Friday 26 October 2012

The week ends as it started, very grey, very gloomy, and wet!

I didn't get out at all this afternoon, the rain came in pulses, and it barely got light at all, so I opted to stay in and watch the garden feeders, which was a bit of a mixed affair. 16 species came in to feed on the Sunflower Hearts and Peanuts provided, but there were some notable omissions, species such as Greenfinch, House Sparrow, and Starling all kept away, they only come in now when the SPARROWHAWKS become less frequent in their visits, even then, the House sparrows are few and far between.

The BLUE TITS whizz in, take food and go again, with up to 15 at one time making raids on the Sunflower Hearts, fewer GREAT TITS are seen, up to 4 at one time, and then there's the COAL TITS, which 2 -3 are coming in, the last visiting Tit species is the MARSH TIT, I got some great close up views of it, but the light was so poor there was no chance with the camera, the same went for the JAYS and NUTHATCH'S.

5 CHAFFINCH and 2 GOLDFINCH came in, but stayed only for a few minutes, I can remember in my pre Sparrowhawk days seeing up to 80 finch's at the feeders at this time of year. 2 ROBINS, a DUNNOCK and a BLACKBIRD came and went, they are also aware of the Sprawks and don't stay longer than is necessary. A GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER fed on the hanging peanuts, 2  MAGPIES stole the loose peanuts put out for the Jays, and 3 WOODPIGEON, plus 2 COLLARED DOVES picked up what the Tits and finch's dropped.

Hopefully tomorrows full patch walk will see some improvement in the conditions  ;-)

4 comments:

ShySongbird said...

Hi Warren :-) No rain here for a change but grey, gloomy and a cold wind and not even a hint of the sunny periods we were promised. The Sprawk has been evident in my garden again, a pigeon by the look of the large pile of feathers.

I seem to have acquired a small flock of House Sparrows which is great news as they have been very few and far between for some time.) I think they nested in the hedge and they always seem to come out of there, onto the feeders and back into the hedge, they're not silly, the hedge is by the feeders :-)

Have a good weekend, it should be brighter tomorrow :-)

Pete Woodruff said...

Going to get cold tonight- frost even - up here i'nt north, nice sunny day tomorrow. Hope its the same for you and your Saturday 'full patch walk' Warren.

Lancs and Lakes Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris said...

Fingers crossed for a much better day for you tomorrow Warren.

We'll be up and out in fffffreezin cold

Cheers

Davo

Rohrerbot said...

I can't believe the weather. All summer, fall, winter.....when does the rain stop for you? Does it ever? Is this normal? I like rain for short periods to be in that all the time would drive me insane! How is a guy supposed to bird??!!!