Same here David Mathews2 - female blackcap now seen regularly - never seen them before in the winter, but apparently they are staying in this country now to overwinter.
This morning we've around two dozen black blackbirds in the back garden ... all pretending they can't see the others ... tucking into porridge oats, chopped apple and leftover macaroni cheese, and they're queuing up to bathe at the edge of the pond where I've removed the ice.
We've also got greenfinches, chaffinches, bluetits, great tits, a pair of robins and a group of house sparrows on the feeders, and a wren busying itself around the clematis-covered fences ... I've not seen the dunnocks out there yet this morning, but I'm pretty sure they're around somewhere ... they usually are
I wonder where they'll all go to hide next weekend when it's the Big Birdwatch ...
Last edited: 22 January 2017 11:20:56
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Think my resident robin is Dennis junior (offspring of Dennis and 'not Dennis' ) - the youngster that was born last year. He has a bit of attitude
Likes his cheese too Dove - he's got some Wensleydale this morning
I haven't seen the blackbirds as much this winter - think they've been busy hoovering up the cotoneaster berries out at the back of the boundary. There's one pair which are fairly regular though. It's taken a few years to get them in but always worth it
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I am fairly sure I just saw a Sparrowhawk in my garden!!! He was perched on my apple tree. I prepared the video-cam but he flew off... gutted, I sat back down to research identification and about twenty mins later a beautiful Jay appeared!
I hope I have a good quality hour like that when I do the Bird Count next weekend!
Been watching the birds with my bino's this morning...3 or 4 blackbird, a very brown colour one? Female? Was really getting stuck in to a suet block...couple of blue tits and a great tit? Black head? were after the black sunflower seeds. Another black bird on another suet block, block was swinging in the holder, so he pecked it out, let it drop and then went down to clear up....it has taken the birds several months to get used to the feeding station since i moved it....a robin came along too and a little bird, robin size and colour but no red breast? Any ideas? I should get a book! We have wrens and green finches too... Hope to do the bird count next weekend ?
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Same here David Mathews2 - female blackcap now seen regularly - never seen them before in the winter, but apparently they are staying in this country now to overwinter.
This morning we've around two dozen black blackbirds in the back garden ... all pretending they can't see the others ... tucking into porridge oats, chopped apple and leftover macaroni cheese, and they're queuing up to bathe at the edge of the pond where I've removed the ice.
We've also got greenfinches, chaffinches, bluetits, great tits, a pair of robins and a group of house sparrows on the feeders, and a wren busying itself around the clematis-covered fences ... I've not seen the dunnocks out there yet this morning, but I'm pretty sure they're around somewhere ... they usually are
I wonder where they'll all go to hide next weekend when it's the Big Birdwatch ...
Last edited: 22 January 2017 11:20:56
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Think my resident robin is Dennis junior (offspring of Dennis and 'not Dennis' ) - the youngster that was born last year. He has a bit of attitude
Likes his cheese too Dove - he's got some Wensleydale this morning
I haven't seen the blackbirds as much this winter - think they've been busy hoovering up the cotoneaster berries out at the back of the boundary. There's one pair which are fairly regular though. It's taken a few years to get them in but always worth it
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Great picture of your blackbird FG.
Thanks F'edge
That was actually from last winter, but I think I have the same pair again - if that's possible...not really sure!
Good when they sit nicely for a while on the fence though
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
That's the trouble with birds - they keep moving!
Next weekend is the Great British birdwatch run by the RSPB. I hope to do it on Sunday afternoon. Are any of you joining in?
Yes, I always do it. We're away Saturday so it'll be Sunday or Monday here.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I am fairly sure I just saw a Sparrowhawk in my garden!!! He was perched on my apple tree. I prepared the video-cam but he flew off... gutted, I sat back down to research identification and about twenty mins later a beautiful Jay appeared!
I hope I have a good quality hour like that when I do the Bird Count next weekend!
Last edited: 22 January 2017 15:51:06
Been watching the birds with my bino's this morning...3 or 4 blackbird, a very brown colour one? Female? Was really getting stuck in to a suet block...couple of blue tits and a great tit? Black head? were after the black sunflower seeds. Another black bird on another suet block, block was swinging in the holder, so he pecked it out, let it drop and then went down to clear up....it has taken the birds several months to get used to the feeding station since i moved it....a robin came along too and a little bird, robin size and colour but no red breast? Any ideas? I should get a book! We have wrens and green finches too... Hope to do the bird count next weekend ?