A brief Dove Stone update. Plenty of Goldfinches and Greenfinches to be seen today as well as Coal, Great and Blue Tits - all to be seen at both of Dove Stone's feeding stations in the main car park and at the top car park, Binn Green. Also seen today were a small group of Long Tailed Tits. Recent sightings of groups of Fieldfare that are still around and about too. A good look today too at a Mistle thrush who became very vocal when some Greenfinches landed in the Hawthorn where this bird was perched. The Hawthorns seem to have a good number of berries on. Also seen today were Kestrel, Treecreeper, Nuthatch and Goldcrest.
A special mention goes to the Brambling ( conservation status: Green ). A female was seen today at the feeding station in the main car park and also in some trees that border nearby fields. It might be worth knowing if you're looking out for Bramblings that they particularly like Beech ( for feeding on the Beech mast ). In both of the spots that we've seen them today we've put out apples for the birds. Although primararily a seed feeding bird the Brambling isn't averse to some apple ( they also eat berries and in summer will feed on insects, especially caterpillars and beetles ). Why not try it at home; it's not unknown for Bramblings to visit gardens in winter, plus there'll be plenty of other birds who will feed on apples.
Back to the Brambling. It's a really pretty bird. Similar in both size and shape to a Chaffinch but with noticeably different colouring such as the white belly and orange breast. Look out for the male's black head during Spring. The Brambling is a migratory bird. As well as wintering in Southern Europe these birds winter over in North Africa, amongst other places globally. Uk winters can see large flocks of Brambling, quite often joining flocks of Chaffinch. Is it a coincidence or is there an advantage for the Brambling in being amongst a flock of birds with similarities ? ). Large roosts can also form. The early 80s saw a particularly large roost in Merseyside of around 150,000 birds over a period of 6 weeks. The presence and whereabouts of flocks, of course, are linked to food availability. So that's if for the Brambling for now. Any news of sightings always welcome...
More soon ( hoping to be able to report some sightings of Waxwings...! )