Garden Birds

Time now for a back garden update.


Considering the small size of the garden we have been extremely lucky over the years to see so many different species on our feeders.
Goldcrests and Firecrest  have visited most years but the Firecrest failed to put in an appearance this year. We hope they both return this winter.
A strange visitor was a Moorhen that stayed around for a few weeks.
The Chaffinch flock included a pair of Bramblings that took a liking to the Nyger Seed and  became  daily visitors for a number of weeks.
The Greenfinches have all but deserted us with only  a couple of sighting all year. A single Siskin was also seen early in the year.
Bullfinches appear but not generally on a daily basis and a  lone juvenile was observed  late last month.
Goldfinches have increased in numbers on the seed feeder with a record of six seen yesterday.
This year we have had a bumper crop of Blue Tits with fifteen in the garden at the same time. I suspect we have at least twenty plus in and around the garden area and they certainly are a joy to watch as they try everything in sight.
Great Tits, Dunnocks, Robins , Chaffinches and Coal Tits have all reared youngsters  as have the 
Sparrows, Blackbirds and Starlings .
The Swifts returned again to nest  at the roof of the house and are still feeding the young.
A Jay appeared on the feeder last week (the first time I have seen it away from the trees) and along with the Magpies, Wood Pigeons and Collared Doves make up the larger visitors.
Long-tailed Tits appear regularly and are more active when the woodland flocks appear a little later in the year.
A pair of Blackcap were with us during the winter months and have reappeared again recently.
The Great-spotted Woodpecker seen on the peanuts last year  has  failed to appear this one.
Another visitor that was absent  last year   but has now returned with a vengeance is the Song Thrush. We have a pair that continually return to the feeders  on  daily visits and by the amount of feed they  take off with we suspect they have youngsters. They are becoming quite tame.
Wrens show themselves  most days  but how many we have is anybody’s  guess.
Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers are sometimes seen or heard in the woods that backs onto the garden.
Owls are sometimes heard at night (not by me though)
Rooks and Crows are often in the adjacent trees but I have never seen one in the garden. That also applies to the Herring Gulls that fly over.  
Swifts, Swallows and House Martins  can be seen hawking overhead  during their stay.
Yesterday as Angie reported ,a GBB Gull was foraging outside the front door. Occasionally a Pied Wagtail  also appears around the frontal area.


If we are to add to our garden tally….what will it be?
I would like to have a Nuthatch, Mistle Thrush and a Jackdaw visit.
Due to the number of woodland birds that visit us I would rather any raptors around  kept their distance.