looked out of the window just

nightshade · #1 (**permalink**) 22-12-2007, 09:24 AM

I had just put out some pear halves and bread pudding sat down and the Lioness said "look look"
There was a quartet of Blackbirds and in the middle astride a pear half a Fieldfare but on the peanuts was a greater Spotted Woodpecker AND a
Lesser Spotted.Camera upstairs to keep things tidy

I thought these birds migrated (the woodpeckers)

cannylad · #2 (**permalink**) 22-12-2007, 09:29 AM

canny set of garden visitors, long time since i have seen LS woodie very rare up my neck of the woods.

tufftie · #3 (**permalink**) 22-12-2007, 09:37 AM

Show off!! Nothing unusual for me today. Mmm Humphy, the blackbird, told me off again for being late with her breakfast again though

Long time since i've seen a lesser spotted too.

nightshade · #4 (**permalink**) 22-12-2007, 09:48 AM

We have had very few birds in the garden recently,linked directly to the loss of two mature trees in the immediate vicinity
Google Earth shows my house to be the only treed area,luckily on a flyover route to greener pastures which is why (I suppose)we get these lovely birds appearing briefly.The bread pudding helps

paulchandler6 · #5 (**permalink**) 22-12-2007, 10:21 AM

Of our 4 Woodpecker species 3 are resident all year - Green, Great and Lesser Spotted. The only other that migrates is Wryneck.

Paul

aeshna5 · #6 (**permalink**) 22-12-2007, 11:31 AM

Xmas has come early for you Nightshade! It's been c3 years since I last saw a LSW. To get both "spotteds" together like that is brilliant. Let's hope they become regulars.

Lincs Yellowbelly · #7 (**permalink**) 22-12-2007, 12:24 PM

You jammy so and so NS

i've never seen a LSW, they are very rare around here.

nightshade · #8 (**permalink**) 22-12-2007, 12:28 PM

There is a flock of Goldfinches on the sunflower hearts.Four Blackbirds the Fieldfare,a couple of Dunnocks a pair of Bullfinches,a dozen Sparrows,
Chaffinch,Bluetits GreatTits,Jackdaw and Starlings collecting long grass leaves etc.
The garden has not been so crowded in a long time,a couple of Wood pigeons have just landed to add to the bustle

nightshade · #9 (**permalink**) 22-12-2007, 12:36 PM

Lincs Yellowbelly
The Lioness has been telling me for years about this L/S but this is the first eyeball to eyeball sighting for me

fulhamphil · #10 (**permalink**) 22-12-2007, 02:33 PM

Would love to have woodpeckers in the garden, however i did see one (green} feeding by the side of the road just outside the house last week, wouldn't mind a fieldfare either. Did have a wren come in today got a real close up as it was foraging about the ivy by the patio window, also had loads of goldfinch come in which was nice!

Lincs Yellowbelly · #11 (**permalink**) 22-12-2007, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightshade

Lincs Yellowbelly
The Lioness has been telling me for years about this L/S but this is the first eyeball to eyeball sighting for me

Camera at the ready next time eh, just pretend it's a bat

In the village I work I was sure I could hear a LSW calling last week, kept hearing the same noise over and over, and tracked it down to a flock of Starlings

nightshade · #12 (**permalink**) 23-12-2007, 08:04 AM

This a.m. I packed the hanging log with a mix of sunflower seed and peanuts
held together with Honey the response was amazing

nightshade · #13 (**permalink**) 23-12-2007, 09:59 AM

Do Not Forget To Give THe Birds WATER,they are all crowding the birdbaths at present bathing and drinking(fancy drinking your bath water

)

snowdrop · #14 (**permalink**) 23-12-2007, 10:31 AM

I have feeders in the front garden as well as the back but there is no real cover at the front in the shape of trees.
The last couple of weeks of frost has seen evidence of murder committed very close to these front feeders. Yesterday. for the third time, I discovered a flurry of small feathers sadly blowing around the feeding posts, but no bodies.
What could happened and who or what could have been responsible?
Now the birds have migrated en masse to the back garden and the safety of the trees. Its so upsetting.

tufftie · #15 (**permalink**) 23-12-2007, 11:08 AM

Most likely one of those cute, fluffy, butter wouldn't melt - cats! Though it could be a Fox..

nightshade · #16 (**permalink**) 23-12-2007, 11:19 AM

Could be a Sparrow Hawk,I do not often find many feathers when a cat or Fox have taken a bird (except for"soft"birds like pigeon or collar doves)

Lincs Yellowbelly · #17 (**permalink**) 23-12-2007, 11:26 AM

Sparrowhawk is definatly the most likely possibility, but they have to eat to

JeffH · #18 (**permalink**) 24-12-2007, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightshade

... but on the peanuts was a greater Spotted Woodpecker AND a Lesser Spotted.Camera upstairs to keep things tidy

...

Isn't it always the way Nightshade - GS and LS woodies on your peanuts at the same time but with no camera to hand

Still, lucky to see them together and let's hope they return.

Jeff

big bill · #19 (**permalink**) 24-12-2007, 02:04 PM

Congratulations NS I know how you feel have had all the normal flocks of birds in the garden and today for the first time again like you camera in seperate part of house a Pied Wagtail on the seed tray at the feeding station along with a Greenfinch a first for this also hope the make a return visit

snowdrop · #20 (**permalink**) 28-12-2007, 01:35 PM

So...it was a hawk of some kind. I witnessed a kill this morning. It swooped so fast taking a goldfinch in flight and zipping up and over next doors roof I didn't have time to register what type of hawk it was although it seemed small to me, a kestrel perhaps? Gosh, the speed was spectacular.