Garden Bird Survey - Winter 2015/16

OpenYourEyes

Birdwatch Ireland's Garden Bird Survey begins this Monday, 30th November 2015. It's very easy and well worth taking part in, and worth getting family and friends to do the same - it's this type of engagement with nature that helps people start to be more aware of and appreciate nature in a larger sense.

Here's a link to Birdwatch Ireland's website with everything you need to know about the survey: http://www.birdwatchireland.ie/Ourwork/Researchmonitoring/GardenBirdSurvey/tabid/121/Default.aspx


And here's an article in the Irish Examiner that talks about the survey and includes a few helpful bits of information re: feeding garden birds etc:
http://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/outdoors/infographic-top-tips-for-looking-after-birds-this-winter-366448.html

keps

Registered:)

Half-cocked

Me too. I remember last year, a lot of my birds disappeared as soon as the survey started. Turned out a neighbour started Winter feeding and must have been putting out nicer food!

pawrick

registered, never took part before so thanks for the heads up

axe2grind

Oh bother, so my 7 Jays were a week early!!! :cool:
Never seen more than 3 together before, so was quite amazed

Thanks for reminder

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

axe2grind wrote: »

Oh bother, so my 7 Jays were a week early!!! :cool:
Never seen more than 3 together before, so was quite amazed

Thanks for reminder

Had you 7 Jays in the garden? Wow. I was chuffed with one a couple of weeks back.

axe2grind

Eduardo Young Toucan wrote: »

Had you 7 Jays in the garden? Wow. I was chuffed with one a couple of weeks back.

7 was min count! Reckon it was 8. Foraging for various things, apples, acorns and whatever they seem to be finding in the grass.

Half-cocked

Had 6 Long-tailed Tits on the peanut feeder for the first time ever this morning:D No doubt they will never been seen again seeing as the survey starts tomorrow!

Had a couple of Goldcrests too:D

magicbastarder

we have chickens in the back garden. should i count them?

Jayzesake

Half-cocked wrote: »

Had 6 Long-tailed Tits on the peanut feeder for the first time ever this morning:D No doubt they will never been seen again seeing as the survey starts tomorrow!

Had a couple of Goldcrests too:D

Were the Long-tailed Tits and Goldcrests actually feeding on the peanuts?

We have both where we are, but I've never seen either coming to our peanut feeder. Only Great, Coal and Blue Tits, Chaffinches and Greenfinches, and Dunnocks and the occasional Robins on the ground collecting bits that have fallen.

savagethegoat

Jayzesake wrote: »

Were the Long-tailed Tits and Goldcrests actually feeding on the peanuts?

We have both where we are, but I've never seen either coming to our peanut feeder. Only Great, Coal and Blue Tits, Chaffinches and Greenfinches, and Dunnocks and the occasional Robins on the ground collecting bits that have fallen.

No Goldfinches? I'm snowed under with them. Have had a couple of LongTailed visit but not on the feeders. Not had a Goldcrest visit.

Jayzesake

savagethegoat wrote: »

No Goldfinches? I'm snowed under with them. Have had a couple of LongTailed visit but not on the feeders. Not had a Goldcrest visit.

As above, we have plenty of Goldfinches - and a multitude of other species - around, but they don't come to the peanuts we put out. Usually see the Goldfinches feeding on thistles and other wild plants.

savagethegoat

ah , well my Goldfinches go mad for Nyger and Sunflower seeds. but they do also take peanuts

Jayzesake

savagethegoat wrote: »

ah , well my Goldfinches go mad for Nyger and Sunflower seeds. but they do also take peanuts

Might have to expand the menu

savagethegoat

Jayzesake wrote: »

Might have to expand the menu

I only just started bird feeding so I'm a novice but that's what I did. Peanut consumption gone right down now I have sunflower and njjer available.

(I also tried a seed mix which none of them went for and fat balls with some success with the Tits

Half-cocked

Jayzesake wrote: »

Were the Long-tailed Tits and Goldcrests actually feeding on the peanuts?

We have both where we are, but I've never seen either coming to our peanut feeder. Only Great, Coal and Blue Tits, Chaffinches and Greenfinches, and Dunnocks and the occasional Robins on the ground collecting bits that have fallen.

The Tits had a quick poke at them, then the fat balls, then headed back into the trees. The Goldcrests stayed in the nearby hedge, I've only ever once seen a Goldcrest take food from a feeder.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

I have Long Tailed Tits (record number was 66) and Goldcrest in the garden. They never feed on the nuts or seeds provided.

Goldfinches attack the peanuts.

BTO Graden Bird Surveys have shown a marked increase in Goldfinch numbers using gardens.

pawrick

Wish i could recognise all the small birds I see in the garden, there are a few dunnock like ones that I'm not sure about. There seems to be a regular breeding pair of long eared owls near my house, I've started hearing two distinct calls at night, it was the same last year around this time and they seem to hunt around my garden as I've seen them a few times passing through to the trees nearby.

OpenYourEyes

pawrick wrote: »

Wish i could recognise all the small birds I see in the garden, there are a few dunnock like ones that I'm not sure about. There seems to be a regular breeding pair of long eared owls near my house, I've started hearing two distinct calls at night, it was the same last year around this time and they seem to hunt around my garden as I've seen them a few times passing through to the trees nearby.

Dunnocks tend to stay low and don't venture too far away from the shelter of a bush, and you're probably unlikely to see more than maybe two at a time? My two Dunnocks have gotten a bit more active and visible in the last couple of weeks.

pawrick

OpenYourEyes wrote: »

Dunnocks tend to stay low and don't venture too far away from the shelter of a bush, and you're probably unlikely to see more than maybe two at a time? My two Dunnocks have gotten a bit more active and visible in the last couple of weeks.

thanks for the info. plenty of shelter where i spot them alright but I also throw some food scraps out and seeds when emptying my parrotlet bowls so I get a mix of small birds appearing around the same spot. Haven't put out any feeders this year yet but might start from next weekend.

Bejubby

Does anybody know how to attract bullfinches to the garden?
At the moment I have about 10 Goldfinch 4 greenfinch, blue tits great tits Robins sparrows wrens.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Bejubby wrote: »

Does anybody know how to attract bullfinches to the garden?
At the moment I have about 10 Goldfinch 4 greenfinch, blue tits great tits Robins sparrows wrens.

Some people swear by black sunflower seeds for Bullfinch but it never did it for me. Mine feed on the Honeysuckle berries and the buds of my fruit trees. I never considered them a true birdtable species.

axe2grind

Long-tailed tits been eating peanuts in my garden for years.

Been a good start to survey with Grey wagtail, Jay and best of all GS woodpecker today. The latter ignored the feeders, just passed through.

Bejubby

Eduardo Young Toucan wrote: »

Some people swear by black sunflower seeds for Bullfinch but it never did it for me. Mine feed on the Honeysuckle berries and the buds of my fruit trees. I never considered them a true birdtable species.

Thanks.
I've seen them in the locality and seemed to be picking at some sort of tree, IL have to go look and see what it is and maybe take a few clips from it and grow them.

In the meantime IL try what u said. Lovely looking birds

Half-cocked

2 Greenfinches at the nyjer feeder today - very rare visitors to our garden. Now that they have found the feeder, I'm hoping they might become regulars. Plus 3 Bullfinches passing through, another infrequent record.

Bejubby

Half-cocked wrote: »

2 Greenfinches at the nyjer feeder today - very rare visitors to our garden. Now that they have found the feeder, I'm hoping they might become regulars. Plus 3 Bullfinches passing through, another infrequent record.

What food had you for the bullfinches?

savagethegoat

Half-cocked wrote: »

2 Greenfinches at the nyjer feeder today - very rare visitors to our garden. Now that they have found the feeder, I'm hoping they might become regulars. Plus 3 Bullfinches passing through, another infrequent record.

I counted 36 today before I lost count. Getting to be a pest :-)

Half-cocked

Bejubby wrote: »

What food had you for the bullfinches?

None, they just passed through the trees at the bottom of the garden. I've never had them on feeders:(

recedite

axe2grind wrote: »

best of all GS woodpecker today. The latter ignored the feeders, just passed through.

What county are you in? Most sightings seem to be along the east coast.

axe2grind

recedite wrote: »

What county are you in? Most sightings seem to be along the east coast.

Same as yourself. Quite regular to hear them drumming when out and about though usually hard to get a good sighting.

recedite

I heard one once, but have not seen one yet.

Half-cocked

Friend in Co Down gets them on his peanut feeders, lucky sod.

Amalgam

Eduardo Young Toucan wrote: »

Some people swear by black sunflower seeds for Bullfinch but it never did it for me.

Sunflower seeds without shells, Bullfinches are lazy sods, we have an abundance of them as a result. If boardsies are in a city, Dublin or otherwise, 'Dealz' have bags of 400g for €1.49.

We have a young Sparrowhawk (I'm identifying the bird by the heavy striping on the tail) dive bombing our feeder every morning, trying to catch a groggy Blackbird or two. Unbelievable flying skill, almost seems impossible, in a built up garden.

Half-cocked

At dusk yesterday 11 Long Tailed Tits flew across my garden one at a time. Despite them spending less that 5 seconds in my 'airspace', I think I can record them?;)

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Half-cocked wrote: »

At dusk yesterday 11 Long Tailed Tits flew across my garden one at a time. Despite them spending less that 5 seconds in my 'airspace', I think I can record them?;)

You are not supposed to record fly overs. Only birds landing in and using the garden. An exception is allowed for birds of prey.

Half-cocked

Eduardo Young Toucan wrote: »

You are not supposed to record fly overs. Only birds landing in and using the garden. An exception is allowed for birds of prey.

They were spilling out of a tree that's on the border of my garden so I think they count. Anyway, they were back this morning and definitely landed in my garden (but only 9 this time).

Also had Blackcaps and Bullfinches (male and female of each) this morning, despite the weather.

And a Herring Gull on the bird table.

thyme

Sixteen to eighteen Greenfinches at the feeders this year, to many Goldfinches and Chaffinches to count , one Redpoll the last few days.

Great, Blue, and Coal tits about four of each. Four and sometimes six Blackbirds in to clean-up and for the apples.

One Dunnock up on the seed feeder trying to empty it, but that's the Coal tits jop . One Mistle thrush in to protect the berry's on the holly bush for itself and god help anything that comes near it.

And I have to keep the kitchen window closed or the Robin is in looking for it's food.
No Siskins yet.

Half-cocked

Missed a Sparrowhawk swooping into the garden yesterday, luckily my wife got a good look at it so it's added to the record sheet.

keps

I have a decent array of seeds out in 5 different feeders. One is exclusively full sunflower seeds.

No peanuts though or no niger apart from those included in the mix I get from the garden centre( peanuts and niger seem very expensive for voracious eaters)


I had a 10 minute visit yesterday from a Redpoll -( photo on the photo thread). Never called back:eek:

Today I had a 5 minute visit from a goldfinch - looked around for a while and then flew away:eek:

The three species of tits, the chaffinches, the greenfinches and sparrows are all loving the seeds and i have dozens of these every day.

The pigeons/doves/starlings do a great job on the seeds that fall to the ground.

Woodville56

I'm not having the same intensity of feeding activity at the bird feeders so far this winter - perhaps because of the mildness of the weather, leading to more favorable foraging conditions and a still abundant food supply in nature ? Usual stuff in the feeders, nuts, nyger, mixed seeds, but lesser number and variety of takers so far ??
I've even had chaffinches bursting into short snatches of song these mornings ??

OpenYourEyes

Woodville56 wrote: »

I'm not having the same intensity of feeding activity at the bird feeders so far this winter - perhaps because of the mildness of the weather, leading to more favorable foraging conditions and a still abundant food supply in nature ? Usual stuff in the feeders, nuts, nyger, mixed seeds, but lesser number and variety of takers so far ??
I've even had chaffinches bursting into short snatches of song these mornings ??

I'd say thats it alright. In a normal year the food shortage in the wider countryside doesnt really hit until late January, and we've had an exceptionally mild winter so far. I've had a constant number of finchs etc, but definitely lower than previous years despite a similar feeding regime.

savagethegoat

keps wrote: »

I have a decent array of seeds out in 5 different feeders. One is exclusively full sunflower seeds.

No peanuts though or no niger apart from those included in the mix I get from the garden centre( peanuts and niger seem very expensive for voracious eaters)


I had a 10 minute visit yesterday from a Redpoll -( photo on the photo thread). Never called back:eek:

Today I had a 5 minute visit from a goldfinch - looked around for a while and then flew away:eek:

The three species of tits, the chaffinches, the greenfinches and sparrows are all loving the seeds and i have dozens of these every day.

The pigeons/doves/starlings do a great job on the seeds that fall to the ground.

I found the Finches loved the sunflower hearts and Nijer seeds, ate them all in no time, ...I'm easing off on these and offering a seed mix until the weather declines, continuing on with Peanuts and I also have those coconut shells full of fat and seed mix, so I shall save a few bob until the better food is needed.

I'd like to attract Sparrows as they used nest in the gutter outside my bedroom window when I was young and I just love the noise they make.

nb Redpoll and Siskin love the Peanuts and Goldfinches the Nijer or Sunflower.

fryup

any redwings about??

savagethegoat

I think this is a Redwing, photoed a couple of weeks ago. I'm pretty sure I saw a flight of 4 or 5 yesterday but too far away to photograph, deep in the hedgerow.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Redwing it is.

whyulittle

I just noticed on the RSPB ad on TV they have illustrated survey sheets for their Big Garden Birdwatch. Might come in handy for anyone doing the BWI one with kids.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/schoolswatch/resources/surveysheets.aspx

keps

Just filling in the form for this week- I see that the very top of the list is the Sparrowhawk and very bottom is the Reed bunting -both visitors this week!


I hope they don't meet up!





( sorry about the botched match up it's half eleven and I've had a few beers:D

katkin

Bejubby wrote: »

Does anybody know how to attract bullfinches to the garden?
At the moment I have about 10 Goldfinch 4 greenfinch, blue tits great tits Robins sparrows wrens.

Never seen them at feeders either but if you grow forget-me-knots they will come for the seed. Also like other seeds, fennel and teasels, but ya they only seem to forage in flower beds etc. Pity because they are stunning looking birds.

Bsal

Had my first Redpoll of this winter in the garden today.

Bsal

My one Redpoll was joined by one Siskin today another first of the winter for me.

savagethegoat

I have Siskin, Chaffinch and Goldfinch in profusion. I'd
say more than a dozen of each at any given time. Redpoll: there are usally a handful around. Other birds in lesser numbers.