex coast ! We’re at exactly 1000m on the side of a valley with mountains around us up to 2500m. If it works here’s a link to the thread I started, post 17 has a photo attached showing the area: Birding halfway up the Alps
Willow Warbler must be a rare one there at this time of year?

Just the two Willow Warbler, plenty of chiffchaff in the village
However down on the sea front canal dozen upon dozen of Willow warbler picking flies from the air, never seen so many

 

[Bananafishbones]

Cheers, a bit of a change from when I lived at sea level on the Sussex coast ! We’re at exactly 1000m on the side of a valley with mountains around us up to 2500m. If it works here’s a link to the thread I started, post 17 has a photo attached showing the area: Birding halfway up the Alps
Willow Warbler must be a rare one there at this time of year?

Just read first post, excellent, so will catch up more 👍👍👍

 

[Evan Atkinson]

Had a large influx of birds on Tuesday when revising for exams. Had 14 goldfinches in the garden at once compared to the usual 2-4 there genuinely is and also 11 long tailed tits, a garden tick for me.

 

[Bananafishbones]

Walking to the bakers for a loaf this morning I found a Sardinian Warbler.
Heard it call, spotted it in a patch of scrubland until a passing truck disturbed it and couldn’t relocate it unfortunately.
Small flock of Serin are back, Siskins also in good numbers.

 

[Bananafishbones]

Nothing new in the garden for a few days.
Resident Little Owl sun’s itself every morning on our neighbour’s roof, Black Redstart and Blackcap still in good numbers.

Had to walk through the village for a few new birds, Sombre Tit and Kruipers Nuthatch.

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

1st Siskin back on Christmas Day. A handsome male. Then 2 females on Boxing Day.

 

[Evan Atkinson]

Added goldcrest to the garden list just now. Fleeting glimpses as it hopped through the 2 trees and made its way to a large conifer behind the house. Didn’t go to the feeders sadly.

 

[kb57]

Not an uncommon bird for many people, but after over 2 years living in her new house, my partner was overjoyed to add great spotted woodpecker to her garden list today. I get them almost daily where I live, but we thought the surrounding landscape was maybe a little too open to attract them to her place.

 

[Bananafishbones]

Rock Bunting new for the garden list

 

[Bananafishbones]

Well that’s it for my Winter holiday
We will return maybe in April by which time the spring migration will be in full swing.

Chaffinch have been the most abundant species followed by Blackcap. Black Redstart and Serin in good numbers also.

Syrian Woodpecker were very low in numbers compared to the rest of the year.

Obviously no Hirundines and warblers.
Biggest miss was Sombre Tit which I saw just outside the village

Happy new year

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

2 stunning male Bullies in the garden today.

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Temperature dropped a bit the last couple of days. Garden full of birds. Male and female GSW now visiting. A couple of Jays today. Grey Wagtail yesterday and Siskins are beginning to arrive.

 

[Bananafishbones]

Temperature dropped a bit the last couple of days. Garden full of birds. Male and female GSW now visiting. A couple of Jays today. Grey Wagtail yesterday and Siskins are beginning to arrive.

Excellent

Now I am back in Blighty I will start my 2022 garden list.
Tawny Owl last night being harassed by the Magpies

 

[KenM]

2 stunning male Bullies in the garden today.

Lucky Bugger!👍

 

[Evan Atkinson]

Adult Lesser-Black Backed Gull did a low flyby of the garden yesterday. Also had 2 long tailed tits, this was at my dads house btw.

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Female Bullfinch has arrived. Sparrowhawk flashed through yesterday. 2 Woodpigeons under the feeders which is unusual for us. Not unhappy as they are clearing up all the seed on the ground.