RSPB - Big Garden Birdwatch

[rolf]

Well if it hadn't been for Louise's post about the blackcap, I would've missed it altogether.

Managed to get a count from 16:10 to 17:10, was a little dark towards the end though.

My count was:

Robin - 3
Great Tit - 3
Blue Tit - 3
Coal Tit - 1
Marsh Tit - 1
Blackcap - 1
Blackbird - 3
Pied Wagtail - 1
Wood Pigeon - 1
Starling - 1
Nuthatch - 2
Long-tailed Tit - 1

Possibly a little low due to failing light and was surprised that no Sparrows or Chaffinches had dropped in, birds which I generally see throughout the day.

[ladylouise62]

Did you really get 3 Robins at once - did they see each other off?

Pretty quiet selection from me (9.45-10.45)
Sparrow - 8 (I normally have about 12)
Robin - 1
Blackcap - 1
Blue Tits - 2


I have no idea where the rest of the birds were, and I only saw the Robin and Blue tits right near the end of my hour

[rolf]

Yep, there was a lot of aerial warfare, but at one time two were perched in the tree and the other was on the fence.

Should have done it in the morning, as I would normally see higher numbers of some of the other birds.

[Catherine]

Sunday - 08.55 to 09.55 (with Andy and Roger playing tennis in the corner!)

Common birds;
5 Blackbirds
6 Blue Tits
5 Chaffinches
2 Coal Tits
1 Dunnock
5 Goldfinches
3 Great Tits
3 Greenfinches
7 Long-tailed Tits
1 Magpie
3 Robins
1 Song thrush
2 Woodpigeons

Scarcer birds;
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Nuthatch

There was a Redwing on the Oak tree two doors down, but he flew past us as we had no apples on the grass for him..

[rolf]

Well done Catherine, a really diverse group of birds there.

[Catherine]

I was a bit disappointed there were no Wrens, Rooks, Carrion Crows or Jackdaws around as we DO get them. The House Sparrow which called the other day didn't return, but maybe he'd seen Sparrowhawks call. (We had a male on the fence near the fatcake feeder each day over the weekend.)

Re. Robins, we actually had 5 on Saturday afternoon - our record here! Two were near the fatcake feeder and three were chasing each other round in circles - like butterflies- near the pergola!

Here is a pic I took one late afternoon (sun going down) last month. You can still see the 4 Robins though, having a conference on and near the fence!

[rolf]

Oh yes, brilliant, beats my three.

It always happens when I do this bird count, half the birds I seem to remember seeing regularly, go missing.

[ladylouise62]

Wow, Catherine - loads of birds, and you've had 5 robins at once! I do think that the watch should ask for the time of day as it makes quite a difference.

I have to admit that I did do an earlier watch (the early morning feeding time) - and I got even fewer birds - 8 sparrows and one Blue Tit only!!! So I cheated and did a different hour instead