Worcestershire Garden Watch (1 Viewer)

[midlands birder]

at least 3 siskin visiting our feeders in stourport with a good flock of 20c goldfinch for the last week, a m chaffinch with a foot fungus as john described earlier, and another male chaffinch with only 1 foot......
MB

 

[Sy V]

Got a few pictures too this weekend - I'll post them later from home.
Still none of the Winter starlets in our garden.
Gail insists that she's seen Redpoll, but I haven't and no Siskin or Brambling like last year.
Did have the Pied Wagtail visit an area I'd cleared of snow on Sunday though.

 

[Sy V]

Here are a couple of snaps from this weekend.
A Woodpigeon sat having a scratch in the Ash tree that I had surgery performed on in the late Summer last year. It'll be interesting to see how/if it grows back this Spring.
A female Bullfinch having her fill of Sultanas and a pair of Goldfinches enjoying the Nyger and white Sunflower hearts.

 

[midlands birder]

a few more weeks and our feeder will be heaving under lesserpolls, siskin and goldfinch,
something to look forward to aint it sy
MB

 

[simbird]

Song Thrush singing ~ Beautiful song & lovely notes ~ Spring 2010 Birds UK

I though you might like to see and hear this Song Thrush in my garden... I can not believe my luck to get such a lovely singer in my garden...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAikugoLg6M

From my *You Tube* user name *simbirdcom*

 

[upstarts1979]

I though you might like to see and hear this Song Thrush in my garden... I can not believe my luck to get such a lovely singer in my garden...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAikugoLg6M

From my *You Tube* user name *simbirdcom*

Nice one Simon
I have had song thrush only twice in 2 years for just minutes ...singing in gardens is quite a rarity these days
cheers John

 

[wheatearlp]

A subtle change in the weather today, or moving my feeders back to their original location? Whichever, I've seen more birds in my garden this morning in an hour than I've seen for about a fortnight:t:

Species and numbers were:

Blackcap (male & female)
Bullfinch 4
Chaffinch 6+
Greenfinch 5+
Goldfinch 5
Blackbird 2
Song Thush 1
Starling 2
Long-tailed Tit 2
Dunnock 1
Blue Tit 4+
Great Tit 3+

Perhaps spring is on the way :-O:-O

 

[upstarts1979]

Not a bad list there wheatearlp
mine today
Blackbird - 8, Siskin female, Robin, Dunnock 4, Collared dove 6, House sparrow 35, wood pigeon 3, Great tit 2, Blue tit 2,

 

[upstarts1979]

Spring is here

Not birds but the first proper sign of spring over 50 in my pond today.

 

[upstarts1979]

Its been a bit quiet on here recently.
Sighting in my garden for today
willow Warbler flycatching above and around my pond on and off most of the day.
singing and nesting birds include:
Robin
Wren
blue and great tit
dunnock
collared dove
wood pigeon
house sparrow
chaffinch
greenfinch

 

[Sy V]

Nice numbers and nice activity mate.

 

[Sy V]

Having resigned myself last night to the fact that I needed to do some work in the garden (and that Upton Warren would have to wait until tomorrow) I was sitting watching the box trying to muster some enthusiasm for the garden chores ahead, when I heard the tell-tale bump of something having flown into the conservatory window. Aware of the garden's propensity for Saturday morning cat visits, I rushed out to see what had happened.
I was amazed to see not one, but two Goldcrest lying on the floor stunned by the impact. I can only assume that some courtship aerobatics must have gone horribly wrong.
Remembering what I'd been taught by Fergus (when ringing) about keeping seemingly stunned/cold/generally reluctant to fly birds warm, I placed them together in one hand and cupped my other hand over them. At first there were no signs of movement then, after what seemed like an eternity I felt a leg move.
Thinking that to revive one would be a bonus I continued the approach; removing my upper hand every so often and letting the early morning sun warm them too. I even nipped inside and got my camera. Turned it on in one hand and managed a couple of shots, noticing that they twitched a little with each shutter movement. Then as if they'd exchanged confirmatory looks with one another they both flew away, apparently none the worse for their experience.

 

[Pam Dragon]

Nice to have a happy ending Sy. Well done o
Aren`t they beautiful, I bet it was nice to be so close to them

 

[upstarts1979]

Having resigned myself last night to the fact that I needed to do some work in the garden (and that Upton Warren would have to wait until tomorrow) I was sitting watching the box trying to muster some enthusiasm for the garden chores ahead, when I heard the tell-tale bump of something having flown into the conservatory window. Aware of the garden's propensity for Saturday morning cat visits, I rushed out to see what had happened.
I was amazed to see not one, but two Goldcrest lying on the floor stunned by the impact. I can only assume that some courtship aerobatics must have gone horribly wrong.
Remembering what I'd been taught by Fergus (when ringing) about keeping seemingly stunned/cold/generally reluctant to fly birds warm, I placed them together in one hand and cupped my other hand over them. At first there were no signs of movement then, after what seemed like an eternity I felt a leg move.
Thinking that to revive one would be a bonus I continued the approach; removing my upper hand every so often and letting the early morning sun warm them too. I even nipped inside and got my camera. Turned it on in one hand and managed a couple of shots, noticing that they twitched a little with each shutter movement. Then as if they'd exchanged confirmatory looks with one another they both flew away, apparently none the worse for their experience.

Sy
You are my hero:t:
Can you imagine what death toll must occur on glass fronted tower blocks
not worth thinking about:-C

 

[Sy V]

Wandered downstairs this morning and caught a glimpse of a pair of Mallards in our tiny garden pond (they did this last year). Once I'd got some suitable clothing on I ventured outside only to witness abstract carnage in the pond with all the grasses and plant life disturbed. The water looking like oxtail soup and these two characters sat in the paddock about ten yards way...

 

[upstarts1979]

Wandered downstairs this morning and caught a glimpse of a pair of Mallards in our tiny garden pond (they did this last year). Once I'd got some suitable clothing on I ventured outside only to witness abstract carnage in the pond with all the grasses and plant life disturbed. The water looking like oxtail soup and these two characters sat in the paddock about ten yards way...

Up until this year I have had a pair of mallard every spring in my pond. I didn't realise what they were up to at first but then i notice a distinct lack of tadpoles. The last three years I have meshed over some of the pond to protect the tadpoles. This year they have finally got the hint that they are not wanted.
B john

 

[Sy V]

I had quite an eventful day yesterday. I was due to have a meeting in Birmingham so I wasn't as early out of the house as normal. I took cup of coffee up to the end of the garden to give the fields a once over. As I stepped out of the house I was aware of a large number of hirundines over the garden and fields (mainly Swallows and House Martins). I fed the fish and continued up to the back gate and was almost immediately confronted by a low flying hobby that sped off to the North. He didn't appear to have been hunting and gave the impression of being transitory (Vis Mig), but I suppose he could have been there for some time causing mayhem.
Once I got home (earlier than normal) I was greeted by a text from John, confirming the launch of the rafts and decided to clean out the pond and cut the lawns. It was as I was doing the latter that I noticed a pair of Jackdaws mobbing something on the ground in an adjoining field. I stopped and watched, expecting to see something trying to fly off... nothing. Then this fast moving lowly slung animal appeared through the fence pursued by the corvids. My initial reaction was weasel, but then I realised that I was viewing it at a range of nearly 200 yards. This beast was big. I continued to watch as it progressed along the line of an old fence that dissects my land (rabbits were scattering left right and centre) and eventually it reach the sanctuary of an old Holy bush which has a lot of prickly cover around its base (and under which are a number of rabbit warrens). The Jackdaws eventually lost interest and I was left to reflect on my first ever live sighting (in the UK) of a Polecat. I went in a cracked a can of Banks's in celebration! I eventually finished off the lawn.

 

[Sy V]

While I was replenishing the feeders on Saturday morning I heard the unmistakable trill of a Skylark. Eventually I spied him high above the garden. Later in the day I also got a fleeting glimpse of what I think was a juvenile Pied Wagtail. I went back into the house for the camera, but by the time I'd got it there was no evidence of the bird's presence. His dad was knocking about so I grabbed some pictures of him. I was about to go back in doors when I recognised the alarm call of an old friend. Let's hope they're breeding again because this is the first time I've seen them all year. But if the presence of their black nemesis is anything to go by they might have their work cut out again.

 

[Sy V]

I'm afraid I've seen no further evidence of the Lapwings. I was heartened to see this Mistle Thrush earlier this evening though.

 

[Sy V]

I took another stroll around the fields this morning. The Hirundines were giving superb aerobatic shows. A female Kestrel swooped low over the area - I can't imagine she was trying to compete though. The resident Buzzard soared majestically overhead and a pair of Collared Doves sunned themselves at every opportunity. I was surprised to see both the Swallows and House Martins still nest building though - perhaps nothing more than running repairs...