Winter Weather

Yesterday's horrendous rain turned to heavy snow at around 6.30pm as the temperature dropped, leaving a fair dusting greeting us this morning. This is the first snow of the winter, which has been mostly above average temperatures with a few short cold snaps. Off the back of a mild autumn and coupled with an abundance of natural food, feeder activity has been a bit short so far this season, with sales of food slightly below winter 2015.

We've had one brief visit from a Brambling so far (11th November) and a few Siskin flyovers but none stopping yet. Good numbers of Fieldfares and Redwings were present late in 2016 feeding on the yew trees, but after the food was gone they mostly moved on, though flocks can be seen most days flying over. A Grey Wagtail was regular from late October through to December, joining the resident Pied Wagtails, and a Red-legged Partridge was an unexpected visitor to the nature area on the 24th November.

After October's Buzzard sighting, our first 'perched' photos from Feathers, I was hugely surprised to find one sitting on the fence post in the Nature Area as I entered the hide one morning in December. The grubby windows seemed to help hide me, enough to at least manage a few photos and a video before it flew down to the ground behind. I managed to stay hidden as I crept around the hide for a few clearer pictures before it took off.

The colder weather which arrived at the turn of the year seems to have increased the activity on the feeders significantly, especially with today's brief flurry of snow and 2°C temperature! A pair of Marsh Tits have turned up, quite a rare visitor for us, and are now taking beakfuls of sunflower hearts to store away. Flocks of Long-tailed Tits regularly pass through and Coal Tits are here most of the time too. Charms of Goldfinches, a few Greenfinches, plenty of Chaffinches, Robins, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, House Sparrows, Nuthatch & Great Spotted Woodpecker sum up the other regulars.

Where to watch birds in Sussex: Feathers Nature Area

Our Hide / Nature Area is perfect for watching and photographing garden birds in East Sussex. In the last couple of weeks we have spent a bit of time tidying and reshuffling the plants, feeders and perches, making for better photographic opportunities. The Siskins are very regular now and are one bird in particular which use the perches a lot. Here are a selection of recent photographs:

Other highlights since the last post have been a female Brambling, back very briefly in the Nature Area on the 27th Feb and a Firecrest (or possibly 2) spotted and photographed yesterday (9th March) by a customer in the yew tree just over the road.

Feathers Optics: www.shop.featherswildbirdcare.co.uk
Feathers Bird Food: www.featherswildbirdcare.co.uk

Early winter roundup

So it looks, although we've had a few cold days and a once very brief dusting of snow, to go down on record as another wet, warm winter. The wet weather doesn't seemed to have dampened (see what I did there?) the feeding activity, as the Siskins turned up in January and have been regular ever since. Goldfinches are visiting in good numbers, more Coal Tits this winter than any previous, a regular Chiffchaff (or two), more Goldcrests than you can shake a stick at and a Firecrest back again today. Just one Brambling sighting this winter again. With all this activity, it's no wonder the Sparrowhawks have been visiting regularly too, once or twice stopping for photos and I'm sure a Blue Tit or two falling prey to these magnificent birds. Since David, our previous ringer, moved on, it had been a while since any had taken place here, but Chris has filled in his spot now and she is looking to undertake sessions more frequently, so it will nice to get some info back on birds ringed in previous years. Here are a few photos from the last month or so:

Sussex snow - 17/01/16

Male Brambling - 28/01/16

Blue Tit with beak deformity

Still managing to feed by bending sideways

Firecrest (17/02/16)

Female Brambling

Our third sighting this winter and it seems to be staying this time, first spotted yesterday morning and then throughout the day, present this morning during our RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch and still here this afternoon too. She doesn't visit the feeders much but instead seems to spend most of her time sitting up in the trees with the Gold, Green and Chaffinches.

For those wishing to visit, our hide is open so long as the shop is (Tuesday - Saturday: 9am - 5pm, Sunday: 10am - 4pm, Monday: Closed) - www.featherswildbirdcare.co.uk/web/contactus.php

Recent Sightings

The 11th Jan brought about our second sighting this winter of a Brambling, again just a brief visit to the Nature Area.

The Bullfinches are still spotted regularly, either along the hedgerow on the way to the hide or picking the buds from the cherry tree outside the shop. The highest count was 5 (3 females 2 males) but more often than not there is just a pair. They are proving elusive and a bit flighty but we've managed a few shots.

Late last week the pair of Grey Wagtails were back, though seem to have become a little less regular, unlike the pair of Kestrels which are around everyday, perhaps a good sign that they may nest in the church once again this year.

The Long-tailed Tits are now daily occurrence too, either on the fat balls/peanuts outside the shop or in the Nature Area.

Female Brambling (right)

Female Bullfinch drinking from a puddle

Blue Tit

Robin

4 Bullfinches

Male Bullfinch

Male Bullfinch

Male (right) and female (left) Kestrels

We have recently taken a delivery from Vanguard, whose binoculars have received high praise since their introduction. Currently we just have the Endeavour ED IIs but will hopefully be increasing our selection soon. http://www.shop.featherswildbirdcare.co.uk/vanguard.html