It would be interesting to know what food the birds are eating. I only put out sunflower hearts these days as peanuts eaten so infrequently they go mouldy. Also no food put on the ground by me as attracts rats but the Coal Tits in particular 'eat one discard one'

Like Neil and Paul B, I haven't recorded Greenfinches at all in my garden this winter and even Chaffinches not seen since mid January. Listened specifically for both species when in my garden this weekend and neither species heard. However getting up to 4 Bullfinches daily!

GS Woodpecker drumming in Astley Park this morning heard from my garden by the park.

When I checked what had been seen today before I made my posting, it was interesting to me that someone else had seen Siskins today. A male Siskin on my garden bird feeders this afternoon was the first I had seen this year but the photos I took of 'my' Siskin were poor in comparison to yours Peter!

Detour to Astley Park on way home from attending clinic at hospital. On lake were Mallard 30 to 40 (being fed so difficult to count); Moorhen 12; Coot 2; Mute Swan 3 adult + 1 juvenile; BH Gulls about 100. (No sign of Little Grebes - must have deserted park lake in favour of Common Bank Lodge) More ...

I don't normally put bird food out on the ground as it attracts BH gulls and also rats but as so cold this morning to help the Blackbirds and Chaffinches I made an exception. Interesting that within 1/2 hour a large RAT was feeding under the bird table. It makes a change from the 'tree rats' (Grey S...

My year started as Nora's with garden birds and although I counted 12 species being adjacent to a woodland, it is interesting that my garden on the outskirts of Chorley , unlike Nora's in Coppull, never these days has House Sparrows, Starlings. Collared Doves or Jackdaws but I do get regular Woodpig...

Nuthatch was probably calling from my garden adjacent to woods where 1 or 2 seem to be around most of the time. Also pair of bullfinches are regulars as well as various tits and other common woodland birds.
Happy Christmas.

Watched a Treecreeper climbing up the trunk of my large Silver Birch tree whilst I was eating my lunchtime sandwiches today. Although I have seen Treecreepers in the garden in the past, this species is certainly a rare garden visitor but obviously they are seen occasionally by visitors to the adjace...

I can't compete with Neil on numbers with just 3 Red Admirals today but more variety of species with 1 Small Tortoise shell, 1 Comma, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Speckled Wood plus 2 Large & 1 Small White

Garden butterflies yesterday and today included Painted Lady (1st one I've seen this year), 3 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral and 1 Small White.
Also found 1 Brown Birch Bolete under birch.

When I was the society's fungi recorder, I was always interested to see the variation in abundance of some species from year to year. I tried to reflect this in my annual reports. It is particularly obvious in Fly Agaric, a distinctive and brightly coloured common species that everyone can identify....

Found 4 of 'The Blusher' fungi in garden yesterday, 15th August. Autumn is on its way!

Red Underling moth found on bungalow wall today. I have seen this large moth in the garden 2 or 3 times in the past around this time of year. Garden butterflies on Buddleias today - now up to 9 Peacocks, 2 Red Admirals and 1 Comma plus both Small & Large Whites around garden. (No Painted Ladies ...

Holly Blue round Ivy again in the sunshine this afternoon. Budleias still attracting Vanessids around same numbers as on 5th