Any new types of sightings this autumn?

[Kerry L]

Hi everyone

Sadly, not in my garden, but about 4 miles away, between Greywell and Upton Grey, I saw a stoat having a great time foraging in the hedgerow. Lots of farmland there, and used to be good for spotting the odd hare. There seems to be a population explosion for pheasants here in spite of hunters (we often hear lots of gunshots coming from the other side of the woods, perhaps they are after rabbits), and I saw loads of grouse near Whitchurch (Hants, that is and not the one near Reading - there seems to be lots of Whitchurches around here). He-man found a mouse in the compost bins - I had to check winter onions and garlic for munching - all's well and growing, and the squiz hasn't guzzled them either, phew.

Regards, Kerry

[Rita 70]

Dear Kerry

See my post about NO sightings! I have a visiting pheasant tho' who comes running up the garden path for food when I whistle. Sometimes he brings a friend.

Rita 70

[storye_book]

New sighting? I posted this on 16th Nov, but perhaps in the wrong place. Here's my sighting, anyway. The books say that nuthatches keep to the south, and measure a bit bigger than your usual tits/finches - but here in Harrogate I've had a nuthatch whose breast is almost as bright as a chaffinch, and his wife is yellow-breasted. They're smaller than the great tit. They've been regular visitors to the black sunflower feeder for two months. So is it a red-breasted nuthatch? And if so, is it resident, a visitor, passage migrant or aberration? There's a picture of it in the oddities section in my birdbook, but no explanation. Any comments?

[Jenny]

We have an unwelcome sighting - a mink! :mad: However what with the growling, barking and generally hysterical dog plus my prodding through holes in the wall at it (it was obviously very annoyed judging from the noise it made!), it was persuaded to leave. What is worrying is that (altho' a village) we could be in for trouble if they move in en masse. We have a huge mink problem here (and lots of battles ensuing to allow us to get rid of them).

On the positive side, the gold finches are eating me out of house and home with the nyjer seed - they make a lovely splash of colour! (Perhaps CJ could make a bigger nyjer seed feeder - this lot scoff the lot in less than a day!) The tits are also back en masse and a wren (thought they were shy? - this one's not learned!) has been nipping down off the holly tree onto the shed roof to pick up bits of shredded cheese. :confused: .