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The first Siskin of this winter has arrived and has been feeding on the nijer seed.
The snow that fell of 5th January and the subsequent cold weather has brought local Chaffinches to the garden. They are still around but quite timid. Numbers have increased and early this week there were six together either in the Alder tree or on the ground. I have continued to scatter seed on the ground even though the snow is now gone. We hope that the Chaffinch will continue to figure on our BTO weekly Garden Bird submission as they have been a rare visitor to the garden in the last ten years.
The numbers of Goldfinch on the nijer feeders are still around 9 or 10 with 2 Greenfinch visiting the green feeder containing sunflower hearts; they chase off the local House Sparrows - who’s numbers are still quite low . . . . just 22 or more whereas ten years ago we had 70+.
When the snow melted we saw about thirty thrushes, Fieldfare and Redwing, feeding on the freshly exposed grass on the school field opposite. There is also a single Mistle Thrush seen very occasionally, sweeping through the garden or over on the field. Also on the field we have the usual Black-headed Gull and Lesser Black-backed, but these are accompanied by three Herring Gull today (Monday 24th).
A Fieldfare was still in residence on the apple tree in a neighbouring garden today but no sign of the Blackcap that was around for over a week. Also seen for the first time in a while were two Long-tailed Tit in the Plane trees. Their cousins the Blue Tits are still ‘kings of the garden’, chasing off anything they see getting too close to the nest box. Finally, the local Robins were singing before dawn this morning.
Putting seed on the ground has attracted up to 5 Woodpigeon that ‘hoover’ up the seed at a terrific rate!
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