RSPB Birdwatch 28-29th January 2011

The next RSPB Garden Birdwatch will be on 28th and 29th January 2011.

To download sheets and information on taking part go to the following link:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/

SM

Thanks SM - i'll be doing that for sure.

Lai

Thanks SM. My garden is still pretty wrecked and i'm not really getting any visitors at the moment, so looks like I will have to pass on this one.

littlewid-x-

Thanks SM. I'll be doing it again this year. It will be interesting to compare it with last years
WS

Have you signed up yet!!!

Dont forget this weekend 28th and 29th is Birdwatch!!!!

Let see whats in your garden.

SM

Yes, thanks for the reminder SM. I'll be doing it for sure.

Lai

Saw this on their website. Im doing it also. ~ Carson

I'm registered, but my numbres for visitors, and species are going to be down this year. My feeders are not as busy as last year. I'm hoping thats because its been so mild that the Birds have'nt needed as much food, an d some of the species have not come to the feeders because they have been able to survive on their natural food
WS

Ours are busy WS - much milder as you say but plenty coming in for their daily feed.

Lai

Pity WS.

Lai, ours are busy too. When a bird cake goes out it lasts just 2 days
Boy are they well fed.

SM

SM - the suet shreds go in a flash, our family of woodpeckers can't get enough of them!

Lai

Sadly as I said my feeder is not up as the garden is wrecked but for those that are doing it, are you going to try and get some pictures as well or just concentrate on counting the number of birds and different species?

littlewid-x-

Littlewid - counting the birds is tough enough, unless you can video for an hour and then count them afterwards. I would love to take some photos but find the whole thing pretty hectic anyway

Perhaps some photos after the hour is over

Lai

done my hour this morning.

Results as follows
27 Blue tit
7 Carrion crow
9 Chaffinch
11 Coal tit
1 Goldfinch
23 Great tit
11 Jackdaw
1 Long Tailed tit
2 Woodpigeon

and in the scarcer bird section

3 Greater Spotted woodpecker
1 Nuthatch
1 Pheasant - (Fizal who is fed by me everyday, so no surprise he came in).

Sadly no Greenfinch this time and far less Goldfinch

Lai

Great result Lai. Just printed my sheet off, going to do mine tomorrow, as the window I check from is blocked off at the moment with Harry the Cockateal's cage who we are looking after for freinds he's going home on the morning so Ill do mine then
WS

WS - look forward to seeing your results.

Lai

Right did ours today

4 Blue tit
12 Chaffinch
2 Coal tit
2 Collared Dove
6 Great tit
2 Greenfinch
8 House sparrow
1 Magpie
1 Robin
8 Starlings

Rarer species
2 Greater Spotted Woodpeckers
2 Nuthatches
1 Peacock
1 Cockatiel Although he was inside the window, could'nt leave Harry out

WS

WOW thats a good variety WS, it must have been lovely to see all those different birds, well done for spotting them all and for not forgetting Harry

Didn't realise you had the little fellow again, How is he?

littlewid-x-

Brilliant result WS - love the selection of birds. Did they vary much from last year? I was sad I didnt wait for a couple of hours as that's when our Grey Wagtail and Pied Wagtail visit, and sometimes the Robin - but that's the way it goes

I bet Harry wondered what was going on

Lai

It did a bit Lai, the Blue tit numbers were slightly down, and the Sparrows, although I know why the Sparrow numbers were down, because when the hedges were cut at the end of the year, their big bush was cut down, and there was a flock of about 30. The Chaffinches were up though, and we had a pair of Greenfinches that we did'nt have last year, but we did'nt get the longtail tits this year. So a bit up, and down. It's annoying when you dont get Birds, that you know are around usualy. I wonder if the RSPB say an hour because they dont want to put people off doing it. I think if you see extra species or numbers after the hour you should be allowed to include them, it's not as if everyone does the count at the same time, so Birds are'nt getting counted twice and I know we have others around.
WS

WS - I think they should add a section for birds that usually visit during the day - I know it would be impossible to count for longer than an hour

Lai

Here are some beautiful pictures from some amature photographers taken during the RSPB Bird watch

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardeningpicturegalleries/9054190/In-pictures-The-RSPB-Big-Garden-Birdwatch.html

littlewid-x-

Some nice photos there - I wish I'd had time to take photos, it was hectic with them all flying in to the feeders and me trying to count.

Lai

Some great photos LW thanks wished I had time to take some to
WS

After all that and the reminders etc. we had a really hectic weekend and I didnt even get an hour free to do the count (in daylight anyway) HooHumm maybe get the next one.

SM