And So This Is Christmas

The run up to Christmas has been cold this year. Here, however, that is no burden, and is indeed desireable. Everyone wants a white Christmas.
Birding has been sporadic, nipping out an enjoying some choice bits and pieces as the days reached their shortest.

Local Waxwings have been a real treat. A classic winter species.

A local Hawk Owl was also a choice morsel, especially as the snow set in, making it all the more atmospheric.

Birding in the garden has been a priority and I've invested heavily in my feeding station in the hopes of bringing the birds to us.

The variety of bird food available here is a testament to how many people take the time to feed their garden birds. All supermarkets and DIY stores/Garden Centers are laden with a range of options. In fact, in some of the larger warehouse DIY places it's not unusual to find a small population of birds living inside the shop, entirely dependent on the food on sale. Inevitably a great tit will break into one of the 20 kg sunflower seed sacks and the whole mix of tits and sparrows will benefit.

I purchased 3 different type of suet logs, knowing that these are favoured by Woodpeckers. Originally I could find just one brand, but as the season went on, more appeared in stores.

The temptation to buy a cheaper brand, a mere 50 cents cheaper than the first, was a somewhat false economy, it's particular mix of pale fat and seeds nowhere near as popular as the first (though any port in a storm, does get eaten).

A more expensive version, made from crushed and rendered peanuts is more popular, but no more than the original type and perhaps not worth the additional cost, save for increased variety of food stuffs in the garden.

Oats are generally popular, with most species taking advantage at some point in the day, and in particular it being the only foodstuff to attract the few Yellowhammer we have. Blackbirds are particularly fond of them.

Peanuts and Sunflower seeds are staples too with most species taking them.

I provided some apples also, some strung up off the ground, others scattered on the grass, hoping for some Waxwings, Sylvias or unusual Thrush. 

None of the above yet, but the tits seem to like a little bit of apple now and again. The ones on the ground don't last long, as the local hares devour them at night. I don't mind feeding them either though. 

The tally of species and numbers have been pretty good. As of today 31 species recorded.

1 Robin
2 Chaffinch
3 Tree Sparrow
4 Greenfinch
5 Redpoll
6 Blackbird
7 Great tit
8 Blue tit
9 Coal tit
10 Long Tailed Tit
11 Jay
12 Sparrowhawk
13 Great Spotted Woodpecker
14 Grey Headed Woodpecker
15 Treecreeper
16 Bullfinch
17 Hooded Crow
18 Raven
19 Goosander
20 Common gull
21 White Tailed Eagle
22 Brambling
23 Yellowhammer
24 Pygmy Owl
25 Goshawk
26 Hawfinch
27 Black Woodpecker
28 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
29 Goldcrest
30 Jackdaw
31 Whooper Swan

From a Finnish perspective, things such as Robin, Chaffinch and Hawfinch are note-worthy, with Robin and Chaffinch (6) being seasonally scarce.

For me, birds such as Jay, Pygmy Owl, White Tailed Eagle, Goshawk, Hawfinch and the 4 Woodpeckers are the stars, along with the regular flock of Northern Long Tailed Tits.

A flock of 8 Jay are constantly visiting. Not a typical bird in the garden of most Irish birders, so I take time to appreciate them. They favour the suet logs and the scattered oats.

3-4 Tree Sparrow are big fans of the fat balls. Scarce in Ireland, but still a common garden bird here, which is a good thing. They're a charming species.

The humble Chaffinch. 4 males and 2 females are visiting, along with 2-3 Brambling. I possibly had what Iooked like a Bramblefinch/Chaffling hybrid the other day, which I hope makes another appearance.

The big surprise of the festive season so far was this Hawfinch. It didn't play ball for photos at first, but often gave good views from the kitchen. Only the second we have had in the garden since a singing bird was present in spring. 

Grey Headed Woodpecker - Two birds, Male and Female, visiting the fat logs regularly.

I've also been walking the various lanes in the neighborhood with Kuura, basically spying on everyone to see who has feeders up, always hopeful for that wintering rarity. The country lanes are spectacular in these conditions.

This led to the discovery of a birder-neighbour living just a short distance up the road with an amazing array of feeders and 3 visiting Nutcracker. 

Needless to say my usual walking route for Kuura was amended accordingly.

He too has a regular flock of Northern Long Tailed Tits, though the flock in my own garden can be exceptionally confiding.

It's hard to imagine a better bird in a snowy Christmas setting than Northern Long Tailed Tit. Beautiful little fluffballs.

Of course, all birding has involved our number one girl and Padawan, who loves her fresh air and racking up a decent list, but it makes it all the more important to have decent birds at home for her first Christmas.

Birder Girl

Merry Christmas to all.