Boxing Day surprise

FUDGEY · #1 (**permalink**) 26-12-2009, 01:57 PM

A new visitor to the garden today (well 4 new visitors) and a first for me, Bramblings! Really chuffed with these coming. Not a great pic as didnt have time today, but hopefully have good conditions tomorrow, beautiful looking bird. Are these quite uncommon?

Trik · #2 (**permalink**) 26-12-2009, 02:46 PM

Common Winter visitors. Quote from Bird Guides "All Bramblings are migratory, wintering south of the breeding range across western and central Europe." Very pretty birds.

Trik

earthdragon64 · #3 (**permalink**) 26-12-2009, 02:48 PM

According to the RSPB website we get about 45 thousand to 1.8 million individuals wintering in the UK. I've never seen more than two at a time. There was one in my garden on Christmas Eve, then very briefly one today.

aeshna5 · #4 (**permalink**) 26-12-2009, 02:55 PM

A lovely Xmas pressie for you! They are delightful birds- the northern counterpart of the Chaffinch with which it often associates with in the winter.

Have never seen one in the garden but have seen some reasonable sized flocks; the last c50 in Holkham Park, Norfolk a couple of years back.

Let's hope they stick with you for the rest of the winter!

Ukwildlifeo · #5 (**permalink**) 26-12-2009, 03:03 PM

Nice suprise, I got my first one ever earlier this winter

Steve_In_Cheshire · #6 (**permalink**) 26-12-2009, 04:44 PM

Nice pic, its a good buzz when you get a new bird into the garden that you have never seen before, i had that the other day with some Fieldfare`s.

DaiTheDragon · #7 (**permalink**) 26-12-2009, 06:37 PM

A very welcome visitor indeed. I would love to see one in my garden. A couple of winter ago there were flocks in their hundreds not far from me, I just wish I had made the effort to go and photograph them.

Dai