What is the most unusual bird you have seen in your garden area

Question

Hi there 
 I have to admit the endearing bird I have had is the Yellow hammer. While living at Stirling, Scotland we had a birdtable in the farm yard. A male and female Yellow Hammer would come in every morning and snack on the seed that had landed on the ground from the bird feeders. 
 In Scotland Yellow Hammers have the 'nickname' of Scottish Canery'. The yellow on the male bird is very bright and it was super to see them so close up as we did. 
 At the same property we where also lucky to have a Pied Wagtail and a Grey Wagtail. Both birds raised their families in our garden area. The little ones where so cute, and even though their tails where short and stubby they still wagged their tails. The birds in question seen to trust us. They where not worried when we weeded the garden area at all. 
 Anyone else had lovely experiences like mentioned here 
 Regards 
 Kathy and Dave

juno · Accepted Answer

Well for me it has to be the Spotted Woodpecker, considering the area I live in, its quite a rarity. He has a good investigate of my almost dead Plum tree then gives the peanut feeder a 'good bashing' 
 I also have had more visits recently from the local Sparrow Hawk, there's a fuzzy picture of it feeding on a Collared dove in my picture area. 
 I am also very lucky to get loads of Sparrows on a regular basis, I've only been feeding them for 2 years now...., and I have several posh multi port feeders for their exclusive use. 
 Also recently started getting Goldfinches on a yellow Niger feeder, my mission this winter is to keep them coming more regularly. 
 Ho dear that was more than 1 bird wasn't it. Sorry. 
 
 How about Stock Dove are they rare..? I get several at once.

Ian L · Answer

Hi All, 
 Here in urban Stafford, we regularly get visits from Sparrowhawks. I am thrilled and love watching them, even if it is a fleeting glimpse as they 'hedgehop' through the garden. My close neighbour isn't so pleased though.......he keeps racing pigeons!! We often have lengthy discussions re Sparrowhawks and other birds of prey. He is convinced they are "a bloody nuisance" whilst I delight in watching them, but we are still friends. 
 The most unusual bird(s) I have had visiting are a Nuthatch and a Treecreeper. They have both visited several times although it's been months between (seen) visits. The Nuthatch comes to the seed feeder and the Treecreeper visits the (concrete) washing line post. The last 'seen' visit of the Treecreeper, back in March this year it also went up and down the lap-pine fence at the bottom of the garden. Fascinating to watch.

Johnny Mac · Answer

Chuffed to bits during the cold snap in February this year to have a pair of fieldfares feasting on a berry bush (sorry can't be more specific as to type of plant- it was there when we bought the house, I originally dug it up, only to find that my 6 year old niece had planted a stem in a barrel planter- it is now over 7 foot tall) I also managed to get possibly the worst ever digital photographs of them, which was an unfortunate lesson in how poor the camera was (a gift from my in- laws) 
 Also, and as someone who grew up with sparrows visiting my garden by the dozen, chuffed to have a male sparrow and his harem of 3 females visit. He also seems to think that he's finch and has trained himself to hang from the seed feeder. 
 I once had 2 goldfinches feasting on aphids on my rosebushes not more than 6 feet from my front door, happily oblivious to the skulking cat next door. 
 Oh, I could go on........

scottthehat · Answer

heres mine