Since February 2010, we have noted bird visits to Bracken House. Although no experts, we have been able to identify 44 species so far, mainly using Usborne Spotter's Guide to Wild Birds.
Click a link for more information about each species from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds web site. Last updated 4th March 2017.
| Species | Date | Size (cm) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackbird | 21 Feb 2010 | 25 | Regular visitor, especially early and late in the day. Feeds on the ground. Used to steal the cat's food. Has a loud musical song. with a clucking alarm call. |
| Black-Headed Gull | 26 Dec 2014 | 37 | Gulls are often seen flying over, but very rarely land in the fields or garden. Black-headed gulls are sociable, quarrelsome, noisy birds, usually seen in small groups or flocks, often gathering into larger parties where there is plenty of food, or when they are roosting. |
| Blackcap | 16 Aug 2012 | 14 | Common summer visitor in the UK, but a rare visitor to Bracken House. Usually found in woods or trees. Always moving from perch to perch. |
| Blue Tit | 21 Feb 2010 | 11 | A very colourful bird, almost always present on the feeders. Often several birds can be found feeding together. They enjoy suet balls. Nests in nest boxes provided. |
| Bullfinch | 08 Feb 2012 | 15 | A pair of them have been seen on the feeders just once. The bullfinch is a secretive bird that eats seeds and also buds from fruit trees. |
| Buzzard | 26 Jul 2015 | 59/51 | The commonest and most widespread UK bird of prey, and occasionally seen hovering overhead here. First seen on the ground after downing a pigeon to feast on. They eat small mammals, birds and carrion, and even earthworms and large insects when other prey is in short supply. |
| Carrion Crow | 28 Feb 2010 | 47 | Often confused with, and very similar to the rook. Carrion is more often seen alone or in pairs. |
| Chaffinch | 21 Feb 2010 | 15 | Occasional visitor to the bird feeders, adding a little colour to the winter. Found in gardens and wherever there are trees and bushes. {Photo} |
| Coal Tit | 26 Feb 2010 | 11 | Fairly frequent visitor to the feeders. Distinguished by a large white patch on back of head. |
| Collared Dove | 21 Feb 2010 | 30 | Always present, on the feeders and in the gardens. Often found in the fields too. Feeds mainly on grain. |
| Dunnock | 04 Jan 2011 | 14.5 | Small, mainly brown bird. Feeds under bird tables. Similar to the sparrow. Mouse-like walk. Often flicks wings |
| Fieldfare | 12 Feb 2012 | 25.5 | A large thrush, seen rarely in the bushes. The fieldfare is a winter visitor, but a few nest in England and Scotland. |
| Goldfinch | 23 Jun 2011 | 12 | A very colourful bird often seen eating thistle and teasel seeds. Occasionally visits the feeders but is a regular visitor to feeders near the holly bushes. |
| Great Tit | 22 Feb 2010 | 14 | The largest of the tit family. Similar to the blue tit. Has been seen on the bird feeders. |
| Greenfinch | 23 Aug 2010 | 15 | An occasional visitor to the feeders and sometimes seen eating thistle seeds. Also found in the holly bushes. |
| Grey Heron | 03 Aug 2010 | 92 | Occasional visitor to both ponds. Sometimes spends several hours sitting by the smaller pond. Eats many frogs and toads from the ponds. {Photo} |
| Grey Wagtail | 03 Nov 2016 | 18 | Seen for a few minutes perched on the patio. Usually nest near fast-flowing water in hilly areas. Visits lowland waters in winter. |
| House Sparrow | 21 Feb 2010 | 15 | Always present on the feeders, sometimes dozens at a time. Often seen in the flower borders too. |
| Jackdaw | 11 Jul 2013 | 33 | Occasional visitor. Small member of the crow family. Nests in colonies in old trees and buildings, and in cliffs. First seen when a family came to the lawn to feed. An injured bird was also found in the chicken coop. It had a broken wing and was treated at Brinsley Animal Rescue. |
| Jay | 03 Nov 2014 | 32 | A very colourful, though secretive member of the crow family. Found throughout the country and lives in woodland, though they sometimes visit gardens. Feed on acorns, nuts, seeds and insects, but also eats nestlings of other birds and small mammals. |
| Kestrel | 04 Feb 2012 | 34 | Often seen hovering over the land and swooping down on prey. Also noted perching in trees around the house and on the ground. {Photo} |
| Long-tailed Tit | 24 Aug 2010 | 14 | Regular visitor to the feeders. Several at a time can be found together, especially at dusk. |
| Magpie | 21 Feb 2010 | 46 | Nests in the trees behind the stables. Always present around the house and also used to steal the cat food. Often found in the chicken run eating their food. |
| Mallard | 28 Mar 2010 | 58 | Occasional visitors to both ponds, usually in pairs. Always arrive early morning and can stay for several hours. Easily tamed and will accept food. |
| Mandarin | 04 Mar 2017 | 45 | Introduced to the UK from China and escaped from captivity. Main population is in the South, and they are rare in this area. Eats insects, vegetation and seeds. Likes lakes with overhanging trees and bushes. {Photo} |
| Marsh Tit | 22 Jun 2012 | 11 | Small, mainly brown bird, with a shiny black cap, dark 'bib' and pale belly which lives in deciduous woods. Rarely seen in gardens, a family started to visit us on a rainy day in June. |
| Mistle Thrush | 16 Mar 2010 | 27 | Regular visitor to the feeders, mainly eating seeds that have fallen to the ground. |
| Moorhen | 07 Jun 2010 | 33 | Regulars on both ponds after a pair successfully raised seven chicks in 2015. Feeds on the seeds and grasses around the pond, water plants and insects.{Photo} |
| Pheasant | 25 Feb 2011 | 87/58 | Used to be a regular visitor, often heard in the fields. Not seen since 2012. They are often found in the chicken run feeding on the chickens' corn. Three birds were released from a nearby farm, these could have been the visitors. |
| Pied Wagtail | 27 Jun 2010 | 18 | Seen around the large pond all year, though not a daily visitor. Also noted in the meadow areas around the pond and in the fields. |
| Redwing | 23 Dec 2010 | 21 | Several birds have been noted in winter, especially in the hawthorn at the front of the house. Rare visitor. |
| Reed Bunting | 23 Mar 2013 | 15 | Common near water but some nest in dry areas with long grass. May visit bird tables in Winter. Visited the feeders after a heavy snowfall. |
| Robin | 21 Feb 2010 | 14 | Daily visitor to the feeders which they visit several times a day. Usually like their food in a tray or on the ground. Very tame. |
| Rook | 15 Feb 2012 | 46 | Nest in the rookery in the large trees close to the house. Always found in the field and are very territorial. Noisy bird. |
| Siskin | 08 Feb 2013 | 11 | A small, lively finch which nests in conifers. Sometimes visits garden to feed on peanuts. More common in winter. {Photo} |
| Snipe | 03 Dec 2010 | 27 | Only seen once around the edge of the large pond. Stayed for a short while looking for food but not seen since. |
| Song Thrush | 28 Jul 2010 | 23 | Occasional visitor to the feeders and to the lawns. Very similar to, and smaller than, the mistle thrush. |
| Sparrowhawk | 19 Oct 2011 | 30/38 | Once noted on the feeders in snowy weather and also seen attacking smaller birds. Not a regular though. |
| Starling | 28 Feb 2010 | 22 | Regular visitor, sometimes in large flocks and often in smaller numbers. Visit the feeders and often seen in flocks in the fields. |
| Stock Dove | 11 Jul 2014 | 33 | Often confused with other pigeons. Nests in hollow trees and rock faces. Feeds on the ground, mainly on seeds. Very tame. Usually found with woodpigeons. |
| Swallow | 05 May 2010 | 19 | Usually arrives during the first week in May and can be seen swooping over the pond most of the day. Heralds the arrival of summer. |
| Tree Sparrow | 28 Oct 2011 | 14 | Not so common as the house sparrow, but often seen on the feeders. Slightly smaller than the house sparrow. |
| Woodpigeon | 21 Feb 2010 | 41 | Largest of the pigeons. Very common in the hedges, fields and meadows. Often bathe in the pond and bubble pot. |
| Wren | 21 Feb 2010 | 9.5 | Very small. Regular visitor to the feeders and often feeds on the ground beneath the feeders. |
* Where two sizes are given, the first size is for the male and the second is the female.