Hello All,
A quick observation, as of yesterday I have noticed a sharp decline in numbers of visitors to my bird feeders and the volume of food consumed.
I am wondering if the strong westerly winds we have had since yesterday have encouraged the birds to go back to Europe and beyond to their breeding grounds.
Has anyone else has noticed a sharp decline in food consumed and visitor numbers ?.
All the best
RR.
Hi
Had an email today 54 Whooper swans heading north over Carlton marsh near Barnsley, Sunday morning and I missed them.
Ray
a good laugh is better than a tonic
Hi RR
My garden is dead at the moment. I just have a handful of resident finches - the stalwarts who stay all year, a handful of starlings - again residents, and not a lot else. The same happened this time last year for a week or two, then all hell broke loose again.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Hello, Doggie , Barnsley Lad, & Sparrow.
First thoughs with the decline, could there have been a predator attack on or near the feeders, and then had another idea, with the strong west winds it makes sense to head to the east with the wind behind you.
RR
I think it is normal for this time of year. The main hoards of starlings have gone back to whence they came, as have the migrating finches. The residents are busy doing what comes naturally.
Hello Sparrow,
I agree times are a changing , but I have had a big drop in numbers . The feeders have gone from being a 1/4 full to 3/4 full at dusk and only one or two Blue tits and it is to early for them . Also the fresh water was hardly touched.
Maybe a bit of both.
Thanks
There does seem to be some movement of wildfowl heading northwards,Swans and Pinkfooted Geese have been reported passing through our area often stopping off on reserves on the way.The weather is reported to be changing this weekend so that may slow the movement down for a day or so.
Pete
Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can
Migration both ways is just about underway now. I live right under the Martin Mere WWT Geese and Swan flypath although I've not seen any leaving yet. Avocets have been arriving there in the last few days.
I still have quite a vibrant garden with about a dozen Tree Sparrows, Goldfinches and Chaffinches and perhaps half a dozen Greenfinches visiting regularly. The Blackbirds have still not started pairing off and are still here in numbers. Bramblings and two Reed Buntings still appear occasionally and about 3 or 4 Starlings pop in. I do have 3 Mallards at the moment taking up residence on the pond. All male.
The very strong winds the past few days did cause a temporary drop in numbers. The feeders were horizontal!!
I'm sure your birds will be back when they start feeding their young!!! I'm trying to get courage up to order live mealworms!!!!
Cheers
Pipit
A flock of at least twenty Redwing flew over my garden at dusk last night all calling to each other. I think that the winter birds are leaving now and the summer ones will soon be here.
CJ
This is slightly off the migratation thread but all winter I've had female parakeets in my garden, now in the last week or so I've starting getting males as well.....I'm not sure where they have been up till now?
A case of 'cherchez la femme' Phoenix. It's Spring - tra laa.
Pipit xx