great tit 12+ blue tit 16 +[female on eggs in nest box] l t tits 20 +[still in small flocks] coal tit 6+ chaffinch[several in pairs] greenfinch[only odd ones] goldfinch[still can not find any] bullfinch 6+pairs[all paired off,couple of possible nest sites] robin 12+[still feeding together,but getting aggressive,nest site in wall of house] dunnock 8+[in pairs and displaying] wren 10+[two possible nest sites near house] goldcrest 1[cannot find a pair] house sparrow[still none] blackbird 10+pairs[all paired several carrying nest material] song thrush 1 pair mistle thrush 3 pair redwing 20+flock in fields crow several pair rooks 10+pairs[wind seems to have damaged there early attempt at nesting] jackdaws 4 pairs jay 3/4 individuals still feeding at tables woodpigeon [lots feed in fields,not sure about nesting] collared dove 1pair[seem to be resident,none bred last year] mallard 6 pair canada goose 1 pair[could be resident on porritt lodge ?] heron 1 on river dipper 2 pair[1 pair seem to using last years nest site] kingfisher[none yet,i am holding my breath] greywagtail 2 pair pied wagtail 6+ g s woodpecker 6+[drilling every morning,still feeding on fat] goosander 4+[feeding on river,not sure about nesting] sparrowhawk [female that has been here all winter,seem to have gone] tawny owl [male and female very vocal]
Hi Brian, Re your missing Sparrowhawk. There has been a female up here lately, ? same one. Flew through my garden yesterday am. a collard dove left a wonderful imprint on my kitchen window while trying to escape. Another (or same one) over the garden 9am today.
On another subject I have been feeding mixed seed, dried mealworms and fatballs. Trying to match your recipe as close as I could. As expected the fatballs attracted more Starlings and I got a few House Sparrows where there were none before. But I seem to have lost Goldfinch and Bullfinch, could be season I suppose, or then again maybe it's the Sparrowhawk. Any ideas anybody.
Bullfinch and goldfinch come to feed on sunflower hearts everyday at our feeding station. If we ever put niger seed out the goldfinches will eat it, but they do seem to prefer sunflower hearts. They would probably also come for black sunflowers, but these don't half leave a lot of mess.
Hi Kevin, I was feeding sunflower hearts and crushed peanuts exclusively before and getting goldfinch, greenfinch and bullfinch. The change of diet was an experiment to see if it would attract other species. I am still using sunflowers but the fact that they have been 'watered down' with other things seems to have had an effect, but not the desired one. Thanks for info. Ina
I fortunatley do not get any starlings at all[hard to believe,but true], i have hardly seen a goldfinch this winter,but bullfinch are plentyfull and they eat niger by preference. I only use live mealworm,dont like dried[bit tasteless],can i have my sparrowhawk back please,will swap for half a dozen robins
