We often get asked where have all the birds gone in the late summer and autumn months. Many people fear the worst or think they have done something to put them off. I thought i would take this chance to point out a few things to remember about wild birds at this time of year that might explain why they can be harder to spot.
We recommend feeding through the next few months as certain resident birds and those passing through may still find garden bird food useful. It is worth keeping feeder hygiene at a high level and maybe reduce the food being put out if it does go quiet so that little is wasted.
Warden Intern at Otmoor.
OK.....well the gang of starling hoodlums has finally turned up 4 weeks late and already gathering in their hoards on my garden shed. And so the bombardment begins...........Oh Happy days! The Cherry pits are a falling.
Hi Ian
Thanks for the info and recommendations.
The resident Coal, Blue, Great & Long Tailed colony are currently eating an enormous amount giving very little chance for my pair of Robins and their fast maturing juvenile.
Only one Greenfinch spotted so far this week with very little else apart from the pair of Pigeons who mop up the over spill. The Dunnocks and House Sparrows seem to have gone into hiding and are only spotted rarely.
Richard
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Thanks for the advice.
All our birds went while we was on holiday for a week. I had to point out to my wife that all the garden birds in the area are missing. Only the blackbirds and magpies are still about.
Thanks Again
Robert
Hi
I really only have blackbirds at the moment,mostly juveniles so they must have been pretty successful this year!
It's not always easy to hug a hedgehog.
But that doesn't mean you shouldn't.
I have a couple of blackbirds still on their nest they are visiting the garden along with a couple of Collard doves even the greedy Wood pigeons are giving the garden a break.I am concerned about the sparrows as I have not really seen any since late spring,
Let's make a difference!
Hello all,
Our gang all came back about a week ago after several weeks awol. Lots of tits of all varieties, many sparrows, goldfinches, a pair of bullfinch, female blackcap, and a pair of chiff chaffs. Plus the usual suspects - blackbirds by the dozen, magpies along with noisy young, jays, dunnocks and 2 pairs of woodies with their young, very noisily fighting even though there are plenty of nut/sunflower heart/fat feeders to go round in different parts of the gardens. Not as many robins as usual and no wrens this year, think the harsh winter claimed them even though we have lots of nesting/roosting pockets hidden away. The swifts, who were seemingly in their hundreds, have departed, miss their screeching calls, but skies still full of swallows and martins. STILL NO RAIN, nearly 10 weeks now (save for a few moments of slight drizzle) Ground like iron!
Best wishes, Jo.
Typically the birds decide to upset our pre conceptions :) I have juvenile chiff chaffs in my hedges, green woodpeckers whizzing about, swallows everywhere and flocks of long tailed tits going around and around.
A few early Common gulls have arrived in the local fields too.
No tits or finches though at all .
S
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Our garden is much quieter but we noticed last night that the sparrows are feeding young in a tit box. This is for the 4th time this year, as we had to make the entrance hole bigger for the first lot. It surely can't be the same parents !!
Hi Brenda,
I am almost certain some of my sparrows had 4 lots - there have been so many babies this year, from early May to the very end of July. One lot would gain independence then another lot appeared. It's been wonderful, but they are deserting me at the moment!!!
Cheers, Linda.
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This year three broods of Sparrows and two broods of Greenfinches. We have had a lot more Greenfinches than the last five years (since I have been in Hampshire).
Blackbirds have virtually reduced from 10 or so to about 2.
Goldfinches come and go in what seems to be monthly intervals.
The local Robin I have not seen for 7-8 months although Patsy says there is a newcomer on the block.
Collared Doves and George the Pigeon are still about on their daily routine.
Blue Tits seem to be fewer this year although my neighbour says he has a few every day?
Coal Tits are non existent this year.....
Since the fields have been cut very few birds about at all to be honest, which is to be expected.
Regards