Bramblings near Butleigh
Chris Thorne - 4 Bramblings today and regular Redpolls but NO Sparrowhawk this winter for first time. So that’s where it’s gone ?
This is not a typical West Hatch birdfeeder winter. Normally a couple of Siskins every other year - today at least 15 feeding in one heap. Bramblings once every 3/4 years - today one M, 2 F . Yesterday the “resident” Male Hawfinch was still in the garden. That’s over 6 weeks now.
Still have 4 x Bramblings (3 males & 1 female) & 6 x Siskins, We`ve also now got a male Sparrowhawk making regular passes which is keep everyone on their toes!
This is not a typical West Hatch birdfeeder winter. Normally a couple of Siskins every other year - today at least 15 feeding in one heap. Bramblings once every 3/4 years - today one M, 2 F . Yesterday the “resident” Male Hawfinch was still in the garden. That’s over 6 weeks now.
Holcombe, east Mendip - at least three Brambling have been visiting my garden feeder for the last week, disputing the sunflower hearts with the numerous Siskin that have been here all winter. They are not quite as good at using the feeder as the Siskins - though they do manage to feed readily enough, they look somewhat inelegant whilst doing so (but they do use it frequently, unlike their Chaffinch cousins). On the ground, feeding on the spilt seeds, the roles are reversed - the wary Chaffinches and Bramblings fly up at the least disturbance, but I worry about the Siskins which seem not to appreciate danger readily.
Three Siskins on my sunflower heart feeder this morning were the first here this winter.
Male Bramling in my garden in Curry Rivel this afternoon joining the usual pair Blackcaps, several Reed Buntings, nine Stock Doves etc…
8 Brambling at Wiveliscombe early am now disappeared along with a lot of the snow Roll-on spring
Also, male and female Blackcap on my fat-ball feeders this morning.
Single Brambling this morning on my feeders in Butleigh
Last 2 days here at Wiveliscombe around the feeders 5 Brambling 2 Redpoll Reed Bunting and male Blackcap many Siskin and Greenfinch and many more Goldfinch
plus male and female Sparrowhawk looking very ominous
One male, two female Brambling here at feeders in West Hatch mixing with at least a dozen Siskins and a couple of Redpoll. What with recent six week visit by up to three Hawfinches and an almost absence of Blackcap, this winter has been most strange.
17-Mar-2018, late morning.
At least 3 Brambling (2 smart males) with Chaffinch flock SE of Combe Hill Wood car park, just before turning to Butleigh, a concrete farm drive on R soon closed by a white metal barred gate. Look over gate to spoil heaps where finch flock feeding on top (ST511318).