http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Wildlife in your garden en Fri, 22 May 2026 03:21:18 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264&page=2#post-112034 Mon, 27 May 2013 18:50:20 +0000 cb.pola 112034@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Interesting. I've had a regular blackcap visitor to my garden for the last few weeks - only seen the male so far - but had never seen one before this year. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264&page=2#post-111923 Sun, 26 May 2013 14:54:35 +0000 Charterhall 111923@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A pair of blackcaps in garden this afternoon, nice to see. And even nicer to hear had they been singing. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264&page=2#post-111921 Sun, 26 May 2013 14:34:05 +0000 gembo 111921@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Five frogs/toads in grass cutting today. One missing a head possible clawed by neighbours' cat. Was still alive, just. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264&page=2#post-111716 Thu, 23 May 2013 21:38:02 +0000 gembo 111716@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@focus</p> <p>Vermin Fawlty yes.</p> <p>Also liked your answer to your one question. My neighbour very nice man and very insistent on badgers under garage being left to leave of their own accord, which they did. Some of them may or may not have been the rare red coated badger. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264&page=2#post-111704 Thu, 23 May 2013 20:55:18 +0000 Charterhall 111704@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Badgers - excellent :-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264&page=2#post-111693 Thu, 23 May 2013 19:41:11 +0000 Focus 111693@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"They would not have done so if it had been foxes."</p> <p>How bizarre! Was the reasoning that they consider foxes "vermin" or what? I struggle to see any justification for such a stance.</p> <p>Actually, maybe I can answer my own question. Badgers and their setts are protected and so you couldn't have them removed. Foxes are only protected from standard cruelty laws and so could have been removed without penalty so maybe the insurers' view is that you could avoid damage from foxes by removing them? Much as I don't like that as a resolution. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264&page=2#post-111687 Thu, 23 May 2013 18:56:44 +0000 gembo 111687@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My neighbour had badgers under his garage. Not foxes, no,badgers, garage had an overhang to make for nice wee house. Alas badgers undermined the garage. Fortunately insurance paid out. They would not have done so if it had been foxes. Friends of the pentlands do a groovy night time badger spy thing in late summer. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264&page=2#post-111676 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:49:56 +0000 Coxy 111676@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The only time I've ever seen a badger was during a night-lap of Sleepless in the Saddle, about 10 years ago.</p> <p>It ran alongside a few of us for about 10 meters. very odd. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264&page=2#post-111674 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:48:17 +0000 Focus 111674@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I was over the moon to see them. They are getting so much bad press these days but I wouldn't be surprised if they are in a substantial decline in towns and cities down to one simple thing - wheelie bins.</p> <p>It used to be a nightly event, hearing your bin topple over and badgers raking through it for scraps. We never minded because it meant badgers in the garden. Now, we put our rubbish in wheelie bins and take away their easy food source. </p> <p>So make that two things - now that we have food "waste" bins too. Even when we think we're <em>helping</em> the environment we can be hindering it! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264&page=2#post-111667 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:14:20 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 111667@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That's the coolest garden spot of all. Wish we got badgers (allegedly there <em>are</em> some in the Figgy - I've seen on the NEPN once. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264&page=2#post-111665 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:11:44 +0000 Focus 111665@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Very pleased a few nights back when I was in the kitchen in the middle of the night and put the light on at the same time as I heard rummaging outside. I glanced through the window to see not one, but <em>two</em> <strong>badgers</strong> scrambling to get past the plant urns in their way, pretty much clambering all over each other to do it! Comical!</p> <p>I've heard stirrings previously but it's the first time I've <em>seen</em> badgers in the garden for a long time. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264&page=2#post-111581 Thu, 23 May 2013 09:55:38 +0000 amir 111581@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Less common for our garden, a song thrush poking around on the lawn. Very uncommon for us, a tree sparrow partaking of some sunflower seeds. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264&page=2#post-107994 Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:09:52 +0000 Charterhall 107994@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Our house sparrow count continues to progress, now getting 2 pairs on a frequent basis. Also forked out on a niger feeder at the weekend and delighted to be getting immediate visits from siskins. Albeit only one at a time so it might be the same one.<br /> And this morning there was a goldcrest flitting about. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264&page=2#post-107961 Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:54:26 +0000 Cyclingmollie 107961@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Not in the garden but I might pop down to the Musselburgh Scrapes this evening to try to see the avocets. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264&page=2#post-107955 Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:59:06 +0000 amir 107955@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Dad has been having redpolls in the garden but I haven't seen one yet. Maybe another time ... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264&page=2#post-107953 Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:39:04 +0000 Focus 107953@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Pleasantly shocked to see an immature* <strong>Goldcrest</strong> in the garden today. I haven't seen one in many years! It checked under the garage eaves for insects before flitting round the garden, getting a surprise when it clung to the side of the window and saw me watching it! hoping it will be a regular visitor.</p> <p>*For the non-ornithologically-minded, "immature" <em>doesn't</em> mean it was wearing torn jeans and looking up rude words in a dictionary ;-)</p> <p>Talking of surprised birds, I'd put my road bike out by the front door and as I turned back from pulling the door closed, a blackbird flew round the corner of the house and narrowly avoided contact with the front wheel. I think it may actually have flown <em>between</em> the spokes! I don't know who was more surprised, him or me! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264&page=2#post-107127 Sun, 07 Apr 2013 21:08:35 +0000 gembo 107127@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Nice </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264&page=2#post-107125 Sun, 07 Apr 2013 20:40:39 +0000 Focus 107125@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Of course I may have mentioned the two who flew down my chimney and out the stove door when I was lighting the fire the other week?"</p> <p>They clearly mistook "flew" for "flue" ;-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264&page=2#post-107120 Sun, 07 Apr 2013 20:08:03 +0000 gembo 107120@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yes I was watching two very together sparrows in my neighbour's guttering from my attic window today. They live on benefits with their many children and extended family under the slates in his roof, and I assume, my roof, but can't confirm that as can't see it. Of course I may have mentioned the two who flew down my chimney and out the stove door when I was lighting the fire the other week? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264#post-107053 Sat, 06 Apr 2013 18:12:17 +0000 Charterhall 107053@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Very pleased to be hosting regular visits now from a pair of house sparrows, they seem to 'be together' so hopefully there's a nest not far away.</p> <p>This afternoon we had visits from a brambling and a siskin. We don't see many siskins and bramblings are very infrequent. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264#post-102481 Fri, 01 Mar 2013 16:23:33 +0000 Charterhall 102481@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A treecreeper this afternoon </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264#post-101807 Sun, 24 Feb 2013 19:42:15 +0000 Charterhall 101807@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A rare visit from a house sparrow today. There's plenty in the neighbourhood (the hedges near the Bonaly shop are full of them) but this is only the 3rd one I've seen in the garden in 2 years. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264#post-100773 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 20:07:53 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 100773@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Nice to hear the sparrows are doing well somewhere! When we first moved here dozens would colonise the feeders - there are precisely none now (though that does mean the tits get plenty to themselves, and yesterday we had an all-too infrequent visit from some Long-tailed Tits). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264#post-100772 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 20:05:47 +0000 gembo 100772@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I watch the sparrows going inside my neighbour's roof from my attic shower room. Today,i also checked my roof and could see two ( neighbour has about twelve). They are taking over. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264#post-100736 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 11:23:21 +0000 xcm 100736@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Excellent shot of the waxwings, Mr Cow! </p> <p>We see the daily hoard of coal-tits, blue-tits, great-tits, longtail-tits.<br /> The resident dunnocks and wrens hop around all the time, as do the blackbirds.<br /> The greenfinches who used to just visit the topmost branches of our big ol' Birch are now coming down to feed in the garden regularly.<br /> A couple of bullfinches put in an occasional appearance.<br /> Recently a pair of twites visited for a couple of weeks, but are away again now. They liked the Niger seed in one of the feeders. As does a greater spotted woodpecker, who occasionally visits.<br /> A sparrowhawk regularly flies through, just on the off-chance of an easy meal like he got last year when he took our blue-tit mother straight out of the air at about 40mph! Bet he couldn't believe his luck...she flew right into his talons!!<br /> The fieldfares (and possibly redwings) were around until a few weeks ago, but not in the same numbers as the last few years...must be a relatively mild winter in Scandinavia. There are a few of our own thrushes too.<br /> Quite a few magpies.<br /> Some big, fat woodpigeons.<br /> Crows, jackdaws and gulls come to feed on the whole bread rolls that the neighbour scatters across his lawn.<br /> And rabbits...loads and loads of rabbits!! Anyone got a ferret??</p> <p>Matt<br /> <a href="http://www.justbikerepairs.co.uk">Just Bike Repairs</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264#post-100703 Sat, 16 Feb 2013 18:05:26 +0000 Charterhall 100703@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A siskin paid a brief visit today, the first time I've seen one this year. Also a collared dove, again a first of the year. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264#post-98192 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 12:03:31 +0000 Min 98192@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I haven't seen our Bullfinches this winter at all. :-( </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264#post-98183 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 11:39:52 +0000 kaputnik 98183@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Saw a bullfinch in my garden for the first time on Saturday. I really must get the wall-mounted bird feeder I got for christmas fitted up, just got to nick my Dad's masonry drill. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264#post-98168 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 10:47:42 +0000 steveo 98168@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Craws huners and huners of craws...</p> <p>My garden sounds like a scene for a Stephen King film most mornings, we very occasionally get twetty birds but most of the time its just crows barking at gulls and pigeons. Highlight of the year was a small buzzard having his dinner on the edge of my raised vegetable patch. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9264#post-98163 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 10:28:19 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 98163@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I got our usual suspects this weekend, which is never a high count. Herring Gull, Carrion Crows, Coal, Great and Blue Tits, a lot of Dunnocks (nice to see since they're red status), Blackbird, Robin and Woodpigeon.</p> <p>A few years back we got swarms of House Sparrows, a couple of dozen would completely take over the feeders. We're lucky if we see 2 or 3 these days. Greenfinches only come if there are sunflower hearts in the feeders. Saw a Goldcrest fleetingly last week - only turns up 2 or 3 times a year.</p> <p>The Coal Tits were the most frequent (rather than most numerous) visitors though - thoguht we had a resident pair last year, and that looks to be the case. Naturally I was sat there with the camera snapping away.</p> <p>I didn't add the three chickens scrabbling about my feet to the count; and the cat stayed sleeping indoors. </p>