twenty Posted December 18, 2022 Report Share Posted December 18, 2022 The predicted Waxwing movement appears to be alive, sightings today (18/12/22), per Birdguide, report Waxwing in, Dumfries and Galloway, Angus and Dundee, Lothian, Co Down, North Yorkshire, Northumberland, Anglesey, Shropshire, and Suffolk.........🤞 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninjaferret Posted December 20, 2022 Report Share Posted December 20, 2022 Saw a group of 14 long tailed tits in my garden this morning, lovely little birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NatureBoy Posted December 21, 2022 Report Share Posted December 21, 2022 Seen very bold waxwings locally in Mid Suffolk last two days. Stunning birds in winter light. Fresh dead little orc found on local shoot last month. Not the first found so far in land, but very unusual. I still have a guillemot i found on job 30mls in land 8yr ago. When birds like that get blown off course and grounded they are doomed. NB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted December 23, 2022 Report Share Posted December 23, 2022 (edited) On 21/12/2022 at 04:37, NatureBoy said: Seen very bold waxwings locally in Mid Suffolk last two days. Stunning birds in winter light. Fresh dead little orc found on local shoot last month. Not the first found so far in land, but very unusual. I still have a guillemot i found on job 30mls in land 8yr ago. When birds like that get blown off course and grounded they are doomed. NB unable to load file Edited December 23, 2022 by islandgun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted January 2, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2023 Happy new year, one and all! My birding year started off really poorly! I booked in half a day's birding before pub lunch with the family. I was hoping to get in 70 species across three sites of wetlands, farmland and coast. Ordinarily it'd be a good winter challenge. I managed 47. I was gazumped by all the wetland areas that produce good numbers of waders were completely flooded. A strong wind put the kibosh on lots of passerines and it was all a bit rubbish! Notable exceptions were things like little egrets, rooks and pheasants. HOW DOES ONE GO OUT BIRDING AND NOT SEE A PHEASANT?! I didn't even know that was even possible. But anyway. It was marvellous. Great Northern Divers in Portland harbour and more snipe at Lodmoor than could be shot by a medium sized army. Here's to a new year of seeing some excellent feathered friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted January 2, 2023 Report Share Posted January 2, 2023 Well done anyway. We have seen a sudden drop of of birds visiting our feeders. The one at the house normally needs topping up every three days and the 7 tables down the wood almost every day peanuts wise. The peanuts are still getting hit by the tit families but everyhting else other than three fat woodpigeons and a robin have vanished. We used to get at least 20 -25 house sparrows come in en masse and a family of gold finches, all vanished. At first thought the sparrow hawk had been though and put them off but now almost three weeks at least same circumstances. Hope it is not the dreaded flu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted January 2, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2023 40 minutes ago, Walker570 said: Well done anyway. We have seen a sudden drop of of birds visiting our feeders. The one at the house normally needs topping up every three days and the 7 tables down the wood almost every day peanuts wise. The peanuts are still getting hit by the tit families but everyhting else other than three fat woodpigeons and a robin have vanished. We used to get at least 20 -25 house sparrows come in en masse and a family of gold finches, all vanished. At first thought the sparrow hawk had been though and put them off but now almost three weeks at least same circumstances. Hope it is not the dreaded flu. You're not the only one with that experience. This seems to be nation wide and it ties in with my feeling birding in countryside. So either the birds are all having a quiet little picnic in one tiny corner of Britain where no one goes, or there are far fewer of them. We all know about bird flu's effect on seabird numbers, but their colonies are far more obvious and easy to analyse. Our small birds might be the unnoticed victims. Not a good sign and desperate timing for greenfinch; numbers were beginning to creep up after Trichonomosis crashed the population. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted January 3, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2023 Birders. Famously poor at seeing the bigger picture... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted January 3, 2023 Report Share Posted January 3, 2023 Brilliant. He's moved a bit further north as reported. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jall25 Posted January 10, 2023 Report Share Posted January 10, 2023 Been up and fed the little birds on our tracks today and while i was waiting for a meeting i sat watching them feed - literally hundreds and hundreds of finches/yellow hammers/ sparrows / tits / finches - really really really chuffed ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted January 11, 2023 Report Share Posted January 11, 2023 It was a joy to see a male bullfinch feeding on some dock seeds this morning, They really are one of our most colourful birds, it just glowed in the sun. Unfortunately the bird numbers here on our place have not improved with only a few Blue/Great tits on the peanuts, even the robin has vanished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jall25 Posted January 11, 2023 Report Share Posted January 11, 2023 55 minutes ago, Walker570 said: It was a joy to see a male bullfinch feeding on some dock seeds this morning, They really are one of our most colourful birds, it just glowed in the sun. Unfortunately the bird numbers here on our place have not improved with only a few Blue/Great tits on the peanuts, even the robin has vanished. Thats nice Walker We have thousands and thousands this year - the holly / hawthorn and rowan are really doing their jobs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twenty Posted January 12, 2023 Report Share Posted January 12, 2023 Female Greenfinch on the sunflower heart feeder this morning, Male greenfinch yesterday, Also 15 Goldfinch using the Nyger and sunflower heart feeders at the same time, with dunnock cleaning up underneath. Had a pied wagtail in last week as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted January 12, 2023 Report Share Posted January 12, 2023 Daughter saw a stonechat on her dog walk yesterday, but I`m not sure how rare they are in this part of Kent. She saw it near the Reculver (North Kent coast) marshes. Always see charms of goldfinches feeding on the teazles alongside my favourite wood when out shooting, but regrettably have not seen a bullfinch for many years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted January 31, 2023 Report Share Posted January 31, 2023 On 12/01/2023 at 15:42, Old Boggy said: not seen a bullfinch for many years. We normally get a pair in the garden but I've not seen them for a while, @Sciurus said he gets loads in his garden. On 11/01/2023 at 14:10, Walker570 said: Unfortunately the bird numbers here on our place have not improved with only a few Blue/Great tits on the peanuts, even the robin has vanished. All pretty normal up here, plenty of tits, occasional Greenfinches & Goldfinches loads of Dunnocks, had a pair of Black caps coming for the last week. Robin and Blackbirds are always here with the thrush making an appearance recently. Lots of magpies and an increase in Jays, plus they are bolder than they used to be. And pigeons, lots of pigeons. We also through out some white bread weeks ago, no idea where they came from but there were a dozen Turns ( I think) straight in the garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cash1 Posted February 1, 2023 Report Share Posted February 1, 2023 This morning my wife shouted through from the kitchen " come and see this small hawk" I'm pretty sure it was a Hobby or Merlin. Not much bigger than a black bird, very Falcon looking and with shorter lighter built legs than a Sparrow Hawk. I got a grainy photo on my phone sadly our proper camera's battery was flat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted February 3, 2023 Report Share Posted February 3, 2023 On 02/01/2023 at 20:19, chrisjpainter said: Notable exceptions were things like little egrets, rooks and pheasants. HOW DOES ONE GO OUT BIRDING AND NOT SEE A PHEASANT?! I didn't even know that was even possible I was out after dark last night and there were plenty of rooks in the wood . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted February 3, 2023 Report Share Posted February 3, 2023 On 01/02/2023 at 10:24, cash1 said: This morning my wife shouted through from the kitchen " come and see this small hawk" I'm pretty sure it was a Hobby or Merlin. Not much bigger than a black bird, very Falcon looking and with shorter lighter built legs than a Sparrow Hawk. I got a grainy photo on my phone sadly our proper camera's battery was flat. It would most likely be a Merlin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted February 3, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2023 On 01/02/2023 at 10:24, cash1 said: This morning my wife shouted through from the kitchen " come and see this small hawk" I'm pretty sure it was a Hobby or Merlin. Not much bigger than a black bird, very Falcon looking and with shorter lighter built legs than a Sparrow Hawk. I got a grainy photo on my phone sadly our proper camera's battery was flat. Pop up the photo here? Should be able to get an ID for you! We have had as many as eight great northern divers in Portland harbour this winter, but only occasional sightings of red and black-throated. We have a Richard's Pipit in Weymouth too. I need to find another reason to go down there, because it's a very unremarkable bird, on the other hand I've never seen one, so I feel obliged to make an effort! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twenty Posted February 3, 2023 Report Share Posted February 3, 2023 Cock Greenfinch on the garden feeder (sunflower hearts) today. Drake SCAUP at Slimbridge WWT for the last few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted February 6, 2023 Report Share Posted February 6, 2023 On 31/01/2023 at 21:28, Mice! said: We normally get a pair in the garden but I've not seen them for a while, @Sciurus said he gets loads in his garden. All pretty normal up here, plenty of tits, occasional Greenfinches & Goldfinches loads of Dunnocks, had a pair of Black caps coming for the last week. Robin and Blackbirds are always here with the thrush making an appearance recently. Lots of magpies and an increase in Jays, plus they are bolder than they used to be. And pigeons, lots of pigeons. We also through out some white bread weeks ago, no idea where they came from but there were a dozen Turns ( I think) straight in the garden. Black Headed Gulls more likely. On 01/02/2023 at 10:24, cash1 said: This morning my wife shouted through from the kitchen " come and see this small hawk" I'm pretty sure it was a Hobby or Merlin. Not much bigger than a black bird, very Falcon looking and with shorter lighter built legs than a Sparrow Hawk. I got a grainy photo on my phone sadly our proper camera's battery was flat. Hobbies will have migrated to Africa, so a Merlin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted March 4, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2023 Eyes to the skies! The first Dorset Osprey's been spotted! 4th March and they're back in town. The Spring migration's under way. We've also had reports of a Sand Martin. Here comes the sun... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jall25 Posted March 5, 2023 Report Share Posted March 5, 2023 On 11/01/2023 at 14:10, Walker570 said: It was a joy to see a male bullfinch feeding on some dock seeds this morning, They really are one of our most colourful birds, it just glowed in the sun. Unfortunately the bird numbers here on our place have not improved with only a few Blue/Great tits on the peanuts, even the robin has vanished. Have your birds returned Walker We are seeing incredible results with our feeding regime Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted March 6, 2023 Report Share Posted March 6, 2023 I actually saw some Chaffinches last week, at least ten all in and around the same tree, and to think they were such a common sight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted March 6, 2023 Report Share Posted March 6, 2023 On 05/03/2023 at 07:04, jall25 said: Have your birds returned Walker We are seeing incredible results with our feeding regime I just typed a whole list and it suddenly all vanished so yes they have returned. Anyone else have this happen? Whole sections of print just vanish with maybe the last three words left ????????????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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