Wildlife in the garden - Spring and what is this bird?

[SimonT]

A very quiet hour for us. At this time of year we normally have large mixed flocks of the small finches. (20+ Siskin, Linner, Red Poll, Goldies throughout the day). I would expect lots of Nuthach and Greater Spoted. Our list was one Goldie, one Nuthatch, a few sparrows, two Chaffinch and six Starlings. This year the evening murmaration is only a couple of hunderd Starlings rather than the thousands we normally see at dusk with, of course a Peregrine escort.

 

[40057]

We are benefitting from the Foehn effect today, so really warm and pleasant outside. Many larks up singing in the fields next to our house. Suddenly, hundreds of snowdrops — properly open for the first time this year:



Even a small tortoiseshell butterfly has come out of hibernation in a cupboard in our house:



I let it go outside, because it flew to a window and was trying to get out. But a shock awaits him/her next week when the daytime temperature is forecast to be back at 3 degrees.

Still, today has felt like spring.

 

[SimonT]

benefitting from the Foehn effect

Thats because we've got all that moisture. 30 mph fog and drizzle all day on our Weslh hill

 

[Eastsidepilot]

Our gate guardian nearly always checks us out and in the driveway

 

[Suffolk Dave]

Siskin are back on my feeders. So far only 4 birds but mid February through to March is the time when they generally show up.

 

[SimonT]

Siskin are back on my feeders

Snap! So far a male and then a female the next day. Numbers of all species have been very low this winter. This time last year I was recording 12 Siskin along with Linnet and Red Poll. Still yet to see any of the last two.

 

[Dog Star]

Numbers of all species have been very low this winter.

Certainly the case in January, nothing to count during the RSPB garden event. Of late we have had many Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches and Robins on a regular basis. At times there have been as many as eight Chaffs on the ground... five or six Greens and maybe six or seven Golds on the feeders.

 

[Dai88D]

Saw my first frog of the year in our pond. - just as I was about to do the (never done) clear out of the pond.

 

[simond]

Spring has reached Sandgate. Just had a beer on the patio, in a t-shirt.

14C according to Folkestone coastwatch weather station, vitamin D in abundance.

Magpies nesting (or otherwise behaving like beavers)



and 45 minutes later, torrential rain. And sunshine. Is it April?

 

[Max M]

Certainly the case in January, nothing to count during the RSPB garden event. Of late we have had many Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches and Robins on a regular basis. At times there have been as many as eight Chaffs on the ground... five or six Greens and maybe six or seven Golds on the feeders.

I'm sure the birds know when it's the Great Garden Birdwatch and go on their holidays which is why we don't see them.
Once they know all the results have been submitted they come back.

 

[Suffolk Dave]

We now have a female Blackbird nest building.

 

[SimonT]

Lots of frogging going on this morning with some good clumps of spawn. There also three newts to chump on the tadpoles when they hatch.

 

[Dai88D]

Took Merlin bird sound app out into the garden today. Within 3 minutes, it identified Mistle and Song Thrush, Robin, Blackbird, Nuthatch, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Goldfinch. It missed the Peacock across the field though.

 

[ovener]

Well that was amazing! Yesterday afternoon I heard a load of screeching and chattering so looked out of the window. A sparrowhawk was dismembering a jackdaw right by our back door. A couple of magpies were trying to grab the jackdaw for themselves but gave up after a bit of to and fro. The sparrowhawk moved to a nearby post and plucked the feathers from the jackdaw before tearing off bits of flesh to eat. It eventually flew off after about 30 minutes with what was left of the poor jackdaw - at least they are pretty common round our way. This is a screengrab from the video I shot. Still can't believe we were lucky enough to see this.

 

[Bigjohn]

That sparrowhawk seemed smaller than A4………

 

[ovener]

Yes, the A4 Sparrowhawk in the back garden would be something really special! I don't think Mrs. Ovener would approve though...

 

[simond]

Pair of Robins in the garden a few moments ago. Couldn’t get a pic, sadly.

It’s been raining all day, and it’s still raining.

 

[Dog Star]

Of late we have had many ... birds ... on a regular basis. At times there have been as many as eight Chaffs on the ground.

The past couple of weeks there have been up to fourteen Chaffs feeding off of the ground, picking up what the Goldfinches and Greenfinches have dropped from the feeder perches.

Only the past week has the temperature risen enough during the day to ensure a frost free night - has anyone seen a Hedgehog this year?

rgds, G

 

[Brian Daniels]

First hedgehog I think I've seen our garden in Cowley, Oxford, last night and I've been here for 66 years!

 

[40057]

We had heavy rain yesterday and evidently had visitors overnight. In soft mud next to our house this morning:



Overlying the tyre tracks eroded by yesterday’s rain are paw prints left by a badger and a cat.