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| Female Brambling |
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| Female Brambling |
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| Redwing |
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| Female Siskin |
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| Male Brambling |
Saturday 6 April 2013
Unusual garden visitors
A couple of weeks ago I awoke to a good few inches of snow. The bird numbers in the garden consequently increased and with it I got a few birds that are good to see anywhere, but especially in a small garden in the north of Peterborough. Whilst nothing scarce or rare, seeing a female Siskin for only the second time in 5 years was a bonus and then a flock of 5 Redwing flew in, obviously looking for an easy meal. The female Brambling was also paying a visit accompanied by up to 30 Chaffinches, although there was no sign of the male.
The weather this week, whilst not snowing, has still been extremely wintery and consequently the bird numbers have still been pretty high. 16 Reed Buntings is a new garden record and there are still 35+ Chaffinches visiting regularly. This week though saw the return of the male Brambling, starting to show brighter plumage detail, although he is still not in breeding plumage as his head would be completely black and his bill would also be fully black. Still a beautiful bird though.
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That is a lovely set of garden visitors John. The male Brambling is starting to look really colourful. Siskins have become regular visitors to our seed feeder this winter. (Quite unusual)
ReplyDeleteHopefully its going to warm up now shortly.
Thanks Roy!
DeleteHe is starting to brighten up nicely, isn't he! I have seen that you have had a few Siskins and I know that Keith has had dozens! Me, I am happy with one! :)
J
Dear John,
ReplyDeletethank you for presenting such a variety of birds (none of them to be seen here, though in my garden in Hildesheim we at least had Chaffinches).
I hope the male brambling puts on his plumage pronto - it is time for a change! (Here the bird songs grow louder each morning - so there is hope).
Thank you Britta!
DeleteI am not sure if the Brambling will fully moult before he departs to eastern climes, but you never know!
J
John, what wonderful garden birds you were able to capture. The elements and the bokeh are really lovely~
ReplyDeleteHi Mary,
DeleteThank you. I am lucky to have such visitors and I am trying to get better at photography! :)
J
What a great bunch of garden birds. I'm envious of both sexes of Bramblings. The male is a stunner!
ReplyDeleteHi Jenny,
DeleteThank you. They are not regular visitors, but this year I have seen them most days since January.
J
You've had some great visitors John and lovely photos too. The Bramblings are such colourful birds. I only saw them fleetingly in my garden this time but they do tend to visit each winter as do Redwings when the weather is really harsh. I have only had Siskins visit once in the last four years though and as for your Reed Buntings I've never had one in the garden at all!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jan!
DeleteThey are pretty jumpy birds, they seem to spend such little time actually feeding. The Siskin is only the second for me in five years, but the Reed Bunts are annual, although only winter visitors.
J
Great visitors John. I'm sure they're all glad of the available food in the garden.
ReplyDeleteThose Brambling are something special.
Hi Keith,
DeleteI would still love to have the number of Siskins that you have been getting though!
With the 'milder' weather the numbers have now dropped off a bit and the birds have started investigating my nest boxes. Fingers crossed!
J