Wildlife in the garden - Spring and what is this bird?

[Dog Star]

My Good Lady has caught another unknown visitor today...



This bird was not interested in the sunflower hearts... peanuts... "wild bird food"... , just this "fat log". Stayed for a few minutes and then departed, came back several hours later and repeated the performance. A rather elegant shape with a very fine, thin, beak.

So what do we have here?

regards, Graham

 

[daifly]

I think that’s a green woodpecker. Colour is a little muted but beak, body shape etc. all look right.

 

[AJC]

Absolutely certain that's a female Blackcap, Graham - a juvenile green woodpecker would be much more mottled in appearance. Compare and contrast:

How to spot a Blackcap

Another juvenile Green Woodpecker visitation - All creatures.... - Wildlife - The RSPB Community

Adam

 

[daifly]

You are probably right. A scale ruler attached to the feeder would be useful for sizing. A job for tomorrow Graham!
Dave

 

[SimonT]

I'm with Adam. The BTO are now recording some Blackcaps over wintering in the UK rather than their previous status as summer migrants. Numbers aren't huge at the moment. I had a pair that inhabited a huge blackberry bed who entered the bed near a workshop window. In winter they stayed around and I could see the nest. To back up the reports the BTO decide to do a full survey of the over wintering behaviour which starts as my birds disappear.
Green Woodpeckers are ground feeders and unlikely to be seen on a pecker.

 

[oldravendale]

I'd not argue with the opinions expressed so far except to say that we regularly saw green woodpeckers on the feeders at our previous house. The only difference from then to where we are now is that previously the land next to us was derelict, as in a garden which had not been looked after. We see them here, but as Simon has suggested only as ground feeders.

Wonderful to see black caps, though. They were very occasional visitors to our last house but we've seen none here- so far.

Brian

 

[richard carr]

It's not a green wood pecker we get those in the garden most days, but they never go on the feeder. The spotted woodpecker does though and most of the other birds.

Richard

 

[Max M]

I'd say Black Cap as well.

 

[Eastsidepilot]

Female Blackcap it is, here's a page from the latest RSPB handbook.

 

[Al Tait]

I had forgotten about this thread, apologies for the highjack. Last week I notice our Sparrow Hawk was feasting in the field behind our house. Looks like its had a Pheasant, then one of the Buzzards (there were 10+ circling the other day) decide it wanted in on the action and stole its dinner. The sheep then decided they wanted some too shoeing the Buzzard off, only for the Buzzard to circle back round behind them. Pictures aren't great I am afraid.

 

[Dog Star]

This photo by my Good Lady through a window; unlike the previous photos I know the subject of this picture - male and female Bullfinches. We have been seeing a single male Bullfinch for several years now, he comes once or twice a week and ncver stays for more than a few minutes at each visit.

The most recent sighting pleases us for Mr. has brought along Mrs.



And in case you are thinking "several years, pull the other one", the BTO entry for this species says typical lifespan of two years with longest of 9 years (ring data).

regards, Graham

 

[Arun]

Seen almost daily lurking overhead, red kites very rarely come into the garden. This was taken last year after I had thrown out some ham for the locally resident rooks who start getting noisy if they haven't had their bacon or ham by 9am. Wingspan estimated at somewhere between five and six feet.

About six miles to the north at Beckley [on the approach to Brize] there is usually a 'cab rank' of red kites but I understand they have now been joined by a male juvenile sea eagle who has migrated from those released on the Isle of Wight. He hasn't been recorded as having visited Abingdon yet!
He seems to enjoy the company of red kites more than sea eagles!
What passes for a small lawn has been mown since then BTW.

 

[richard carr]

I haven't seen any red kites round my way but I did come across this Kestrel in the park over the road from us. He was busy cleaning himself in a tree before flying off.

 

[SimonT]

Ahem, .... she! (I think a juvenille.) The male has a grey cap and grey underside to the tail feathers with finer blackish bars, the back and upper flight feathers are a rich chestnut, the female is a dull chestnut. Lovely photo.
Simon

 

[Focalplane]

Seeing a Kestrel photo, here is what I would really like for my car of the same name:



The size is a little bit too ostentatious for my liking but this was mounted on a larger car than mine (12/4 vs 9 HP). Pardon the awful pun, but these ornaments seem to be as rare as hens' teeth.

 

[Dog Star]

We have flocks of Greenfinches come to feed throughout the year although attendance has been low in the past few weeks. Web pages which describe the Greenfinch often make note that Siskins fly and feed with the Greenfinchs, until today I have not been able to be positive about seeing a Siskin. Here is another photo by my Good Lady taken this morning - our first confirmed Siskin.



regards, Graham

 

[Eastsidepilot]

I believe it is a male Siskin which has a black cap.
Col.

 

[John Ross]

I believe it is a male Siskin which has a black cap.
Col.

Amazing the range of knowledge available on this site and I enjoy the diversions topics take. Makes me wonder if the RSPB has a "What class of DMU is that?" topic on its forum.

 

[Eastsidepilot]

Amazing the range of knowledge available on this site and I enjoy the diversions topics take. Makes me wonder if the RSPB has a "What class of DMU is that?" topic on its forum.

Yes I've always been surprised at the varied other interests we have but also that others have the same interests as myself ....does sound confusing.
So we're not just Rail & Petrolheads after all.

Col.

 

[Rob Pulham]

Not quite in the garden but just over the fence. A few visitors to the railway yesterday morning.