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Friday 30 January 2009

A welcome return....


Well only 3 mins after writing on someone's blog today of how our little Brambling hadn't returned this winter... I went down the stairs to go and make a coffee and could hardly believe my eyes when I discovered Mrs Brambling happily tucking into the seeds and left over apple crumble that I'd put out this morning... not quite sure where Mr Brambling is...?? We had a loan one last year - just maybe it's the same one as that was a female too! I know these aren't the best photos but at least for anyone who hasn't seen one before it will give you an idea of what to look out for - not to be mistaken for a chaffinch - the breast feathers are a much deeper orange/salmon pink than the rather dull pink of the chaffinch in comparison.

9 comments:

Cheryl said...

That was a rare treat for me Miranda...tku for sharing.....

Miranda Bell said...

Thanks Cheryl - it was such a lovely surprise - do hope she hangs around for a while.... did you enjoy the picture of Mrs Thrush on the bird table in the previous posting.... it's funny how she seems to prefer the bird table to the ground! Each to their own eh! Have a good weekend and hope you don't get too snowed in - looks as though we might just get a bit on monday.... hope so! Mirandax

A wildlife gardener said...

Bramblings are rare visitors to our garden...in fact in 18 years I have only seen them here once :)

Miranda Bell said...

Hello Wildlife Gardener - it's a rare site here really - last year was the first time I'd ever seen one - I had to take a second look at the bird table when I realised it clearly wasn't a chaffinch and she hung around until feb/march - let's see what this one does -hope she stays! Have a good weekend... Miranda

The Wessex Reiver said...

Nice set of photos here Miranda, and a good selection of birds, not just on this posting. Song Thrush's will come to bird tables but not readily, you are lucky.

I like your links too, how do you do that?

VP said...

Hi Miranda - thanks for your visit over at my place last week :) I also worked in Bristol for a number of years, so know it well.

You have had a lot of bird activity in your garden. Sadly we've got a squirrel problem, so I don't put out so much food as I used to. We did manage 13 species at the RSPB garden birdwatch last weekend, including an enormous flock of greenfinches just like you!

Miranda Bell said...

Hi Andrew & VP

Hi Andrew - glad you liked the pictures - the numbers of birds at the table this last while has been amazing and Mrs Thrush still insists on eating from the table!
In order to do the link - when you're doing your posting you type the words that you want to link to a website, highlight them by putting the cursor on the first letter of the word, left click with the mouse and hold this down as you drag the cursor over the words you want to make your link and then release the left click button on your mouse. Then go to the little tool bar above and click on the little hyperlink button (in between the "T" button offering different colour text and the four buttons which offer different text allingments). You then insert the web address you want the link to go to and hey presto! Hope this helps - not an easy thing to explain simply! Any problems do feel free to ask.

Hi VP - small world isn't it! Sorry you've got a squirrel problem - we literally don't have one around here - have only seen 2 in all my 5 yrs in France. 13 species of birds sounds pretty good to me...

Thanks for visiting... Miranda

Shirley said...

Great stuff, Miranda :-D

What a fantastic treat for you - when you weren't expecting it too. It's always quite a thrill when that happens. Lovely photos, thanks for sharing them :-D

The Brambling is on my garden wish list along with the bullfinch and nuthatch :-D

Miranda Bell said...

Hi Shirl - I can't believe it's taken me SO long to reply to your posting - sorry... it's just been one of those weeks... always nice to get your comments. The Brambling is still coming to feed along with the other less common visitors which is great - do hope you're having a good week yourself... will visit your blog v. soon again Miranda