My Garden 2019

Thanks Jim, don't give anything special as far as I know. I have ten feeders in the back garden and four in the front, the Bramblings always use the back garden ones maybe because they are bigger and they won't have to fight off the c30 sparrows that mainly use the front garden. I have 5 seed feeders which contain sunflower hearts, black sunflower seeds and a finch mix I get from seed merchant locally. Considering the Brambling have to fight both the Greenfinches (12+), Chaffinches (18+), Goldfinches (c20), House Sparrows (18+) and assorted tits for the right to a seed it's a wonder they get anything lol. I sit in kitchen and lounge watching with binos, camera and distance specs and watch the antics of 100+ birds fight for the right to eat, it is very exciting! And does my health good as well.

I also have very good cover in both gardens and when the sprawk visits all hell breaks loose, even the corvids scare the finches etc. I hope the GBW people can answer why the Brambling have stayed so long other than the obvious reason. Reading my Collins bible they could stay another six weeks at least.

Regards

John

impressed by the bramblings’ loyalty, John You must be feeding them something special. What is it?

March 5th: Brambling - 1m 2f , Coal Tit & LT Tit single each plus usual gang.
March 6th: Brambling - 2f 1m, Reed Bunting - 1m (pics & video), Dunnock - 3, LT Tit - 2 , Black-headed Gull over plus usual gang.
March 7th: Brambling - 1m 2f , LT Tit single plus usual gang.
March 8th: Brambling - 1m 2f not seen till 15:00 , Reed Bunting - 1m not seen till 15:15 pics of both RB and B. Plus twelve other species.
March 9th: Brambling - 1m 2f , Reed Bunting - 1m seen briefly.
March 10th: Brambling - 1m 2f (39th consecutive day they been here), LT Tit single plus usual gang.

I've written to GBW (member) re the Bramblings etc.

Cheers
John

March 2nd: Brambling - 1m 1f - brief view of Reed bunting male late afternoon, LT Tit - 2 also late afternoon plus usual gang.
March 3rd: Brambling - 1m 2f - LT Tit - 2 plus usual gang
March 4th: Brambling - 1m 2f seen PM squabbling at the feeders with the Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Spuggys etc.
LT Tit - 2 seen late afternoon on the nut feeder in front garden for a change. Had a Rook pay a very short visit. Upwards of 30 Starlings attacking the nuts and fat balls.

This is the 33rd consecutive day the Bramblings have been here! Is this common or unusual? Hope I get a mention in the 2019 bird report, make a change if I do

Regards

John

Feb 26th: Brambling - 1m 1f they proved more elusive today. LT Tit - 2 plus usual crowd.
Feb 27th: Brambling - 1m 1f no problem seeing today. Sprawk soaring above garden while I was weeding plus usual gang.
Feb 28th: Brambling - 1m 1f , LT Tit - 2 plus usual gang. Noticed what I thought was a Tree Sparrow again but I was wrong, even better it was male Reed Bunting snacking on bits of fat ball that had fallen, got pics and video, not had one since the bad snows in 2010.
Also noticed a Chaffinch with what I call "white baggy trousers" poor thing can only feed on the ground, got some pics.

March 1st: Brambling - 1m 2f, Siskin - 1m, LT Tit - 1, brief view of the Reed Bunting plus usual gang. Was ill in night so didn't get up till nearly midday so missed the best part of the feeding frenzy.

I'm certainly having a spectacular year so far, let it continue!

Regards

John

Hi Stewart,

It's not as if I live in a village or the countryside but I do live on the south-western edge of Scunny and the garden is full of assorted trees and shrubs both in the back garden and the front, though I've never seen the Bramblings in front garden. But there is only one small seed feeder in the front whereas there are three medium and one small size feeders in the back.

Feb 24th: Brambling - 1m 2f plus one LT Tit and usual gang.
Feb 25th: Brambling - 1m 2f and the gang.

Cheers

John