Two consecutive sub zero nights have concentrated the birds into roosting in the Rhododendrons behind the feeding station and then feeding most of the day, this has produced excellent viewing and good numbers as follows.....
Numbers are highest actually seen together over two days.....
Blue Tit....9....probably down on past years.
Great Tit....7.....as above.
Coal Tit.... 11....unusually high numbers and have been for some time.
Long-tailed Tit.....none....unusual not to see them on fat, but they are around the area.
Bullfinch....5....three males two female.
Goldfinch....13....lower numbers than two weeks ago.
Chaffinch.....23....similar to last few years. I think these include some continental visitors.
Siskin.....3....regular now with the Goldfinch.
Greenfinch.....none....over these two days but have been two recently.
Brambling.....37....there are several males which are nearly in full breeding plumage, after two years with none this is now my best record for this species.
Robin....5....would have expected more.
Dunnock....3....again would like to see more.
Wren....2....difficult to pick out as they stay in the undergrowth.
Nuthatch.....5.....I think more here but because of there antics difficult to know whos who.
Treecreeper....one most days feeding on fat.
Blackbird...12....almost certainly some migrants from the north.
Song Thrush....3....these are regular most days.
Great Spotted Woodpecker......3....two males.
Magpie.....2....dont see much more than this at the feeding station.
Jay.....5....very active in the mornings taking peanuts and storing them.
Jackdaw.....7....again mostly in the mornings.
Woodpigeon.....8.....about as many as the site will handle.
Collared Dove.....12.....these seem to arrive in numbers when it has been cold overnight.
I have been asked by several visitors about lack of Starlings, which to the best of my knowledge have never visited the site, they are not far away but for what ever reason they dont appear, House Sparrow is similar, I have only once recorded two here in 2010 winter.
