Hi guys If your chilling at home right now with little else to do then watch TV please join in on the BIG GARDEN BIRDWATCH for the RSPB and send your results to there website, it only takes a hour and is fun for all the family and you choose the hour to do it in, you have untill tomorrow aswell so no excuses! check more rules on there site The RSPB
Hope u had more visitors then me, didnt do bad with 7 species but no more then 2 at one time! woodpigeon starlings robin farel pigeon sparrow black birds blue tits
My count from yesterday: blackbird 8 blackcap 1 blue tit 3 chaffinch 6 coal tit 2 collared dove 30 dunnock 1 great tit 3 greenfinch 10 house sparrow 15 jackdaw 15 magpie 2 pied wagtail 1 reed bunting 7 rook 2 robin 1 sparrowhawk 1 starling 40 treecreeper 1 woodpigeon 3 First blackcap I've seen in the garden in literally years, and the same goes for the treecreeper who I was sure had been driven out by the hordes of greenfinches!
17 House Sparrows 15 Blackbirds 5 Blackcaps 4 Wood Pigeons 3 Chaffinches 3 Magpies 2 Song Thrushes 2 Robins 2 Goldfinches 2 Blue Tits 1 Coal Tit 1 Dunnock 1 Wren .....and a partridge in a pear tree Not bad considering there were no birds but just a large ginger cat when I moved here 6 years ago.
Very envious of those blackcaps . I had 11 species , all of which I would call common , the most were 29 starling . Typically the goldfinches did not turn up till much later and I did not see the long-tailed tits which quite often visit when it is cold .
Are you sure about that? Blackcaps are normally summer visitors but increasingly are known to winter here too(its a different population) but five in one garden at this time of year seems a lot to me. One yes, but not more. The same one x5?
Yes, I am sure. Two males and 3 females all seen at the same time, as required by the RSPB. Last year I recorded 1.2, and in the previous two years there were 1.1. They are almost the most noticeable birds in the garden, either constantly on the move and chasing other small birds away, or eating the apples I attach to the trees.
So...did mine yesterday, went a bit over the hour without realising and then went around the other side of my garden for 20 minutes so here we are... Blue tits - 5 Long tailed tits - 12 Great tits - 3 Coal tits - 3 Jackdaw - 2 Goldfinch - 9 Chaffinch - 5 Pied Wagtail - 1 Wood pigeon - 5 Redpoll - 2 Magpie - 2 Carrion Crow - 63+ Robin - 3 Blackbird - 4 Starling - 6 Collared Dove - 3 Common Gull - 3 Long tailed tits arrived with 3 minutes left in the official hour and the Carrion crow with 2 seconds on the clock! I live near farms and they are constantly about but they don't usually come into the garden!
ok well 7 is good for my garden clearly not for everyone elses. Gutted my spotted woodpecker didnt turn up or my longtails! but well done everyone, lucky for all you to get that many birds in your garden!
Bounty of Blackcaps. Can't catch you out then... It does seem they are increasing each winter, as your records indicate too. Maybe Torbay is a popular wintering ground- mild and lush vegetation. Portland Bill have only been recording one at their Bird Observatory. I've had none in my garden... Apparently the ones that winter here come over from Europe, whereas the ones we have here in summer, migrate southwards in winter. Its not just some staying over...
Blackcaps: Cut apples in half and wire them to branches - they can't get enough of them, along with Blackbirds, Redwings, Fieldfares and Starlings. The first Starlings I'd seen since moving here visited with Redwings in December, now all departed.
I feel bad I've not done this before. I'll try later although I'll need a bird book to help myself id them.
It had to be done last week, its the same 2 days every year its a shame u missed it but you can do it next year
