Irish Garden Bird Survey 2018/19

baaba maal · 14-12-2018 12:29pm

Russell Salty Mouth wrote: »

They are around all year and we get sizable flocks here in the garden from time to time (as many as 60 but usually 10 or 12). They travel about a lot and don't hang about in any one location for long. Not a visitor to the feeding stations but they come to the birch trees mostly.

There are some birch bedside me that seems to draw LTTs- they work their way up each branch- and eventually they go from the birch to my feeders where they feed from the peanut feeders and the suet blocks. No interest in nyjer or other seeds.

Bsal · 21-12-2018 2:23pm

Just had a male Blackcap in the garden eating the tiny olives from the Olive tree. I haven't seen one for maybe two years in the garden.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 21-12-2018 3:10pm

A reminder, folks, keep those feeders and birdbaths good and clean at this time of year.

The garden is awash with birds right now. Averaging 18 species per day.

Pretzill · 22-12-2018 3:58pm

First Siskin spotted at the feeders - don't normally see them until the spring!

OwaynOTT · 22-12-2018 4:35pm

Goldfinches, goldfinches everywhere.

Pretzill · 24-12-2018 11:57am

My top bird is still the chaffinches - 19 counted at the feeders (and underneath) this week!
But the second is the goldfinches on 12
and this weeks newcomers at last count 3 siskin, with 1 bullfinch spotted in the bushes, I am waiting patiently for the greenfinch to make an appearance.

OwaynOTT · 24-12-2018 2:00pm

Pretzill wrote: »

My top bird is still the chaffinches - 19 counted at the feeders (and underneath) this week!
But the second is the goldfinches on 12
and this weeks newcomers at last count 3 siskin, with 1 bullfinch spotted in the bushes, I am waiting patiently for the greenfinch to make an appearance.

Siskins popped up here yesterday too. 32 goldfinches was the high count.

OpenYourEyes · 24-12-2018 11:15pm

I had my first Siskins this week too - wasn't really expecting them for another few weeks yet.

A Sparrowhawk soaring above the garden was the highlight this week though. I suspect we have a local bird, but rarely get to see it!

Bsal · 05-01-2019 5:18pm

Had a Redpoll in the garden today and the Blackcap is still sticking around.

fryup · 06-01-2019 8:11pm

don't think i've seen a greenfinch this winter..are they're numbers down due to a parasite?

Pretzill · 06-01-2019 9:15pm

fryup wrote: »

don't think i've seen a greenfinch this winter..are they're numbers down due to a parasite?

I don't normally see them until nearer nesting time -

Bsal · 07-01-2019 1:48pm

21 species last week think that's my best record.

magicbastarder · 25-01-2019 1:33pm

spotted a blackcap (or two) in the garden for the first time in years. feeding on the aphids on the purple sprouting broccoli too.

Pretzill · 29-01-2019 9:51pm

Spotted a brambling among all the chaffinches! The wintry showers are bringing a host of birds to the feeders and underneath.

fryup · 29-01-2019 11:28pm

bramblings were mentioned on bbc's winterwatch tonight

OwlEye · 30-01-2019 2:29pm

Woodpecker at the peanuts again this morning.

fryup · 31-01-2019 2:18pm

well personally speaking..the variety of birds visiting my feeder this winter has been disappointing...plenty of tits > cole, blue and great, plenty of robins, chaffinchs, goldfiches and tree sparrows and thats about it really

no greenfinches, no blackcaps, no bullfinches, no long tail tits, no wrens ..like there was in previous winters

(east-clare)

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 31-01-2019 2:41pm

fryup wrote: »

well personally speaking..the variety of birds visiting my feeder this winter has been disappointing...plenty of tits > cole, blue and great, plenty of robins, chaffinchs, goldfiches and tree sparrows and thats about it really

no greenfinches, no blackcaps, no bullfinches, no long tail tits, no wrens ..like there was in previous winters

(east-clare)

If you have tree sparrows, it more than makes up for the others.

Nothing spectacular here but I get a greater variety usually in late spring here.

magicbastarder · 31-01-2019 2:57pm

tree sparrows? aren't they relatively rare?

whoops; got in late there.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 31-01-2019 3:09pm

Just had an update from BTO and even they say "The late winter period can also bring in many treats for the garden birdwatcher, including more sightings of birds such as Siskin, Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer. " So not too late yet, by far, for the less common garden birds.

11James11 · 31-01-2019 8:47pm

fryup wrote: »

well personally speaking..the variety of birds visiting my feeder this winter has been disappointing...plenty of tits > cole, blue and great, plenty of robins, chaffinchs, goldfiches and tree sparrows and thats about it really

no greenfinches, no blackcaps, no bullfinches, no long tail tits, no wrens ..like there was in previous winters

(east-clare)

I am in west Clare and have nearly the same species as you visiting apart from the tree sparrows but I have plenty of house sparrows instead and have about 10 Green finches visiting daily.Its nearly always late February and early March before I see any siskins or redpolls at the feeders here

fryup · 31-01-2019 10:58pm

Russell Salty Mouth wrote: »

If you have tree sparrows, it more than makes up for the others.

oops sorry, house sparrows

oh btw...no willy wagtails, which is very odd

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 31-01-2019 11:24pm

fryup wrote: »

oops sorry, house sparrows

oh btw...no willy wagtails, which is very odd

That makes more sense.

I'll have pair of Pied Wagtails, plus juveniles, in the garden right through the summer but only an odd one (maybe one per month) in winter.

Pretzill · 01-02-2019 1:46am

There were lots of grey wagtails here late last year but haven't seen any through the bird count.
Have been lucky to see pied wagtails, Wren, Robin, bullfinch, chaffinch, goldfinch, brambling, Siskin, blue tit and coal, great - dunnocks, blackbird, songthrush, raven, rooks, hooded crows, wood pigeon, magpies, sparrowhawk, and more (flying over)

Counted 32 chaffinches today -.I think we may be one of few locally who put out feeders.

Rosahane · 02-02-2019 8:52am

Russell Salty Mouth wrote: »

That makes more sense.

I'll have pair of Pied Wagtails, plus juveniles, in the garden right through the summer but only an odd one (maybe one per month) in winter.

I have never had a pied wagtail visit the back garden, yet have habitually had them at the front of the house. We live in a housing estate cul de sac with a green in the centre.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 02-02-2019 9:28am

Rosahane wrote: »

I have never had a pied wagtail visit the back garden, yet have habitually had them at the front of the house. We live in a housing estate cul de sac with a green in the centre.

Pied Wagtails have a liking for hard surfaces rather than grass.

Rosahane · 02-02-2019 1:15pm

Russell Salty Mouth wrote: »

Pied Wagtails have a liking for hard surfaces rather than grass.

Makes sense, they like the mealworms I leave out for them when they are around.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 06-02-2019 12:01pm

I see a report today on garden birds observed participating in competitive interactions at bird feeders in Britain. The pecking order in decreasing dominance was;

House Sparrow
Greenfinch
Nuthatch
Robin
Goldfinch
Great Tit
Dunnock
Chaffinch
Blue Tit
Coal Tit.

One or two surprised me, as it's not what I see here (e.g. Dunnock making the list at all) but it was a sizable study.

Half-cocked · 06-02-2019 2:02pm

Russell Salty Mouth wrote: »

I see a report today on garden birds observed participating in competitive interactions at bird feeders in Britain. The pecking order in decreasing dominance was;

House Sparrow
Greenfinch
Nuthatch
Robin
Goldfinch
Great Tit
Dunnock
Chaffinch
Blue Tit
Coal Tit.

One or two surprised me, as it's not what I see here (e.g. Dunnock making the list at all) but it was a sizable study.

Hmmmm. I would have put Goldfinch at the top of the list based on my own observations. They quickly dislodge all other species on the sunflower heart feeder Of course we don't have Nuthatches here, Greenfinches are scarce and the Robins don't use that feeder but the House Sparrows give way to the Goldies in my garden..

OwaynOTT · 06-02-2019 8:11pm

Goldfinches are like an infestation.

No starlings on the list?

Irish Garden Bird Survey 2018/19

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