Birdwatching at Upton Cottage

 Garden Birds at Upton Cottage

Tree Sparrow and Female Chaffinch at feeder
Photography by annmackiemiller copyright 2014

I am lucky enough to have friends with a wonderful garden for birds and for the next fortnight I am house and cat sitting. There is always something to see. Some of the photos are a bit iffy but as they are all shot through glass, not too bad. I hope you enjoy your visit.

In the summer tree sparrows nesting in the nesting box in the garden so it was lovely to see at least one returning to feed. He didn't seem to find sharing the feeder with a female chaffinch but he wasn't keen on letting me out of his sight.

Tree Sparrow

Chaffinches 

The chaffinch is a commonly seen bird in our gardens but always delightful. I spotted this chap early in the morning. His feathers are all puffed up creating an air layer to keep himself warm.

Male Chaffinch

Male Chaffinch on feeder

Male Chaffinch

 The Female Chaffinch 

She is not as colourful but still lovely. I confess I often get them mixed up with female greenfinches but I think the bars on the wings are the tell-tale difference. Geoff will correct me if I am wrong. :)

female chaffinch

Greenfinches

These little birds arrive all at once. I love the expression on the one on the left. He looked a bit fed up that there wasn't enough seed in the feeder to reach his perch. He got his share later though. 

Greenfinches on garden feeder

Greenfinches on feeder

greenfinches

Greenfinches

Male Greenfinch

Male Greenfinch

Lots more birds to see so come back tomorrow. x

Meet the Chaffinch

Chaffinch: Fringilla coelebs

male chaffinch by annmackiemiller

The pretty chaffinch is the most common finch found in Britain.

It is about 6 inches in length, weighs under 1lb, and has a wing span of about 10 inches. It has a long tail and its short conical beak is ideal for breaking into seeds that is its favourite food, often taken from the ground.

The male is characterised by a grey-blue cap and neck; a chestnut back with pink underparts and a greenish rump. He has white shoulder patches and wing flashes that are more obvious when he is in flight.

The female is olive green with a brown tinge. She has greyish-white underparts and narrow white wing-bars.

female chaffinch at feeder by annmackiemiller

VIDEO of Chaffinch Singing

If you would like to know what a chaffinch sounds like, click this link. Chaffinch Singing

Male Chaffinch by annmackiemiller

What do chaffinches eat?

• caterpillars and insects
• seeds and berries
• grass and herb seeds
• 
  

How do Chaffinches nest?

• they tend to pick hollows in trees and build a rough cup of a nest they will line with moss.
• they lay around 4 or 5 eggs
• the eggs are only incubated by the female
• they hatch in around 12 days.
• chicks are fed by both parents
• they fledge in around 15 days
• they mostly only have the one brood every year

They will nest in your hedge so be careful when you clip it.

They will come to feeder but also provide them with a ground feeder that is protected from predators and large birds. Provide them with a good mix of bird seed and meal worms in breeding season and winter. 

 

21 Facts about Chaffinches 

PHOTO GALLERY CHAFFINCH

Male chaffinch with seed

"Incoming!" Chaffinch coming in to feeder

Female chaffinch at garden feeder

Male chaffinch on branch

Male Chaffinch at bird feeder

Female chaffinch looking for food