Diary of my long staying Brambling (with photos)

[John]

I thought I would start a thread about some Bramblings that have set up residence in my garden since March 11th. I have had up to seven (six male & one female) visit the feeders in front of my bedroom window.

The tree is within ten feet of my window and so gives me good opportunities for photographing them. Unfortunately it has to be done through the window so the end product isn't usually as good as I would like it to be.

I am now down to one daily bird plus a second that drops in occasionally. I have seen one all morning so far today but the second one joined him briefly at 07:30 before flying off.

I have added a few of the many photos I have taken so far and will continue to add any photos I take in the future until he (or they, eventually depart.

Todays photos were taken at 8am. It was drizzling at the time and on the first photo you can just about see a drop of rain on the birds crown.




From March 13th.




23rd March




5th April




7th April




It has been great to watch these birds close up as it is quite rare to have them for so long in one's garden. In fact prior to this I only ever had one brief visit by a Brambling on 02/04/2006.

I would have thought that by the end of April they would have been fattened up enough to start their reverse migration. The only sad thing is that I might not see the last day that they go, as I will be on holiday in Suffolk from April 19th to the 27th. The feed would have gone by the time I get back and so more than likely will be the Brambling.

I will post any other photos I get until the last day I see them.

John

[Pete Collins]

Nice photos, as ever, John. I look forward to seeing more shots of your Bramblings.

Not seen one here for a few days, but I guess I've still got a week or two in which they might return. Would love to get a decent photo of one.

Seems like plenty of people have been seeing them in their gardens for the first time this winter. I'm sure we'll all feel disappointed if they don't come back next year!

[John]

Usually I only see them up to about 10am but today one was still around the feeders after 1pm. This could mean that he is getting as much feed down him prior to an early departure.

John

[colincurry]

Very nice shots, John.

I wish you and the others lucky enough to see them could send some my way. I have only ever seen one - at Titchwell on a cold, dark and windy day.

Colin

[big bill]

NIce set of images john well done look forward to next episode

[LoveT]

Lovely images John - and you're very lucky. My two bramblings left weeks ago . Look forward to seeing more posts .

Thea

[andyc123]

Nice images John, brambling have been on my target list for ages but have never had good views of them as yet.......

[dmclean2]

Brilliant shots John,
The two pair that was in the garden for the past two weeks seem to have gone for now, probably just passing through, It's not the lack of food in the feeders, thats for sure, anyway I enjoy seeing your pics, didn't manage to get any shots myself, Yet.
Duncan

[John]

Surprisingly the count went up to three this morning. At 07:20 there were two, ten minutes later a third joined them.

Sadly a couple walked by and flushed them so no photos from today.

John

[Kayleigh]

Lovely photos of a lovely bird. I had never seen one before WAB, and never in the wild. Thanks for sharing them.

[GME]

Thanks for sharing John. I like these diary threads..... They're like our very own WAB soaps


Gareth

[John]

Still two males this morning. No chance of a photo though as yet again they were disturbed by a couple walking by. They were briefly joined by a male Blackcap.

Unfortunately I have a new housing estate being built by the side of my bungalow. I am in an elevated position and you can look down on what is being done.

Now they are well into the building side there are people that like to come and watch and that is disturbing the birds. The Brambling still come but they don't hang around but hopefully I will still get the chance of more photos.

John

[John]

Unbelievable start to the morning. I woke up to find the morning cold, misty and wet and thought I would possibly not see any Brambling.

How wrong could I be. I didn't get one, two or three but eight of the little beauties. Six male & two female.

I managed to get off a shot of one of the males on the ground before a Grey Squirrel scared them all off.



John

[Bub-les]

you're sooo lucky!
Its a bird I've never seen
Barbara

[John]

Sadly for the first time in ages there were no Brambling this morning. In fact it was almost birdless prior to me going to work, which is unusual in itself as normally there are loads of birds around my feeders.

John

[John]

Well it looks like the flock of eight I had a a couple of days ago was their prelude to leaving as I haven't seen any since.

I am off to Suffolk tonight until April 27th so that's virtually a certainty that I won't report on them again.

That's a shame as I looked forward to watching them each morning before I went to work.

John

[Wild-Woman]

Nice thread John. If they've gone, with luck they'll be back next year. See you in Suffolk!

[watsthat]

Well done John, brambling is one of my favourite birds. When I lived closer to the east coast they were pretty regular in winter, even in the garden but now I`m lucky if I see one. However, last Saturday (12th) we came across a massive flock and as we walked, the bushes and trees on either side were full of them, with some really good close views.

Pete

[John]

Yep, see you tomorrow.

I am just about to leave as I type this as I am staying down that way for nine days.

John

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Nice thread John. If they've gone, with luck they'll be back next year. See you in Suffolk!

[John]

That probably bares out my thinking that they suddenly flocked up ready to go. I still haven't seen today so I suspect that is what happened.

John

Originally Posted by watsthat

Well done John, brambling is one of my favourite birds. When I lived closer to the east coast they were pretty regular in winter, even in the garden but now I`m lucky if I see one. However, last Saturday (12th) we came across a massive flock and as we walked, the bushes and trees on either side were full of them, with some really good close views.

Pete