Garden Birds chat 2011

whyulittle

This is a female Chaffinch yeah? Size and scruffiness threw me a bit.




And this?




This Chaffinch had all the feeders to himself, but just sat there until the Goldfinch returned. Immediately hopped down to the ground when they did to get the fallen seed.

trebor28

top one looks like a female greenfinch to me, and the second looks like a young female chaffinch, though could be wrong.

Ditch

WUL; Top one is, as Trebor suggests, a female Greenie.

See the yellow bar in the wing? It's running along / down the bird, yeah? That's Greenie.

If it goes up through the middle of the bird, like a belt round its 'waist'? That'd be a Siskin.

Try to learn that as an instant check point. Beak to bum? Greenie. Belly to back? Siskin.

It's one more 'simple' little point that we can learn to look for and so get 'At A Glance' fixes on the more common birds

whyulittle

Yeah I've got the hang of Siskin (at least in their current plummage).



Just the Greenies for some reason, probably just the difference from the males.

Thanks guys.

Terrier

Rainbowsend wrote: »

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

http://www.heatonsstores.com/Product/Bird-Feeding-Station/260122/1004060400

sables2

Great picture's s as usual WUL! Trebor has given me some great tips on plummage!!

trebor28

sables2 wrote: »

Great picture's s as usual WUL! Trebor has given me some great tips on plummage!!

i did what now??

sables2

Didn't you explain the difference in plummage from the greenies to the siskins...the coloured bars & markings, etc....

trebor28

sables2 wrote: »

Didn't you explain the difference in plummage from the greenies to the siskins...the coloured bars & markings, etc....

im afraid i cant claim that one, i was first in to say it was a greenfinch but it was Ditch with all the expert insight!

thanks anyway!:D

doctor evil

I think Siskins are more greeny yellow?

sables2

Ah Sorry trebor - was Ditch indeed!! ...you wern't far off the mark either.

whyulittle

Spotted this little brown bird briefly this morning, but didn't get a shot before it flew off. Thinking it might be a Wren, I was going to come on here with 'Redpoll-like-brown colour, small bird'.

However, later I snapped this bird, same one I think. I've never seen a Wren, but I know the tail is very distinctive.

So, Juvenile Redpoll? No red on top.

trebor28

well its definitely not a wren anyway, but your right it does look like a redpoll without the red patch.

maybe feargal or someone else can clarify what it is.

sables2

Not sure WUL -as Trebor said..."might be a Redpoll, with out the red patch"?? Anyway, keep 'em coming - again delightful photos ;)

PS: will i get Redpolls in my regular urban garden, mind you it's big(ish) and lots of trees and shrubs??

Feargal as Luimneach

trebor28 wrote: »

well its definitely not a wren anyway, but your right it does look like a redpoll without the red patch.

maybe feargal or someone else can clarify what it is.

Redpoll

whyulittle

Robin in full voice

sables2

SUPER PHOTO WUL!

Mothman

So today was the last day

littlebug

Mothman wrote: »

So today was the last day

So it is :eek: That was fast

Bsal

This was my first time doing the Survey and really enjoyed it

Mothman

We are leaving this thread open for the year to continue as is, just talking about the birds in our gardens. I've renamed it.

Half-cocked

Does anyone keep going with recording bird numbers in their garden over the spring/summer? I kept a log last year with a seperate column for numbers of juveniles.

Mothman

Half-cocked wrote: »

Does anyone keep going with recording bird numbers in their garden over the spring/summer? I kept a log last year with a seperate column for numbers of juveniles.

No, I suppose I'm just not around enough to keep a good count.

whyulittle

Song Thrush, in song!

On top of a tall tree, singing away - makes it a male I think?

Flo with a view

whyulittle wrote: »

Song Thrush, in song!

On top of a tall tree, singing away - makes it a male I think?

Wow! Stunnning photos!:):):)

whyulittle

Thanks.

Had to get the camera just to see what it was, it was across in my neighbours garden.

Was pulling down a shed at the time, and found this under the roof.

Hammer Archer

After years of supplying nyjer seeds to the delight of our resident goldfinches, we finally had our first siskin at our feeders

chucken1

I just discovered this thread! I must keep checking in. I love 'my birds'. usually sit watching them,but now I'll take pics. . I have a magpie family for about 10 years and I name them all.:o. Mitchel is the daddy! And I have to say they are very mannerly,Robins eat first,wag tails next,starlings then the magpies. Of course I know they're all brats but its interesting to watch them! .

I have boxes for the smaller guys and they nest away ignoring the boldies!

They feed at a little later cos I think they know the boldies are gone to bed!

I do give them nicer food and I do leave it out in a much safer area.

whyulittle

Nice weather here the past few days, and there was very little activity in the garden today. Late on, some Starlings and Greenfinches showed up.




"he'll never see me behind this....."




And of course, a Robin! It was feeding around me as I disturbed earth up the back garden.

ppink

Whyulittle- you have some brilliant pics there. Do you have a super zoom camera lens?

well yesterday I put back out all my feed again. i had all the feeders down being cleaned and sterilised on the table and left them to dry on the table outside and the bluetits were there in a flash to check out what was going on:D
It did not take long for the shout to go up and all the gang were streaming back today.
Fingers crossed only healthy finches this time:)