News Archive for 2010

• December 2010
  The wintry weather continuing into December has so far ensured a good variety of species and increasing numbers of birds. Up to 7 Blackbirds are in the garden at any one time, feeding on suet treats and scraps placed on the ground table, but they usually end up squabbling with one another. There are also up to 3 Song Thrushes, two of these appear to tolerate one another but not the third, and all are bullied by the Blackbirds. A solitary Redwing was also in the garden one day, feeding on spilled seeds and suet treats around the ground feeder. There have been up to 3 Blue Tits and a Great Tit a fairly regular visitors to the sunflower hearts. A couple of Coal Tits are dashing backwards and forwards, taking and storing black sunflower seeds. Three Long-tailed Tits have also been feeding from the suet balls. There have been 3 Bullfinches, several Chaffinches (at least 2 males and 3 females), up to 16 Greenfinches and 6 Goldfinches visiting the hanging seed feeders. A lone female Siskin has been in the garden, feeding on niger seed, sunflower hearts and suet. A couple of Collared Doves and 3 Woodpigeons have been foraging for spilled seed. Two Dunnocks have been seen - sometimes foraging among the undergrowth but also feeding on sunflower hearts from the hanging feeder. There are still relatively few House Sparrows about, with a maximum of 6 being seen at any time. Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been feeding on suet cake and peanuts. Up to 3 Jays and a Magpie have been visiting, both taking peanuts from the open-topped feeder, though the Jays are more agile and successful. Two Nuthatches have also been visiting and feeding on both peanuts and black sunflower seeds. There are a couple of Robins and, as might be expected, they do not get along with one another. They are feeding on suet treats from the ground table or sunflower hearts from the hanging feeders. An amazing sight was a flock of 37 Starlings descending on the garden and devouring the kitchen scraps but since then there have been at most 5 birds in the garden. Two Wrens have also been seen darting between snow-covered shrubs and trees. A Goldcrest was feeding on insects among the Cotoneaster and other shrubs in the garden and also from suet balls for a couple of the harshest days.
• November 2010
  Until about halfway through November the garden remained remarkably quiet. The most likely reason is that there is an abundant crop of berries, seeds and nuts in nearby woodland, parkland and countryside that is enticing the birds away from gardens. However, it seems this situation is changing and the number of species visiting the garden has increased from a rather dismal 7 to a more normal 16, and the first snows increased this to 19 species. A party of Tits - up to 12 Blue Tits, 2 Great Tits and 3 Coal Tits - are visiting the feeders (sunflower seeds, hearts, peanuts and suet), though most of the time there are just a handful. A large group of Long-tailed Tits are also seen occasionally, usually in the late afternoon, and a solitary bird has fed on the suet balls. There is also a handful of Greenfinches, up to 3 Chaffinches (2 females, 1 male) and a couple of Goldfinches visiting the feeders (sunflower seed). Some Siskins have been heard flying over on a couple of occasions but not yet seen. Three Blackbirds are in the neighbourhood, often chasing one another. Flocks of Redwings have been seen flying over but none as yet in or around the garden. A gorgeous Song Thrush is visiting the ground feeder table several times a day and so far seems not to be bullied by the Blackbirds, but this may change as food becomes scarcer. The snow has brought a further two Song Thrushes into the garden - two of them appear to tolerate one another but not the third. There are a few House Sparrows being seen but so far only a couple have been seen in the garden. One day, a Starling was a surprise visitor, pausing only briefly, however, on top of the bird table roof before flying away. Another surprise, brought by the snow, was a Nuthatch, which has fed on both peanuts and sunflower seeds. There are two Robins visiting - well, one visits and then either chases, or is chased by, the other! A pair of Collared Doves and up to 3 Woodpigeons are occasional visitors. A couple of Jays and a couple of Magpies are coming for the occasional peanut, normally this is late afternoon but is increasingly any time of the day. One Wren is also seen grovelling around all the nooks and crannies around the rockery and elsewhere in the garden looking for insects. A handsome male Sparrowhawk made a prolonged attack on the small birds within the shrubs but failed in its endeavours.
• October 2010
  The garden remains remarkably quiet. The most likely reason is that there is an abundant crop of berries, seeds and nuts in nearby woodland, parkland and countryside that is enticing the birds away from gardens. This is quite normal at this time of year but is probably more noticeable this year because for the past two years the nut crop has been extremely poor and making the birds to rely more on supplementary food in the garden. A party of Tits - up to 12 Blue Tits, 2 Great Tits and 3 Coal Tits - are visiting the feeders (sunflower seeds, hearts, peanuts and suet), though most of the time there are just a handful. There is also a handful of Greenfinches, a pair of Chaffinches and a solitary Goldfinch visiting the feeders (sunflower seed). Three Blackbirds are in the neighbourhood, often chasing one another. Flocks of Redwings have been seen flying over but none as yet in or around the garden. A Robin is a regular visitor and has completed its moult. A couple of House Sparrows have been seen so far this month. A Jay and a couple of Magpies are coming for the occasional peanut, normally this is late afternoon.
• September 2010
  The garden is still very quiet with regards the numbers of birds, though every now and then there is a flurry of activity with a flock of Tits. There was a male Blackbird during the first week being followed by a young bird, which repeatedly begged for food and was occasionally rewarded. A mixed flock of Tits, comprising up to about 20 Blue Tits, 2 Great Tits and 2 Coal Tits passes through almost daily. A few at a time visit the feeders but occasionally the majority descends and creates a bewildering spectacle. The number of finches seems to have dwindled with just a couple of Goldfinches and Greenfinches putting in an occasional appearance. The Bullfinches have not been seen for a few weeks. A Robin is a regular visitor, though remains quite shy still as it has not yet finished its moult. A solitary Dunnock has also started visiting again. Just one House Sparrow has been seen so far this month. Jays and Magpies have started visiting the garden quite regularly; in fact, most days.
• August 2010
  So far August has been remarkably quiet with very few birds in the garden; many are moulting, so are quite retiring, but many others are feasting on the berries in the wider countryside. Our male Blackbird continues to spend a lot of his time in the garden - feeding, bathing, preening and sitting around. He has stopped singing, so the breeding season is over for him. Up to 6 Blue Tits, mostly juveniles, are in the garden from time to time; generally early morning and late afternoon. Towards the end of the month there has been a large flock of Blue Tits and, on one occasion, at least 20 Blue Tits were swarming around the feeders. A couple of juvenile Great Tits sometimes accompany them and a Coal Tit has put in an occasional appearance. Generally, they are feeding on sunflower hearts and suet. A pair of Bullfinches continue to visit the garden, feeding on black sunflower seeds. One or two Goldfinches visit rarely, choosing the nyger seed over anything else, while up to 4 Greenfinches monopolise the black sunflower seeds. A couple of Robins have started to visit; on is a moulting adult and the other a juvenile that is just stating to get its red breast. We are down to 2 or 3 House Sparrows most of the time though occasionally up to 7 are seen. All the neighbours' nesting birds have fledged. A couple of Jays have started visiting the garden and, in particular, taking peanuts from the open-topped feeder.
• July 2010
  At last, an influx of fledglings and juveniles is bringing more action into the garden. A male Blackbird is still singing but not as much. At the beginning of the month he was typically singing from 3:45AM until 9PM and sometimes even later, but now it's just the occasional burst of song through the day. Several Blue Tits, mostly juveniles, and several juvenile Great Tits are regular visitors to the garden. A very scruffy looking Coal Tit is continuing to visit occasionally. Up to 10 House Sparrows are back and forth through the day, presumably fetching food for some hungry fledglings back at the nest. Goldfinches continue to visit, including up to 3 or 4 juveniles, which lack the red faces. Up to 5 Greenfinches are often perched on either the sunflower or nyger seeds. At least 5 Bullfinches are visiting, comprising two pairs and at least one juvenile. The Dunnocks are still present and it looks as if there are at least 2 pairs in the neighbourhood. There have also been very brief visits from a Sparrowhawk. A Jay visited a few times with 3 young in tow - making one almighty hullabaloo.
• June 2010
  After several weeks of the garden being very quiet, the influx of fledglings and juveniles is livening things up a lot. House Sparrows, comprising adults and fledglings, peaked at 14 but now the adults are nesting again and the juveniles have disappeared. A pair of Blackbirds are still about but it looks like the nest in the tree was abandoned. A pair of Blue Tits have been feeding two fledglings in the garden - if this is all that remains of their brood, it's not very good. Likewise a pair of Great Tits brought their 3 fledglings into the garden and two days later there were only two fledglings. A Coal Tit is putting in occasional appearances. Up to 3 Goldfinches are frequent visitors and up to 3 or 4 juveniles are visiting. A couple of Greenfinches are often on the bird feeders and at least 4 Bullfinches are visiting, presumably two pairs. The Dunnocks are still present and it looks as if there are at least 2 pairs in the neighbourhood. A male Great Spotted Woodpecker visits the feeders occasionally, usually choosing suet over peanuts. A male Blackcap has been heard singing on a few evenings and has been in the garden on a couple of occasions. There have also been very brief visits from a solitary Starling and a Sparrowhawk.
• May 2010
  As many of the birds are now nesting the garden has become rather quiet. A pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers continue to visit occasionally, though it is usually the male that comes to feed on the suet in the garden. There are just two Blackbirds in the garden from time to time, a male and a female, and they have decided to nest in one of the trees. A couple of Blue Tits and Great Tits are regular visitors, but neither have shown any interest in the nest boxes. A pair of Bullfinches continue to feed on black sunflower seeds. There are still a couple of Greenfinches and Goldfinches. The Dunnocks are still present, the male and female often together, dashing around the garden, so it seems very likely these are feeding young now. There is a maximum of about 5 House Sparrows, mostly males, so the females are probably incubating eggs or brooding nestlings. Four Starlings descended on the garden today (7th) looking for food among the shrubs, etc. The first Swift was seen on 5th May.
• April 2010
  With new growth on the trees and daffodils and crocuses flowering, spring has finally pushed winter aside, though we continue to get the occasional arctic chill! Most of the winter thrushes have left our garden now; no signs of the Redwings or Fieldfares, nor the visiting Blackbirds. The wintering Blackcap is still here. The Chaffinches and other woodland birds, such as Nuthatch, have also stopped visiting. Both a male and female Great Spotted Woodpecker have visited the garden - the pair have been seen together but not in the garden. There are just two Blackbirds in the garden from time to time, a male and a female. A Song Thrush is heard singing most days, but hasn't been seen for a while. A couple of Mistle Thrushes are still about, the male is often singing atop the large sycamore or occasionally rattling his alarm call when other Mistle Thrushes or Magpies intrude. A couple of Blue Tits and Great Tits are regular visitors. No interest is being shown yet in our nest boxes. The pair of Long-tailed Tits are in the garden throughout the day, feeding on the suet balls. One of them has lost its foot, there being just a stump now. They are nesting at the end of a neighbour's garden. At least 3 Bullfinches - 2 males and a female - continue to feed on black sunflower seeds. There are up to 6 Greenfinches and a similar number of Goldfinches. A couple of Dunnocks are present, with lots of wing-flicking and chasing going off. A solitary Robin is seen in the garden most days, as well as being heard singing throughout the day. There is a maximum of about 9 House Sparrows usually in the garden, feeding mostly on sunflower hearts and suet. The visits from the Jays and Magpies have dwindled. A couple of Wrens have been in the garden, showing quite a lot of interest in a conifer tree. Fingers crossed!
• March 2010
  Although it may not feel like it, as far as the birds are concerned, spring is in the air. Both Mistle and Song Thrushes have been singing for a while now and this week I've heard my first Blackbird singing. The number of Blackbirds has dwindled with only a handful now present. At least 2 Song Thrushes and a Mistle Thrush continue to visit. There are at least two pairs of Mistle Thrushes and a few fights have broken out as they set up their territories. The wintering male Blackcap is still feeding on the suet balls and occasionally on sunflower hearts. Today (18th), it has started to sing. The female has not been seen for a few weeks. A couple of Blue Tits and Great Tits are regular visitors. The pair of Long-tailed Tits are in the garden throughout the day, feeding on the suet balls, and possibly nesting at the end of a neighbour's garden. A Coal Tit visits rarely now. Numbers of finches is still reasonably steady: a couple of Bullfinches feeding on black sunflower seeds together with up to 6 Greenfinches, up to 6 Goldfinches feeding on sunflower hearts and niger and 2 Chaffinches feeding on the ground. Up to 3 Dunnocks are now present, with lots of wing-flicking and chasing going off. There are two Robins present; one is often singing from atop the neighbour's elder tree and regularly chases the other away (which seems to originate from further down the road). There is a maximum of about 9 House Sparrows usually in the garden, feeding mostly on kitchen scraps, mixed seeds and sunflower hearts. Increasingly, they are preening and sunbathing in the Photinia tree, and chirruping incessantly. Two Jays continues to visit the peanut holder, collecting several in its crop before flying away to cache them. Often, they perch on a nearby fence, placing the peanuts on the fence post before proceeding to eat them one by one. A number of Magpies are around but only one ventures into the garden occasionally, usually to try to get peanuts the same way that the Jay does. The Magpies have started nest building. Up to 4 Wood Pigeons visit now and then but rarely feed, more often than not they are looking for water to drink. The female Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Nuthatch have not been seen for a couple of weeks. A couple of diminutive Wrens are glimpsed darting around the garden, searching remaining nooks and crannies for invertebrates.
• February 2010
  The continuing cold weather, snow (on 3rd and 21st) and frozen ground means birds are still struggling to find food, albeit not to the same extent as last month. However, natural foods are rapidly dwindling and new growth will not start for a few more weeks, so species like Greenfinches, Goldfinches and Bullfinches will find survival more difficult and their dependence on our supplementary foods will increase. There up to 8 Blackbirds chasing one another round the garden now, attempting to drive others away so they can take the lion's share of the food. At least 2 Song Thrushes and a Mistle Thrush continue to visit. The flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares have not been seen but a solitary Redwing does keep reappearing. The thrushes adore suet treats, fatty scraps and raisins, and occasionally gorging on the cotoneaster berries. Song Thrushes and Mistle Thrushes are both singing. A wintering male Blackcap is seen regularly feeding on the suet balls and is occasionally joined by a female. A couple of Blue Tits and Great Tits are regular visitors, though there are probably many more visiting through the day. A flock of half a dozen Long-tailed Tits is seen occasionally but a pair appear to be thinking about nesting somewhere nearby - they are feeding on the suet numerous times during the day, between bouts of looking for moss, fluff, spiders webs, etc. There are up to 4 Bullfinches (2 males, 2 females) in the garden most days, feeding on black sunflower seeds. Up to 6 Greenfinches and 2 Chaffinch are also feeding; the Chaffinches usually on the ground, eating small seeds, the Greenfinches on the black sunflower seeds or sunflower hearts. The number of Goldfinches is increasing with up to 4 present but quite a few others visiting. A couple of Dunnocks and a Robin are almost permanent fixtures, the latter rather unusually not chasing the Dunnock too much. The Dunnocks feed on the ground mostly but occasionally enters the caged feeder containing sunflower hearts. The Robin has catholic tastes, eating kitchen scraps, suet treats, sunflower hearts, etc. There are up to 15 House Sparrows, feeding mostly on kitchen scraps, mixed seeds and sunflower hearts. Two Jays continues to visit the peanut holder, collecting several in its crop before flying away to cache them. Often, they perch on a nearby fence, placing the peanuts on the fence post before proceeding to eat them one by one. A number of Magpies are around but only one ventures into the garden occasionally, usually to try to get peanuts the same way that the Jay does. Up to 4 Wood Pigeons visit now and then but rarely feed, more often than not they are looking for water to drink. The female Great Spotted Woodpecker is still an occasional visitor. Most often, she feeds on the suet but has also been feeding on peanuts. A couple of diminutive Wrens are glimpsed darting around the garden, searching remaining nooks and crannies for invertebrates.
• January 2010
  The deep snow and frozen ground made finding food extremely difficult for birds and what natural foods are available are severely depleted. Consequently, many birds that would not normally have been seen in the gardens of our towns and cities were being seen, partly because urban areas are warmer than the open countryside but mainly because we are providing supplementary foods. These foods were critical to their survival and for many will continue to be. The number of thrushes has increased dramatically in our garden. There now up to 10 Blackbirds vying with one another for food on the bird table but also 3 Song Thrushes and a Mistle Thrush. Loose flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares are in the neighbourhood but a couple of Redwings has more or less taken up residence in our gardens. A solitary Fieldfare visited the garden once. The thrushes adore suet treats, fatty scraps and raisins, and occasionally gorging on the cotoneaster berries. A wintering Blackcap is seen regularly feeding on the suet balls. A couple of Blue Tits, Great Tits and Long-tailed Tits are regular visitors, though there are probably many more visiting through the day. Coal Tits had not been seen for a few weeks but as soon as the snow had gone one started visiting again. There is a pair of Bullfinches in the garden most days, feeding on black sunflower seeds. Up to 4 Greenfinches and 4 Chaffinches are also feeding; the Chaffinches usually on the ground, eating small seeds, the Greenfinches on the black sunflower seeds or sunflower hearts. Just a couple of Goldfinches are visiting now, the others may have moved on in search of warmer conditions. A solitary Dunnock and Robin are almost permanent fixtures, the latter rather unusually not chasing the Dunnock too much. The Dunnock feeds on the ground mostly but occasionally enters the caged feeder containing sunflower hearts. The Robin has catholic tastes, eating kitchen scraps, suet treats, sunflower hearts, etc. There remains a handful of House Sparrows, feeding mostly on kitchen scraps, mixed seeds and sunflower hearts. At least one Jay continues to visit the peanut holder, collecting several in its crop before flying away to cache them. Increasingly, however, it will eat one or more whilst perching on the clothes post. A number of Magpies are around but only one ventures into the garden occasionally, usually to try to get peanuts the same way that the Jay does. Up to 4 Wood Pigeons visit now and then but rarely feed, more often than not they are looking for water to drink. The female Great Spotted Woodpecker is still an occasional visitor. Most often, she feeds on the suet but has also been feeding on peanuts. A diminutive Wren is glimpsed darting around the garden, searching remaining nooks and crannies for invertebrates.