Garden Birds chat 2011

Cardynal

Male and Female Bullfinch in the Garden this morning , Stayed for a few minutes before moving on.

Ditch

I've looked out my window, first thing, today? Six Lesser Redpoll, right bang under the window! I'm sat here, studying these gorgeous little birds at three foot as they pecked about completely unconcerned by my appearance. Bless 'em!

ISP_dude

Had a female siskin hanging around the feeders all morning. First siskin I've seen in the garden

Rainbowsend

A first for my garden today three little Redpoll, was thrilled to see them didnt realise they were so tiny!

doctor evil

I love the birdfeeder Rainbowsend, what do you have it connected to? Do you get big birds landing on it.

Rainbowsend

doctor evil wrote: »

I love the birdfeeder Rainbowsend, what do you have it connected to? Do you get big birds landing on it.

It is a tall pole with feeders hanging on the top and a water bowl and this little mesh bowl for the birds that dont like the feeders, 15 euro in Heatons
it is brilliant, and funnily enough the big birds dont seem to bother with it.
Looks quite nice too!

whyulittle

Is there any little bird, similar to a male chaffinch, but with almost 'spiked hair' on top of its head?

Hearvee

Rainbowsend wrote: »

It is a tall pole with feeders hanging on the top and a water bowl and this little mesh bowl for the birds that dont like the feeders, 15 euro in Heatons
it is brilliant, and funnily enough the big birds dont seem to bother with it.
Looks quite nice too!

Ah, not only do you have the same new arrivals but you have the same birdfeeder as me!
But I do regularly have pigeons and magpies landing on that tray section so they can peck at the hanging seed/fatball feeders.

First spotted them late this evening so the light wasn't great.

Redpoll


Redpoll

Ditch

whyulittle wrote: »

Is there any little bird, similar to a male chaffinch, but with almost 'spiked hair' on top of its head?

An agitated Chaffinch? Seriously. It's possible. They can 'raise their crest' when getting stroppy.

As ye asking, " similar to a male chaffinch " ..... Do ye not reckon it was possibly a chaffie then? Brambling? Female Brambling ....?

Rainbowsend

Hearvee wrote: »

Ah, not only do you have the same new arrivals but you have the same birdfeeder as me!
But I do regularly have pigeons and magpies landing on that tray section so they can peck at the hanging seed/fatball feeders.

First spotted them late this evening so the light wasn't great.

Redpoll


Redpoll

Good taste then My feeder is well hidden by a big cherry tree so it is quite awkward for bigger birds to land on it.

Cardynal

My resident Garden Coal tit , a regular little squirrel this guy , must have dozens of hiding places around the garden where he hoards all the nuts and seeds.

whyulittle

New visitor to the garden today, Dunnock?

Ditch

Dunnock alright. Lovely shot too!

whyulittle

Cheers Ditch.

Also had 10 Goldfinches the other day, highest number yet.

Redpoll have returned, male and female Siskin in today, but I haven't seen the Blackcap lately.

As to my other question above, I'm happy to believe it was just a normal Chaffinch. Was just wondering what it anything else. Checked Brambling before I asked, don't think it was that.

Ditch

Interesting, isn't it? Everyone's reporting 'Redpoll. I've got Siskin for either the earliest 'summer' or the first winter in five years.

This is why I feel 'BirdTrack' can be so useful. If I want, I can go and check the exact dates and numbers of the birds I get here. I logged the details in passing. Now they're all stored and available to me

Of course, with probably Millions of active members? There's no telling what trends and data they can pull from all our massed in put.

I take it ye've signed up? Completely free, of course. Every little helps

sables2

Agree with Doctor Evil Rainbowsend: The seed table is amazing!! Is there a Heaton's near Blackrock/Stillorgan - if you'd know? The Redpolls are lovely little finches. I love the red caps they have...after it's name no doubt... Your photo is superb ;).

sables2

Beautiful Picture WUL ;) Keep us all amused with more entries PLEASE!

Rainbowsend

sables2 wrote: »

Agree with Doctor Evil Rainbowsend: The seed table is amazing!! Is there a Heaton's near Blackrock/Stillorgan - if you'd know? The Redpolls are lovely little finches. I love the red caps they have...after it's name no doubt... Your photo is superb ;).

Nearest would be Carrickmines, they are excellent value, and at the moment are doing nuts/seeds/fatballs at very reasonable prices. A range of nest boxes that are purely decorative and not much use for birds although pretty should be avoided

ISP_dude

I know this is a garden survey...but I just saw 6 long tailed tits in the bush outside my window in work! I have never seen them in my garden, so I was thrilled to get a glimpse of 6 of them right beside me

sables2

Thanks Rainbowsend for that info!

trebor28

there is a pair of bullfinches outside my place stripping the plum tree of all its new buds. pesky buggers!

whyulittle

4 Redpoll, normally only get two at a time.






Plus this guy, male or Mealy?

Was sharing the Nyjer feeder with the Goldfinch, and looked bigger than the normal Redpoll. Had moved to the branches by the time I got the camera.

Half-cocked

whyulittle wrote: »

Plus this guy, male or Mealy?

Was sharing the Nyjer feeder with the Goldfinch, and looked bigger than the normal Redpoll. Had moved to the branches by the time I got the camera.

Male Linnet in splendid breeding plumage.

Feargal as Luimneach

Half-cocked wrote: »

Male Linnet in splendid breeding plumage.

No it's a male redpoll. Linnet never have yellow bill, lack the black chin and black lores. Male breeding linnet does not have black streaking on breast.

trebor28

Feargal as Luimneach wrote: »

No it's a male redpoll. Linnet never have yellow bill, lack the black chin and black lores. Male breeding linnet does not have black streaking on breast.

Feargal, its a mealy redpoll is it not?

do lesser redpoll's get the red on there brest?

Feargal as Luimneach

trebor28 wrote: »

Feargal, its a mealy redpoll is it not?

do lesser redpoll's get the red on there brest?

http://www.irishbirding.com/birds/web/Display/sighting/10533/Lesser_Redpoll.html
Lesser redpoll




http://www.irishbirding.com/birds/web/Display/sighting/29868/Mealy_Redpoll.html
Mealy redpoll


Do be honest Trebor separating the two is feckin' difficult. I'm confused half the time It's hard getting a good article with pictures showing the differences.

With the bird in question you would have to see the mantle(upper back) of the bird to be sure if it's a mealy redpoll, but it looks like a lesser to me. Mealies are quite rare in éire.

I'm meeting up with one of the top guru's in Birdwatch ireland next week. I'll see if I can get more info on the Mealy/Lesser conundrum.

trebor28

fair enough feargal, is there a subspecies of lesser redpolls or something??

how come some have red on the breast and some dont seem to have it.

whyulittle

Hopefully it'll stick around and I'll get a better range of shots.

Dunnock came back today, and my Blackcap returned yesterday!

Had a load of Chaffinch's around today, for some reason.

Feargal as Luimneach

trebor28 wrote: »

fair enough feargal, is there a subspecies of lesser redpolls or something??

how come some have red on the breast and some dont seem to have it.

Females and 1st winter birds have no red on breast. Males coming into breeding season and in summer have red on breast.
There are 3 species of tickable redpoll:
Lesser Redpoll (our birds)
Mealy Redpoll (from North Scandanavia)
Artic Redpoll (artic)

sables2

Beautiful images WUL ;) Love the male Linnet!