chooklady Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 These are stripping the flower buds off my flowering plum Look, the little monkey has a beak full Bullfinches are gorgeous, don't be cross with them, they are on the RSPB endangered list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooklady Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 hey and a black and white bird that i've no idea of its breed. It's about the same size as a sparrow with a long tail and these really lovely black and white markings that look almost like he has got Egyptian eye makeup on. He's a real stunner my instinct says some sort of tit but i'm not sure. Beth Try looking up long tail tit as they are small and fluffy with stripes down their wings and have a long tail - they are really cute. Hes quite similar to that but has much more black with black lines across his eyes so goodness knows what he is but thanks Was it on the ground or on a feeder? Was it a wagtail maybe? Try this http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdidentifier/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Bullfinches are gorgeous, don't be cross with them, they are on the RSPB endangered list. I'm not cross. I'm lucky to have two pairs that visit but I see them only when this rather large old tree is in bud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooklady Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Bullfinches are gorgeous, don't be cross with them, they are on the RSPB endangered list. I'm not cross. I'm lucky to have two pairs that visit but I see them only when this rather large old tree is in bud. Sorry thought you were because they were eating the buds I have a pair that are around in the Autumn, they like the berries on my honeysuckle, when they have eaten them all they disappear until next Autumn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodcat Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Was it on the ground or on a feeder? Was it a wagtail maybe? Try this http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdidentifier/ Thank you it was a pied wagtail utterly gorgeous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 I've just seen a Redwing in our crab-apple tree. The last time I saw a Redwing around here was about 10 years ago. I have also seen bulfinches at our wildlife site and also fieldfares. There is definitely a greater variety of birds in the garden at this time of year. We feed the birds all year round but obviously they are losing their fear of humans to come and feed while food is scarce. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 Don't forget it's the RSPB Big Garden birdwatch on 30th & 31st January! http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/ I love doing this - a quiet hour sat by the window with biccies, tea and binocs. I try to get the boys to join in but they've had enough after 5 minutes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 These are stripping the flower buds off my flowering plum Look, the little monkey has a beak full I hadn't seen a Bullfinch since I was a child and was absolutely delighted to see one in our front garden yesterday and for it to be a male. They are stunning birds . We have Blackcaps back in the garden too. They used to be regulars when we first moved here but only visit occasionally now along with Redwings and Fieldfares. The common fellas are still here - Robins, Dunnocks, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Blackbirds, Starlings, Sparrows, Chaffinches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 Don't forget it's the RSPB Big Garden birdwatch on 30th & 31st January!http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/ I love doing this - a quiet hour sat by the window with biccies, tea and binocs. I try to get the boys to join in but they've had enough after 5 minutes! Yes, I spotted some info just yesterday. I lovely way to spend an hour. Also don't forget Snow Watch from the Spring and Autumn Watch team on BBC 2 tonight at 8 O'Clock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 I do the BTO Garden Birdwatch all year round - monitoring bird numbers visiting our garden on a weekly basis. I also do the BTO Birdtrack stuff at our wildlife site although not so regularly as I don't usually have time to birdwatch when I'm there! This will be the first year for many years that I can do the RSPB one as I'm nearly always skiing the last week in January! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 I do the BTO nestbox survey. We have cameras in two of the boxes, sparrow and bluetit and have put up two swallow nests to replace the mud ones that fell down. Alas no swallows but we have bluetits and wrens roosting in them at present. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 We have wrens roosting in our old swallow nests in the porch & have done for several years .......we get buzzed if we go out after dusk & disturb them We've seen loads of birds at our table, it's normally DH's domain, but as he's been leaving before it's properly light I've been doing the honours..........I stood & watched 4 little fat robins skit over the table and my feet the other day, so sweet......lots of various tits, finches, thrushes and sparrows....... moorhens and pheasants at the base...I saw my first fieldfare on the crabapple earlier in the week.........and I'm absolutely certain I saw an owl (probably barn, though I didn't have my specs on to get a better look ) fly along the line of the hedge in the field behind us ....I got very excited Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooklady Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 and I'm absolutely certain I saw an owl (probably barn, though I didn't have my specs on to get a better look ) fly along the line of the hedge in the field behind us ....I got very excited That sounds like a Barn Owl, how lovely. I've only ever seen one Barn Owl which flew across the front of my car one night a few years back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 We have had our usual sparrows, bluetits, robin and blackbirds, but also we have had black caps red wings and long tail tits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted January 19, 2010 Author Share Posted January 19, 2010 Exotic birds have all gone now that the weather is better - if we saved a few from starving then it was a good job done with all the extra food we put out. Also had lots of fieldfares which were stunning and a wagtail. Looking at the birdwatch survey leaflet for the end of the month it says that starling numbers are drastically down - they should come and look in my garden as they are all there!!! Very cheeky greedy birds Never used to feed the wild birds until about a year ago - now we are obsessed and it costs us a fortune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 Aldi have nest box cameras for £39.99 this thursday if anybody is interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
