Hardy Tropicals UK

In over twenty years in Weymouth we never saw either Siskins or Redpolls in the garden. Here we have both, a pair of Siskins appeared last Feb and during the summer had two broods of five, when they arrived at once they couldn't all get on the feeder as the Glodfinches were there as well.


A pair of Redpolls appeared last Friday, followed by two more yesterday.

Anyone else had any interesting visitors to their garden?

How lovely Clive,

I am lucky to see even one bird a week. I bought a dish of bird treat from Homebase and just a Blackbird made an attempt.

Fat balls, peanuts, in my old garden the Bluetits would have had a field day.

I give up.

I had this Sparrowhawk this year. ( The only time one has been near my house)

We have had a Sparrowhawk twice but not caught anything.

I'd love to have hummingbirds.

I'd love to have hummingbirds.

Oh so would I. I used to be in a Canadian forum and this woman showed me pics where the Hummers were eating out of her hand, It was then I wanted one.

I used to say ' maybe they will fly to Lancashire one day'......

Fantastic picture Clive, feeding time at the zoo . You did well to capture so many on one shot

We had six Redpolls today, they seem to have replaced the Siskins, I will be very lucky to get a pic of them in this foul weather!

just saw some long tailed tots today they where very nice

why when i say t i t s it automatically say marrows

We have lots of parakeets in London though... Here is a good video on them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4P_NhFlb5w

I only get them in the winter, apparently they migrate from Richmond Park to the more inner-city locations where there is more food and the weather is milder due to the urban heat island effect. In March-April they disappear from my garden.

we have lots of parakeets in the woods here

Are they encouraged into gardens or seen as a pest?

Clive60 wrote:Are they encouraged into gardens or seen as a pest?

Both - some people don't want them, others like them and encourage them

my grandad on my dads side loved birds and kept them but when parakeets where first introduced he let his go so probably the ones in the woods are the relations of his.
i hate and like them hate because they are an introduced pest that compete with native birds but like them because they are exotic and look nice flying over the garden