Photo-a-Day  (Wednesday, 7th February, 2018)

What a lovely little bird, haven't seen one of those in ages.We used to string monkey nuts up for them to feed on.

Where have all the small birds gone?I have a nest box in my back garden which I put up about 3 years ago and it has never been used. Also have a bird table which has food on it and a feeder hung on it,See a Blackbird and 2 pigeons use it no small birds

I see these quite regularly , swinging on the bird feeders- my favourite little birds!

Beautiful little bird. My son had some nesting in his garden last year.

These little fellahs are everywhere. Also goldfinches are very common.

PeterP - your experience resembles mine in the North East. The last 3 years just blackbirds (welcome) pigeons (not) a robin and a few magpies.
Further back, wrens, tits and sparrows were common and huge groups of starlings.

They couldn't be any prettier could they,how these little birds survive these cold nights never ceases to amaze me..my hubby spends a fortune on bird seed..fat balls etc each week,hopefully it'll keep them that little bit warmer..Id love to have a big aviary in the back garden where they could all roost ..but they probably wouldn't use it anyway.
Thank you David for a lovely photo.

remember as a kid going over Platt Lane fields and hearing the wonderful sound of a hovering skylark - never seen or heard one for years

What an inquisitive, intelligent little face. Beautiful.

Sue that's why you haven't see one for ages, you have stopped putting nuts out!

I have returned from my walk today from Standish to Worthington via hic bibe. These were the birds I saw.
Blue tits , Great tits, wrens, meadow pipits, robins,reed bunting ,lapwings. Kestrel. And two Buzzards yachting in the great blue ocean of sky. A very pleasant morning indeed.

PeterP and Gary, I had the same problem for a while so -- I moved the feeder to a position where the little birds felt less threatened namely, away from the fence also, I changed the seeds to a more varied and expensive mix adding lots of 'Sunflower' seed and it really did work. Now I get all kinds of little birds, as many as 10 different kinds in one sitting. Beware though, it costs a small fortune. Also, make sure there's no hiding place for the damned cat near by.

Good one, David

Hi Alan,we gotta cat !

Walt our bird feeders are in the middle of a Rhodi tree and they love going in there,they also have sunflower seeds as well..when we noticed our cat kept watching them my hubby bought chicken wire and wrapped it all around the tree..problem solved.

Oh get shut Sue, bird's much better than any cat.

Sunflower hearts good for the little visitors I am told

Great shot David,makes a colourful change.

We have an allotment in bryn,we get blue tits,coal tits great tits,long tale tits,and all the british wild birds,including wrens,robins,etc.it depends what you feed them on.