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| pohodnik3819. 01. 2015 20:31:16 |
At ours anyway every winter and it's nice to observe them through the window and even some video is made like this one below. Last time when frost really pressed I also noticed a blackbird at work and that just a couple of meters away.
VIDEO
Lp!
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| velkavrh20. 01. 2015 07:58:19 |
The long-tailed tits were different from those I saw last year and I researched the matter a bit. I found out we have three subspecies. Last year I saw A.c. europaeus, the most common one. This time it was the northern subspecies -A.c. caudatus. They all have a long black tail by which we recognize them. The northern subspecies has a white head and distinct white outer wing feathers along the entire wing length which is noticeable as a long strong white line. Unfortunately I couldn't photograph them.
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| ločanka20. 01. 2015 17:48:05 |
Yes, apparently white-headed long-tailed tits appear in central Europe even together with dark-headed partners. The survival of long-tailed tits in winter is mostly not dependent on our feeding, because they know with their skill to cleverly find overwintering small insects and spiders on trees. To feeders we can attract them with fat cake. Very cute little birds they are, and they call very lively.
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| velkavrh21. 01. 2015 09:19:03 |
Yesterday I first noticed siskins at the feeder this winter. Interesting to observe a pair of collared doves. As I know many birds stay paired for life. But this winter fewer greenfinches than usual year. On walks with our golden retriever on nearby fields I regularly see crested larks. Can't mistake them for another bird because they have characteristic crest on the head. Regularly see on field also sparrowhawks and kestrels. There are huge numbers of hooded crows.
For filling feeders I use mix of black and striped sunflowers and mix of seeds for garden birds. In between I also put some walnut kernels. Last year good walnut crop. I fill it twice a day. I also hang ready lard cakes.
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| velkavrh21. 01. 2015 13:15:09 |
Ornithologist, I'm glad! Of the mentioned more interesting birds I also know the dunnock, which I regularly see every winter on Krvavec at Kriška planina - comes to the feeder. The dipper I see by the Kokra river. Fieldfare also visits my feeder, the Middle Spotted Woodpecker I don't know.
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| velkavrh23. 01. 2015 10:26:02 |
In the last few days a small flock besieges our feeder of goldcrests and firecrests. Unfortunately I manage to photograph them only through the window. But I saw these days for the first time this winter also the hawfinch. But since it gets a bit cold I get tired of waiting for them to fly in again.
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| babim23. 01. 2015 12:49:35 |
For several winters I'm wondering why the birds we feed from October onwards mostly disappear when cold weather or winter sets in. Up to this year's snow and low temperatures my husband and I counted 14 species of birds, now only sparrows come in smaller numbers, sometimes a great tit or blue tit and only one at a time. I notice this last couple of years, maybe magpies or crows are to blame, which have spread a lot. From the balcony they stole my walnuts in autumn that I was drying. I would be very glad for some explanation for such bird behavior. Thanks.
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| Ornitolog23. 01. 2015 22:05:25 |
Hello,
I would explain it this way. Those birds that are with us in October are probably migrating and go further. But that gap is basically at least to some extent filled by new arrivals from the north. Why then, when frost sets in, there aren't so many birds at the feeder, is not quite clear to me, since at my place I observe the opposite. Perhaps the reason is also that in October not many people have set up feeders, but when cold comes, others start feeding too, so birds may distribute more evenly. Overall, for example in October there are perhaps even several times more songbirds present with us than in winter, which also makes up for it.
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| velkavrh31. 01. 2015 15:40:28 |
Today on a snowy winter day there is a huge crowd at our feeder. Even a small flock of siskins flew in. Every now and then I manage a photo.
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| ločanka31. 01. 2015 19:20:17 |
Velkavrh, that was a joy to see siskins, right?
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| velkavrh1. 02. 2015 13:57:56 |
Every day there's a big crowd at and under the feeder. On a walk I saw a flock of hawfinches on wild chestnut. Interesting to watch the green woodpecker, which behaves at the feeder like its owner. Chases all the others.
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| ločanka1. 02. 2015 18:04:00 |
Hawfinches this year I often hear and also see in our settlement (more block-like, but not entirely), which previous years wasn't noticeable. Always at least two together or more. Hawfinches are real beauties!
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| velkavrh4. 02. 2015 10:35:38 |
Today a smaller flock of siskins came to the feeder. But this winter I notice few greenfinches. In past winters they were next to great tits, tree sparrows and chaffinches the most common. Few marsh tits too. In past winters their number was roughly equal to blue tits. Two pairs of nuthatches come to feed. Every day comes a flock of green woodpeckers and a flock of bullfinches. I rate this flock at about ten birds. Huge numbers of great tits, tree sparrows and chaffinches. I fill the feeder twice a day. Nearby mixed forest and river.
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| babim4. 02. 2015 12:34:46 |
Also in our feeder there are no greenfinches, just two years ago there were tons of them. In autumn "husband and wife" appeared, now none. Coal tits hid too. Permanent guests are only sparrows, pigeons and collared doves, occasionally shy dunnock and chaffinches. A few years ago we counted bullfinches, wren, siskins, woodpeckers, greenfinches, blue tits, marsh and great tits, long-tailed tits, redpolls... now simply no more and we're sad.
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| Ornitolog5. 02. 2015 10:03:05 |
Hello,
the number of birds wintering in our parts can vary greatly from year to year. It also largely depends on how food-rich our area is. Namely, thousands upon thousands of birds can't rely only on feeders. E.g. in years good for beech (lots of beechnuts), surely more siskins and other chaffinch species in our forests. Then greater chance some fly to feeder.
It's also true that bird numbers worldwide are declining. Sooner or later (or already) it will be (or is) noticeable somewhere. In Slovenia currently most threatened are meadow birds (no wonder, where once hay meadows now all corn; "flop" of ag policy). Most of these birds, including yellowhammers, quails, corn buntings, reed buntings, ortolans etc. suffered 30% decline in last 7 years!
Probably similar but to a lesser extent with other species, even common ones like sparrows, tits, swallows...
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| velkavrh8. 02. 2015 20:11:43 |
By end of winter maybe I'll manage to photograph all visitors to our feeder. Bullfinch is very shy bird and hard to photograph.
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| velkavrh8. 02. 2015 20:11:56 |
By end of winter maybe I'll manage to photograph all visitors to our feeder. Bullfinch is very shy bird and hard to photograph.
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| ločanka9. 02. 2015 15:12:01 |
Bullfinch struts among birds with its leaden, bluish shining bill! Really a beauty, no doubt. Velkavrh really thanks for all those photos, everything slips me!
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