Bird Table Visitors Book (and other garden happenings)
4th April 2011:
A possible Harrier overhead. Also 4 ?Martins?
Definately overhead: 2 Sparrowhawk and 24 Jackdaw.
1 male and 1 female Bullfinch, 6 Goldfinch, 2 male and 2 female Greenfinch, 2 male and 3 female Chaffinch, 1 Magpie, 1 male and 1 female Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 1 male Blackbird, 1 Starling, 2 Robin, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Feral Pigeon.
3rd April 2011:
1st Small Tortoiseshell butterfly of the year.
1 Buzzard overhead and 14 Jackdaw.
1 male and 1 female Bullfinch, 4 Goldfinch, 2 male and 2 female Greenfinch, 2 male and 2 female Chaffinch, 1 male and 1 female Blackbird, 2 Robin, 1 Carrion Crow, 2 Rook, 1 Magpie, 1 Jackdaw, 1 male and 1 female Great Tit, 4 Blue Tit, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Feral Pigeon.
2nd April 2011:
1 male and 1 female Bullfinch, 3 Goldfinch, 1 male and 2 female Chaffinch, 4 Greenfinch, 1 male and 1 female Great Tit, 1 Blue Tit, 2 Magpie, 1 Robin, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Woodpigeon, 1 Feral Pigeon.
1st April 2011:
Overhead: 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Sparrowhawk and 24 Jackdaw.
1 female Lesser Redpoll, 3 Goldfinch, 3 Greenfinch, 1 male and 2 female Chaffinch, 1 male and 1 female Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Magpie, 1 Robin.
31st March 2011:
1 male Bullfinch, 5 Goldfinch, 6 Greenfinch.
28th March 2011:
1 Grey Heron overhead.
26th March 2011:
Our 6th batch of frogspawn (One more than last year). At least 14 of our young Goldfish have survived the winter. God knows how!
3 Whooper Swan overhead.
Some bread on the shed roof brought: 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Juvenile Herring Gull.
25th March 2011:
Our 5th batch of frogspawn.
23rd March 2011:
Our 4th batch of frogspawn - at least 16 frogs in our pond today.
Our first Butterfly of the year - a Peacock.
A Hooded Crow overhead.
3 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Goldfinch, 1 male and 1 female Greenfinch, 2 male and 3 female Chaffinch, 1 male Blackbird, 3 Blue Tit, 1 male and 1 female Great Tit, 3 Feral Pigeon.
22nd March 2011:
Our 2nd and 3rd batches of frogspawn this morning. We now have at least 13 frogs in our pond.
1 male and 1 female Brambling, 2 Goldfinch, 2 male and 3 female Greenfinch, 1 male and 3 female Chaffinch, 3 Blue Tit, 1 male Blackbird, 1 Woodpgeon, 3 Feral Pigeon.
21st March 2011:
Our first Bumble Bee of the year.
1 male and 1 female Brambling.
19th March 2011:
Our first batch of frogspawn - the same date as last year!
18th March 2011:
Overhead: 2 Collared Dove and a Buzzard with attendant crow!
3 female Brambling.
17th March 2011:
Rain.
Grey Squirrel.
1 male and 1 female Brambling.
16th March 2011:
Blue Skies.
2 Collared Dove overhead.
15th March 2011:
Rain - Snow - Rain.
1 female Brambling, Lesser Redpoll and Siskin aplenty, 1 female Bullfinch, 4 Goldfinch, 2 male and 1 female Greenfinch, 3 male and 3 female Chaffinch, 1 male and 1 female Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 1 male Blackbird, 1 Robin, 3 Feral Pigeon.
14th March 2011:
Cloudy with rain. Rainbow.
Overhead: 2 Collared Dove.
8 Frogs in our pond.
Over 50 Lesser Redpoll and Siskin flying together. 2 Goldfinch, 2 male and 1 female Chaffinch, 1 Magpie, 1 female Blckbird, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Feral Pigeon.
9th March 2011:
Snow! Wind has died down.
What I'm sure could have been a Peregrine took a pigeon from a nearby rooftop. All happened too quick for a positive id.
2 Blue Tit had a quick look at our recently resited nest box.
21 Lesser Redpoll, 3 male and 1 female Siskin, 2 Goldfinch.
8th March 2011:
Very windy from the west. Rain pm.
Overhead: Kestrel, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black Headed Gull.
1 female Brambling, 4 Lesser Redpoll, 1 male and 1 female Greenfinch, 5 Goldfinch, 3 male and 4 female Chaffinch, 2 Blue Tit, 1 female Blackbird, 2 Robin.
7th March 2011:
Nondescript weather.
The sick Mealy Redpoll turned up again in our garden this morning. It looked even worse than yesterday. We watched it feeding and drinking and then it flew to the centre of our lawn, tucked its head under its wing and apparently went to sleep. Fearful that the feline from next door would appear, I went out to the bird. It did not move on my approach and I was able to pick it up without it struggling. I put it in a cage and brought it indoors for some warmth. After a while it seemed to perk up, had something to eat and a drink and then, after it had hopped around a bit, settled down to sleep again. Sadly, it died this evening.
Just to add to today's woe, I found a dead young Woodmouse that had drowned in our pond.
A Sparrowhawk flew overhead, being chased by a Carrion Crow.
1 female Brambling, 4 Lesser Redpoll, 3 male and 1 female Siskin, 2 Goldfinch, 2 male and 5 female Chaffinch, 2 male and 2 female Greenfinch, 1 male and 2 female Bullfinch (one of the females was seen 'making-up' to the male), 2 Blue Tit, 1 male and 1 female Great Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Robin, 1 male Blackbird, 1 Magpie, 2 Feral Pigeon.
6th March 2011:
Back to greyness, although the cloud cover was quite high.
1 Mealy Redpoll, the first we have seen since 25th February. This one was clearly under the weather, probably a little worse. With very ruffled feathers and shaped like a small tennis ball, the bird was very lethargic and tolerant to our presence. I managed to get within 6 feet of it, before it flew off. It appeared to be feeding well, although it was drinking more regularly than the norm.
One of 2 Blue Tit in our garden today had a quick look at our re-sited nest box.
1 female Brambling, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 1 male and 1 female Bullfinch, 4 Goldfinch, 3 male and 4 female Chaffinch, 2 male and 2 female Greenfinch, 1 male and 1 female Great Tit, 2 Coal Tit, 1 Robin, 1 male and 1 female Blackbird, 2 Starling.
5th March 2011:
A lovely spring day, although chilly.
I took the opportunity of re-siting our nest box - now on the north side of house beside the conservatory.
1 male Brambling, 22 Lesser Redpoll, 2 male and 2 female Siskin, 2 Goldfinch, 2 male and 3 female Chaffinch, 1 female Greenfinch, 1 male Bullfinch, 2 Blue Tit, 1 female Great Tit, 1 Robin, 1 male and 1 female Blackbird.
4th March 2011:
A nothing sort of day weather-wise. Grey and dull.
4 Goldfinch, 4 Lesser Redpoll, 4 male and 4 female Siskin, 2 male and 4 female Chaffinch, 2 male and 1 female Greenfinch, 1 female Bullfinch, 3 Blue Tit, 1 male Great Tit, 2 male and 1 female Blackbird, 2 Robin, 2 Feral Pigeon.
3rd March 2011:
Frosty again. Sunshine and light cloud.
1 male and 2 female Brambling, 1 female Lesser Redpoll, 1 male Bullfinch, 1 Goldfinch, 2 male and 3 female Chaffinch, 2 male and 1 female Greenfinch, 1 Blue Tit, 1 male and 1 female Great Tit, 2 male and 1 female Blackbird, 2 Robin, 2 Starling, 2 Magpie, 3 Jackdaw.
2nd March 2011:
Frosty overnight. Cold but mainly sunny during the day.
A Hooded Crow overhead.
2 male and 2 female Brambling, 3 male and 2 female Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch, 3 Blue Tit, 1 male Great Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Magpie, 1 female Blackbird, 2 Feral Pigeon.
1st March 2011:
Life without our winter visitors.
Overcast.
1 Jackdaw, 1 Magpie, 1 Starling, 1 male and 1 female Blackbird, 1 Robin, 1 Blue Tit, 1 male and 1 female Great Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 3 male and 3 female Chaffinch, 1 male and 2 female Bullfinch, 1 Goldfinch, 1 male and 1 female Greenfinch, 3 Feral Pigeon.
28th February 2011:
The month finished with out garden's quietest day of the year. A sharp frost overnight but the day was beautiful with blue skies and sunshine.
Just 2 Lesser Redpoll today and they disappeared after 10:00.
1 male and 3 female Chaffinch, 1 female Siskin, 1 Goldfinch, 1 male and 1 female Greenfinch, 1 Blue Tit, 1 male and 1 female Great Tit, 1 female Blackbird, 1 Robin, 1 male Reed Bunting, 1 Feral Pigeon.
25th February 2011:
Grey again with wind blowing rain in from the west. Clearing as the day wore on.
Overhead, a Buzzard was harried by a Carrion Crow.
1 Mealy Redpoll with 10 Lesser Redpoll, 1 male and 1 female Brambling, 1 male and 2 female Siskin, 2 Goldfinch, 1 male and 4 female Chaffinch, 1 Blue Tit, 1 female Great Tit, 1 Feral Pigeon.
24th February 2011:
The day started grey but became increasingly better as it went on, finishing with bright blue skies and sunshine! An early stiff breeze from the west eased mid-afternoon.
Spring would apparently be in the air. For the first time this year, multiple birds were singing. 5 frogs appeared in our pond and croaked their way into courtship (our first frogspawn last year came on 19th March).
Overhead a Sparrowhawk put in an appearance this morning and again this afternoon. Some 300 Geese flew northwards just after 09:00 and another flock of 40 headed east at 13:45.
Our Mealy Redpoll returned (photographs look to be the same bird as before) with 13 Lesser Redpoll. 1 Blue Tit, 2 male and 3 female Siskin, 1 male and 1 female Great Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 2 male and 4 female Chaffinch, 1 male and 1 female Greenfinch, 1 female Blackbird (spent time bathing in our pond), 2 Feral Pigeon.
23rd February 2011:
Grey again with drizzle. Light wind from the west. Cloud trying to break up this afternoon.
17 Lesser Redpoll, 3 male and 2 female Siskin, 1 male Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 1 male and 1 female Blackbird, 3 male and 4 female Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch, 1 male and 1 female Greenfinch, 2 Feral Pigeon.
22nd February 2011:
Uniform greyness overhead. Cold with a light breeze. Some rain showers.
1 Collared Dove and 1 Sparrowhawk overhead.
1 Mealy Redpoll briefly this morning.
1 male and 1 female Brambling, 24 Lesser Redpoll, 7 Siskin, 1 male Reed Bunting, 1 Dunnock, 1 female Bullfinch, 2 Goldfinch, 1 male and 2 female Greenfinch, 2 male and 3 female Chaffinch, 2 Magpie, 2 Blue Tit, 1 male Great Tit, 3 Feral Pigeon.
21st February 2011:
Grey again, cold. Rain/snow.
28 Lesser Redpoll, 5 Siskin, 1 male and 1 female Bullfinch, 2 Goldfinch, 3 male and 4 female Chaffinch, 2 male and 2 female Greenfinch, 2 Blue Tit, 1 male and 1 female Great Tit, 1 male and 1 female Blackbird, 1 Robin.
A Sparrowhawk flicked through around lunchtime.
Some meat fat brought down 4 Herring Gull (1 adult and 3 juvenile), 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Carrion Crow and 2 Magpie.
20th February 2011:
Another grey day, wind increasing from the east.
1 male and 1 female Brambling, 24 Lesser Redpoll, 2 male and 1 female Siskin, 1 male Reed Bunting, 1 male and 1 female Bullfinch, 3 Goldfinch, 3 male and 4 female Chaffinch, 2 male and 1 female Greenfinch, 1 Blue Tit, 1 female Great Tit, 1 male and 1 female Blackbird, 1 Magpie, 2 Feral Pigeon.
19th February 2011:
Grey again, rain showers. Little wind from the east.
1 male and 2 female Brambling. 1 female Bullfinch, 18 Lesser Redpoll, 2 male and 1 female Siskin, 3 male and 6 female Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch, 2 male and 1 female Greenfinch, 1 Robin, 2 male Blackbird, 1 male and 1 female Great Tit, 1 Blue Tit, 2 Feral Pigeon.
18th February 2011:
Yet another grey day, cold. Wind light and from the southeast.
Another first for our garden (Number 40) Waxwing
58 Waxwing alighted in the Silver Birches before descending to the pyracantha.
13 Lesser Redpoll, 5 Siskin.
17th February 2011:
Frost overnight. A bit brighter than of late, little or no wind.
5 Lesser Redpoll, 1 male and 1 female Siskin.
16th February 2011:
Grey again.
Grey Squirrel.
7 Lesser Redpoll, 2 male and 3 female Chaffinch, 1 male Greenfinch, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Feral Pigeon.
15th February 2011:
A frosty start to the day. Trying to brighten but with a niggling wind from the east.
A very quiet day in the garden. 4 Lesser Redpoll, 1 female Siskin.
14th February 2011:
Grey again but at least the sun tried to break through. Some rain and rain/snow in the morning. Light wind from southwest.
1 Mealy Redpoll, 12 Lesser Redpoll, 2 female Bullfinch.
13th February 2011:
A similar day to yesterday but with a little more wind from the southwest.
1 Sparrowhawk overhead.
1 Mealy Redpoll.
12th February 2011:
Grey at first but brightening into a lovely afternoon.
1 Mealy Redpoll, 12 Lesser Redpoll, 13 Siskin, 1 male and 1 female Bullfinch, 1 Herring Gull (with a damaged left leg), 1 Carrion Crow.
11th February 2011:
Back to grey again with rain early on and again later.
Sparrowhawk and 50 Starling overhead.
1 Mealy Redpoll, 5 Lesser Redpoll, 3 male and 3 female Siskin, 1 male and 1 female Brambling, 2 male and 1 female Bullfinch, 2 Goldfinch, 1 male and 1 female Greefinch, 3 male and 4 female Chaffinch, 1 Robin, 2 Blue Tit, 1 male and 1 female Great Tit, 1 Dunnock, 1 male and 2 female Blackbird, 3 Feral Pigeon.
10th February 2011:
A bright sunny day with virtually no wind.
6 Magpie overhead.
1 male and 2 female Brambling, 2 male Reed Bunting, 2 Robin, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Coal tit, 1 Dunnock, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Siskin, 2 male and 3 female Chaffinch, 1 male and 2 female Greenfinch, 4 Feral Pigeon, 1 Goldfinch, 1 male and 1 female Blackbird, 1 Magpie.
9th February 2011:
Grey again with light showers of rain. Temperature around 7C.
2 male and 1 female Brambling, 16 Siskin, 18 Lesser Redpoll, 1 female Bullfinch, 3 Goldfinch, 2 male and 5 female Chaffinch, 4 Blue Tit, 1 Robin, 1 male Blackbird.
8th February 2011:
Brighter, no wind.
2 Whooper Swan flew east.
1 Mealy Redpoll, 4 male and 3 female Brambling, 30 Lesser Redpoll, 18 Siskin (including a sickly looking female - all puffed up and out of sorts. She seems to be feeding well, taking niger from the feeder, and drinking often from our water feature), 2 female Bullfinch, 8 Golfinch, 1 Robin, 2 Blue Tit, 1 male and 1 female Great Tit, 1 Starling, 2 male and 3 female Chaffinch, 2 male and 1 female Greenfinch, 1 male Reed Bunting, 2 Feral Pigeon.
7th February 2011:
Heavy cloud, rain, which turned to snow during the morning and then back to rain again.
Sparrowhawk overhead.
1 male (on its way to summer plumage) and 2 female Brambling, 16 Siskin, 14 Lesser Redpoll, 10 Goldfinch.
4th February 2011:
Overcast with rain. Windy from west.
1 Mealy Redpoll, 1 male Brambling, 2 male Reed Bunting. 20 Siskin, 20 Lesser Redpoll and 3 Goldfinch.
3rd February 2011:
Unexpectedly, we awoke to snow covering the ground. The morning was overcast with little wind. After lunch, the wind freshened and then became gusty from the west.
1 Mealy Redpoll. 1 male and 2 female Brambling, 1 male Reed Bunting. 30 Siskin, 30 Lesser Redpoll and 8 Goldfinch.
2nd February 2011:
A wet a blustery day. Wind strengthening from the west.
1 Mealy Redpoll.
1st February 2011:
Another grey day. Wind lighter, still from the west.
1 Mealy Redpoll, 1 Sparrowhawk, 10 Lesser Redpoll, 2 male and 1 female Blackbird, 1 Feral Pigeon, 1 male and 1 female Great Tit, 3 Blue Tit, 12 Siskin, 2 male and 5 female Chaffinch, 7 Goldfinch, 2 Magpie, 2 Greenfinch, 1 Robin, 1 male and 1 female Reed Bunting, 1 female Bullfinch.
31st January 2011:
Grey day. Blustery wind from west.
Sparrowhawk, Grey squirrel.
2 Brambling, 4 Lesser Redpoll, 5 Goldfinch, 8 Siskin, 1 male and 2 female Reed Bunting, 4 Blue Tit, 1 male and 3 female Chaffinch, 4 Greenfinch, 1 male and 1 female Great Tit, 2 Robin, 1 Feral Pigeon, 1 female Blackbird, 2 male and 1 female Bullfinch, 1 Magpie.
30th January 2011:
1 Mealy Redpoll.
29th January 2011:
Frosty overnight.
1 Mealy Redpoll, 2 male Brambling.
Result from RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch (12:00 - 13:00):
2 Robin, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Blackbird, 4 Blue Tit, 10 Chaffinch, 7 Greenfinch, 7 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Goldfinch, 2 Brambling, 1 Reed Bunting.
The hour was cut short by 10 minutes by a Sparrowhawk trying to take a small bird from one of the Silver Birches. A Grey Squirrel also did its best to disrupt proceedings by spending the entire hour in the garden, wrecking the nut feeders and burying its booty all over the garden.
28th January 2011:
A frost overnight.
A Mute Swan flew east overhead.
Another (the same?) Mealy Redpoll.
1 male Brambling, 2 male and 1 female Bullfinch. 5 male and 3 female Reed Bunting.
27th January 2011:
Grey Squirrel. 1 male Brambling.
26th January 2011:
1 male Bullfinch.
25th January 2011:
1 female Bullfinch.
24th January 2011:
A grey day (again!). Wind from the west.
2 Grey Squirrel.
Another 1st for the garden (listed as a sub-species so number 40 will have to wait), and indeed a lifetime first: A Mealy Redpoll visited our garden with around 20 Lesser Redpoll.
21st January 2011:
Another sharp frost. Freezing fog again pm.
2 Grey Squirrel in our garden today.
2 female Brambling, 9 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Robin, 8 Goldfinch, 13 Siskin, 2 Feral Pigeon, 3 male and 4 female Chaffinch, 4 Greenfinch, 1 male and 1 female Great Tit, 1 Dunnock, 3 Blue Tit, 1 Woodpigeon, 1 female Reed Bunting, 1 male and 1 female Blackbird, 1 female Bullfinch.
20th January 2011:
Sharp frost overnight. Around freezing point all day with patches of freezing fog.
Grey Squirrel.
1 male and 1 female Bullfinch, 1 Wren, 4 Lesser Redpoll, 20 Siskin, 6 Goldfinch, 10 Chafinch, 1 Robin, 3 Blue Tit, 1 Woodpigeon, 1 male Reed Bunting, 2 male and 1 female Greenfinch.
18th January 2011:
Sharp frost overnight. Clear blue skies and sunshine.
1 male Brambling, 7 Lesser Redpoll, 1 male Bullfinch.
17th January 2011:
Bright sunny day.
Grey Squirrel.
16th January 2011:
Still windy but dry. Wind from southwest.
40 Geese flew north early on.
1 female Reed Bunting, 5 Lesser Redpoll, 12 Siskin, 1 female Bullfinch, 7 Goldfinch.
15th January 2011:
Very wet. Very windy. Temperatures up to 9C.
Grey Squirrel.
Female Reed Bunting.
14th January 2011:
Another grey day with a light wind from the west, strengthening during the afternoon. Occassional light rain during the morning, clear skies midday, heavy rain late afternoon.
Grey Squirrel.
1 male Brambling (briefly), 20 Siskin, 2 male Lesser Redpoll, 1 female Reed Bunting, 2 Goldfinch, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Blue Tit, 1 Robin, 1 Dunnock and 3 Feral Pigeon.
13th January 2011:
Much milder than of late (up to 8C). The last of the snow now gone, although there is still a fair amount of ice in our pond. At least 1 of our adult Goldfish has made it through the freeze. The grey Squirrel removed another nut feeder and feasted well, even burying some peanuts for later use.
No sign of the Brambling today, Siskin numbers remain good and 2 Lesser Redpoll.
Overhead, 60 Geese flew north.
12th January 2011:
A dreek day.
Just 2 Brambling remaining.
11th January 2011:
In contrast to yesterday, a beautiful day with bright blue skies. Temperatures up above freezing but not high enough to melt the remaining snow - now just lying on the grass.
Another first for our garden (Number 39): a Herring Gull - even if it did only have one leg.
1 Black-headed Gull, 19 Brambling,2 male and 1 female Lesser Redpoll, 30+ Siskin, 2 Magpie, 1 Jackdaw, 2 Woodpigeon and 4 Starling.
A Sparrowhawk tried to take a small bird out of a tree (couldn't tell if it was successful). Later the Sparrowhawk was chased north by a Crarrion Crow.
10th January 2011:
Rain this morning but still having little effect on our remaining snow. Rain again later becoming very heavy after dark.
The Grey Squirrel returned this morning for some nuts and later in the afternoon, when it managed to dislodge a nut feeder. Sparrowhawk overhead and later, briefly, settling on a tree.
Over 40 Brambling and a similar number of Siskin. 6 Lesser Redpoll, 5 male and 2 female Reed Bunting, 1 Woodpigeon, 1 Carion Crow.
9th Janury 2011:
Despite last night's rain, there is still over an inch of snow on the ground. Mixed cloud this morning with a moderate breeze from the west. Wind died down in the afternoon with clear skies. Temperature up to 5C, causing a slow thaw. Frost again after dark.
Close encounter with a Robin who came to see what I kept in the shed.
3 male, 2 female and 2 juvenile Blackbird, 1 Starling, 1 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 4 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, 1 Rook, 28 Brambling, 2 male and 3 female Chaffinch, 1 male and 1 female Greenfinch, 6 Goldfinch, 30+ Siskin, 1 female Bullfinch, 2 male and 2 female Lesser Redpoll, 3 male and 2 female Reed Bunting, 2 Feral Pigeon.
8th January 2011:
A beautiful crisp day. Blue skies, sub-zero temperatures, oh and 3 inches of snow on the ground. Clouded over towards dark with more light snow which turned to rain after dark.
A Wren searching our heather bed. A Sparrowhawk put everything to flight. Bloody cat had a Lesser Redpoll but I knocked the window and fortunately the Redpoll escaped. A Starling had a bath in our water feature! Grey Squirrel at nut feeders.
The busiest day our garden has known. 22 different species with at least 118 birds payingus a visit:
5 male and 3 female Reed Bunting, 2 male and 1 female Lesser Redpoll, 26 Brambling, 22 Siskin, 10 Goldfinch, 1 male, 1 female and 1 juvenile Greenfinch, 12 Chaffinch, 3 male, 2 female and 2 juvenile Blackbird, 1 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 1 Wren, 9 Starling, 3 Blue Tit, 1 male and 1 female Great Tit, 3 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Carrion Crow, 1 Jackdaw, 1 Magpie, 1 Feral pigeon, 1 Black-headed Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 1 Common Gull.
7th January 2011:
A sharp frost overnight - kettle required to get our water feature flowing. High, light cloud. Temperatures below freezing all day. Started snowing at 20.00.
Bloody cat took a Siskin...
Our 3 Brambling which have remained with us, were joined by at least another 15. 1 male and 1 female Lesser Redpoll, 1 female Bullfinch, 2 Starling, 1 male Reed Bunting, 2 Dunnock. A Fieldfare flew over.
Birds drinking from water feature: Blackbird, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Robin.
A Grey Squirrel visited the birdtable.
6th January 2011:
Rain first thing, then a snowfall that was enough to turn everything white again. Sunshine throughout late morning and the afternoon. Wind from the west.
Our first Redwing since November. 2 male and 1 female Brambling, 2 male Reed Bunting, 2 Lesser Redpoll.
5th January 2011:
Frost overnight. Grey again. Light wind.
Our first Dunnock of the year and also Bullfinch - 1 male and 1 female. 1 female Brambling, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 2 male and 1 female Reed Bunting. A Sparrowhawk chased a Blackbird and then flew back being chased by a Carrion Crow.
4th January 2011:
Very grey again with a moderate westerly wind. Occasional rain throughout the day, turning heavier after dark.
A very busy morning. Up to 30 Siskin, 20 Goldfinch, 5 Lesser Redpoll, 2 male and 1 female Brambling.
3rd January 2011:
Skies slightly brighter than of late. A light, westerly wind. Still very cold, our pond is still frozen over. Some light snow/hail after dark.
4 Long-tailed Tit, 1 male and 1 female Brambling, 8 Goldfinch.
Sparrowhawk overhead.
2nd January 2011:
Another cold, grey day. Temperature up to around 1C.
1 male and 1 female Reed Bunting, 1 male, 1 female and 2 juvenile Greenfinch, 5 Blue Tit, 1 male Blackbird, 6 Siskin, 2 Lesser Redpoll and a female Brambling.
1st January 2011 - Happy New Year!
A cold grey day. After the 'warmer' last couple of days, the snow has now all gone from our garden. Temperatures today up to about 2.5C before falling back below zero.
With the 'better' weather, the number of birds in the garden has diminished with only Siskin and Chaffinch numbers holding up.
A surprise visitor was a Woodpigeon. 2 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 18 Siskin, 5 Goldfinch, 9 Chaffinch, 1 Robin, 1 Female and 1 juvenile Blackbird, 1 female Greenfinch, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Feral Pigeon, 1 female Reed Bunting and 1 Starling.
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