Where are the birds .... ?

I can't remember a summer where I have seen so few birds around. Hardly any at the feeders and watering places, the odd bluetit and robin and blackbird but very very few. Haven't seen any green finches, gold finches, chaffinches for ages ... All the usual nesting places seem unused. Usually this time of year you can't move around the garden without spotting plenty of regulars and old friends.

Has anyone else observed this? Is it this foul weather or what? Or is it just around here?

GG

 

The only birds here that seem very low in numbers are Swallows.
Normally our gutters and eves are full of them chattering away, this year.............none!

 

You must be unlucky GG, although the Blue Tits have disappeared we have at present on and off all day up to 12 Sparrows, 2/3 Dunnnocks, 20 Starlings (including many squabbling young) about 6 Gold Finches, 5 Siskins, 4 Blackbirds and pairs of Chaffinches and Green Finches.
I know Swallows, Martins and Swift numbers are down here but not where you are too Mandy.

 

Umm, well in one way it is good that it is just me and not more widespread, but still do miss them.
p.s. there is a flock of what I think are Swifts that wheel about in the mornings across the way so that is encouraging.

 

I am in warminster, pleased to report very many birds here! I am plagued by Jackdaws who regularly nest in a neighbour's chimney, and who eat vast amounts, but I have very many bluetits, great tits, long tailed tits [my favourite], lots of sparrows this year including a family of babies who sit pathetically squeaking and fluffing feathers right next to food and a parent, lots of robins [I have seen 5 at a time], blackbirds, the occasional crow and woodpecker and a very smart red legged partridge, swifts, chaffinches and the odd greenfinch, Sad that I have seen only one thrush, and no bullfinches although my neighbour Anne has see one this year. Where do you live?
What is upsetting me in this wet weather is the lack of butterflies and honey bees. Still many lovely fat bumbles and leaf cutters, though.

 

Plenty of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits around here Woo particularly along the cliffs but they have disappeared from many areas due to intensive farming .

 

its like animal planet now the cats have gone , only seen one butterfly though and that was a cabbage white !!!

Spruce

 

Butterflies are definitely in short supply. I bought a few Butterfly friendly plants but we've had none.

 

Yes very few butterflies this year so far, I would think that all the rain doesn't help I try to keep a good selection of friendly plants too, some of which like buddleias and sedum aren't flowering yet, so i'm still hoping.

 

After thinking they had deserted us, at last we have the swallows back!
A bit late this year, but better late than never.

Fledgeling:

Fledgeling:

Incoming:

Feeding time:

 

Stunning shots Mandy (as always)
I doubt whether I could capture the last one as well with my fz150.

 

We get a good variety in our garden. I think the key is to put as much food out for them as possible and use the right seed. Fat balls will get you loads of different birds. Mixed seed, Nyger seed, Sunflower seed, Nuts and Apples (In winter) should bring them in and if they know there's a regular supply they come back. Apart from common garden birds I've had Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Siskin, Woodpecker, Blackcap, Mistlethrush, Redwing, Chiffchaff, Willow warbler and more.


I have houses on 3 sides and live half a mile from countryside but it shows if you create the right habitat in your humble garden they'll pop by!

 

All I see in my garden at the moment are blackbirds and then when sitting on the fence, Tried nyger nobody touched it kept putting in fresh seed till packet gone,only ever see the odd Goldfinch passing through ,but usually have hundreds of house sparrows, but even they have deserted me,the only bonus is the pigeons have gone as no seed to pick up,

When we lived in Southern Ireland we had a lot of outbuildings with swallow nests in ,it was fascinating watching the parents swooping through tiny gaps to get in ,then if you went inside for any reason and looked up a brood of chicks would be sitting on beams/wires watching you,then so quickly they would be out and flying around,