BirdWatch - Results

[Cetti]

As burnhal will be scrutinising the results there must be no cheating (Robi?), so Wandering Albatross or Golden Eagle will not count!

Mine are 1 Blackbird, 1 Robin, 2 Great Tit, 1 Woodpigeon and 1 Greenfinch. Dorset

[Robinia]

Well Cetti I got off to a great start at about 9.15 - often the busiest time....of course staring out of the window meant that my little dog decided he really had to go out & see what was so fascinating out there...he came in again & the birds came back...then came a flock of feral pigeons...game over!
It's been extremely blustery here tho' & many of the small birds were either blown off course or just flew down & straight off making it almost impossible to count them.
I'll try again tomorrow morning - I hope!

[shaneystar2]

Hi Cetti ..I very diligently counted, although I said I wouldn't as they had upped and left me but lo and behold ...Blackbirds 4 .Starlings 6 .Sparrows 3 Woodpigeon 1 .There was one robin but he just stuck his beak in the air and just flitted from my fence to next doors sticking a claw up at me as he went ! He didn't actually land .
I went out early and ditched all the old food for new but they still are not really interested and the starlings normally spot a fatball a mile away .

[jules77]

well my husbands results dont look very interesting, 1 blacfkbird, 2 doves, 4 starlings and 2 woodpigeons, and he has spent a fortune on food this week. He was even smashing peanuts this morning and scattered them on the floor, which I have now had to sweep up as the dogs looked very interested in them.

[bensmum]

I watched for a while this afternoon and saw
4 blackbirds, 2 robins (fighting!), 4 great tits, 5 blue tits, 2 dunnocks, 1 sparrow, 1 goldfinch (I have counted as many as 17 in one go before - they must have been hiding!), 1 nuthatch, 1 woodpecker (greater spotted), 2 greenfinches, 4 chaffinches and 1 pigeon. It all went very quiet at one point and when I looked over the garden a sparrowhawk was around. I can't count that as it didn't land. I usually get quite a variety as I live in a rural area in Hampshire.
In the mornings there are usually pheasants and magpies around too.

[garner]

Well mine have emigrated,for two days now all I have had is starlings [6] which is unusual in my garden.Do you think word has got around our bird friends and they are doing a no show week.

[Kleiber]

I was all ready this morning and was doing quite well (2 robins, 4 siskins, 8 blue tits, 4 great tits, 3 coal tits, 2 marsh tits, 1 great spotted woodpecker, about a dozen chaffinches - lost count- 3 bramblings, 2 starlings, 2 nuthatches) and then little Cleo got out and they all disappeared! Oh, I forgot to mention, 1 grey squirrel. In the field was my mate, Russell, the crow and there were a pair of ravens and a buzzard flying over, but they don't count, do they? I think I'll try again tomorrow (& keep the cats in!).

[Cetti]

You rotten lot!

I was feeling quite pleased with my miserable few, till I saw bensmum and kleiber. Are you sure you haven't added a few beauties.......no, I'm joking, of course. You are so lucky with your Siskins, Bramblings and GS Woodies, although I did hear a woody this afternoon.... plus the first (for me) Song Thrush singing.

My belief is the same as shaney and garners - they're on their winter hols - or hiding!!

[Kleiber]

Cetti, I s'pose I've got a bit of an advantage, living where I do. No neighbours, 5 acres, up a mountain. Must admit, though, the bird life is spectacular - I won't mention the red kites....!!

[Cetti]

Oh yes, I do remember your Red Kites, Kleiber!

We had quite a good chat about them, didn't we? Still think you're a bit mean bringing them up, though ;-)

[gen2]

I had nothing out of the ordinary today and will try another hour tomorrow.

13 sparrows
4 blackbirds (2M, 2F) males chasing each other
4 feral pigeons
3 starlings
2 bluetits
1 robin
1 dunnock
1 crow

2 greenfinches stopped in the trees in my neighbour's garden but didn't come in to feed so they don't count.


I have a possible explanation as to why some may be seeing fewer numbers than expected - what if some of your neighbours are also taking part in this survey, and though they don't normally feed birds regularly they could be making an effort now and putting more food out. That would spread the birds more thinly. I know I noted a drop a couple of years ago (and reported it here) when a neighbour 2 doors along started putting out food regularly. She then stopped as she told me later 'because it was costing her too much'. She now only occasionally puts food out.

One thing I have noticed is a sudden decline in numbers around mid-October every year (Fife). From having to refill the feeders daily (or even twice daily) it drops to once every 3 or 4 days then gradually picks up again in the spring when the nesting season starts.

[Robinia]

Tis done!
Still not a true representation but better than last year

Blackbird 6
Blue tit 1
Chaffinch 5
Collared dove 2
Dunnock 2
Feral pigeon 8
Great tit 1
Greenfinch 3
House sparrow 6
Starling 4
Woodpigeon 1
Reed bunting 3

I was really pleased that woody waddled in & the reed buntings did the honours (but I have seen up to 6) at other times...but the tit family let me down, on Friday I could see 8 or 9 blues outside the window & there are more greats than one & definitely more coals than none!
The robin will be getting a snotty note pinned to his meal worm dish for his no show & as for the wren! (I've noticed that those 2 often appear together)
never mind, the blackbirds kept me entertained while I waited...one even had a bath, do I get extra points for that?

[Cetti]

Better than that, Robinia...what about a Gold Star for your Reedies?

Do you ever watch the Dog Whisperer? Well, he maintains that at all times we should be in the 'calm assertive' frame of mind to encourage right behaviour......so, perhaps our no show birdies are down to us being too anxious. No, I haven't flipped.....just musing ;-)

[Robinia]

might this be the reason for your results Cetti?
tut, wicked woman

calm & assertive...calm & assertive...right, got it....
:o)

[burnhal]

managed to do my survey by the skin of my teeth. Bright and early yesterday the guys turned up to fit my new gutters and soffits. They have been trying to find a dry calmish day for the last month so couldnt really turn them away!! So no joy yesterday. Today we had our 4yr old grandaughter over so off to Whipsnade for the day. Got back at 3.45 so managed to scrape in an hour before it got dark. Pretty much the same as last year- could have written it without watching the garden!
4 blue, 2 great and 1 coal tit. 2 gold, 1 green and 3 chaffinch. 2 collared doves and 3 wood pigeons. 2 robins (a pair), 3 blackies, 2 dunnock, 2 magpies, 2 jackdaws, 5 starling and 9 house sparrows. Actually slightly better than last year.
But does it all prove anything, do the results mean anything? Blowed if I know!!

[burnhal]

so I cant count the bald eagle they were flying at Whipsnade then??

[Cetti]

You did pretty well burnhal, in the short time you had. Do hope your soffits are behaving themselves!

If your bald eagle is allowed, then I shall add Sugar Puff to my list. Here she is:

http://i25.tinypic.com/k2bcwo.jpg

[Robinia]

Typical! It's a bright, crisp, lightly frosty morning (the way Jan should be) & they're here by the coachload. I love the way the reedies feed alongside the others now, they were so timid when they first came.

You did very well burnhal, I've noticed that the birds come for supper instead of disappearing at 3pm now that the nights are getting lighter.

Cetti she's lovely! I love owls
what a face! haha

[Jules001]

It's typical isn't it? I did my hour on Saturday and had a fraction of what we normally get. This morning two ring necked parakeets and two birds which I have not seen before (and am trying to identify, think they may be siskins, but according to one book I looked in, they may be serins) stayed and fed in the garden for ages. Anyone know of other sites I can visit to see better pics of these two birds to get a true identification. I have tried the RSPB site, but the pics are inconclusive.

BTW sat results were:
4 starlings
6 sparows
2 dunnocks
2 blackbird
3 pigeons
2 coal tit
1 robin

[Cetti]

Jules, I would go for Siskin, as these little birds come into gardens occasionally in the winter to feed. They especially like Alders, Birches or Larch trees, but will feed on the ground as you descibed.

Serin is still pretty rare in this country, although naturally you might have seen a couple on their hols from the continent.

[Cetti]

On this link for the BirdGuide website ID, there are plenty of recently taken Siskin pics, but none for Serin, just a drawing.

http://www.birdguides.com/species/default.asp? sort=name