Has anyone seen any Bramblings this winter?

 

Brambling are a common breeder in upland birch forest of Siberia and Finland area. They are absent from dense forest and prefer woodland with more open spaces and glades. They are a winter visitor to the UK only between Oct - Apr although many will remain in southern Scandinavia during mild winters espcially if food supply (beech masts) are sufficent. They are "irruptive" rather than migratory - like waxwing. 

In some winters when beech masts are plentiful enormous flocks can gather around beech trees so that the best place to look as ValO mentions in the other thread (thanks Teejay!). In addition brambling will sometimes flock together with other species (mainly tits and finches). Given the cold winter weather with have experienced of late, the lack of food availability is bringing perhaps more unusual species into gardens in search of a decent meal so perhaps more chance of spotting one in around the garden.

It's estimated that somewhere between 50,000 - 1.8 million brambling overwinter here each year, pretty wide figure eh! but at least this illustrate that overw intering number are very varible..

See the attached graph for overwinter population distribution for brambling (source BTO data)