RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch.

Taking a one hour snapshot of the bird visitors to the garden usually brings up some surprises. As I observe from day to day there is hardly a time when there isn't one or more of the tit families at the feeders. During the count I though there would be none right up to the last few minutes and no Coal Tits appeared though they had been frequent visitors for weeks. Normally I spot the odd Jackdaw from time to time so it was quite a surprise when four landed at the same time. Also there are usually quite a few Chaffinches but only three turned up in that hour.

The final results were:



Of course I had the camera to hand, just in case.

Not now dear, I've got a headache ....


I wonder what Blackbird tastes like ...


It had been a beautiful sunny day, though cold, and the sky stayed clear into the night which gave me a chance to try to capture the full Moon.



A few days ago I mentioned that the Wood Pigeon on the feeder looked as though it needed pince nez to focus on the food. Well, Glo from Porcelain Rose took that as a challenge and the result can be seen here:

http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/ae351/les_0277/dove-pince-nez.gif

A great piece of animation from Glo. Brilliant.

A Bit More of the White Stuff and a Resident Pheasant

For once the weather forecasters got things correct. We did get one session of prolonged snow. It didn't stop the bird visitors from eating. In fact they became even more frantic to stock up.

Tree Sparrows and a Chaffinch


The usual Starlings and House Sparrows


Most unusual, in my garden, to see two male Blackbirds so close to each other.


Just as the light was beginning to fade I noticed that the pheasant was sitting in a tree at the bottom of the garden. Even when Bobby went for a stroll round it stayed there with just its head following Bobby's every move.


For the moment it seems to have adopted my garden for there it was at daybreak ignoring the squabbling Blackbirds on the snow covered lawn.


 It even strolled over to the ground feeder and helped itself to a free breakfast.

Friday at the Flicks (Early Pheasant, Wet Pigeons, Singing Robin)

It was too dark for the Canon but just about light enough for the camcorder when this pheasant visited early one morning.



The Wood Pigeon shown a couple of days ago feeding in the rain was joined by two more. I was fascinated by the way the one on top of the feeder kept trying to persuade the one below that it was time to change places.



One dull day, as the light was fading, a Robin stayed on one of his favourite perches while I sneaked the camcorder outside to capture a bit of his song.



Once the distant dog had finished barking I could also hear a Coal Tit in the background.

Big Garden Birdwatch

It was great to see the BBC have been promoting the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend. I have no doubt that many thousands of British gardens will be carefully watched and bird visitors counted, It only takes one hour on either Saturday or Sunday. Details can be found by following the link on the RSPB website HERE.

I'm Eating in the Rain

Even when it is pouring with rain birds, like this Wood Pigeon, still have to eat.



I always think they should be wearing pince nez as they look so short sighted.

More Nest Box Investigations

After missing for a couple of days there has been renewed interest in the Blue Tit nest box. Today there were four visits in just over an hour.



No idea whether it is the same bird or two or more giving it the once over.

Sound is from my usual outdoor microphone at the opposite end of the shed. Amongst others are a Collared Dove's monotonous call and the usual tut tutting of the Blackbirds. I hope to have another (baby monitor) microphone near the nest box by the weekend.

A few Thoughts from the Regulars

"Look ma, I can levitate."


"Ah, that's why my toes are cold."


"Hey, Speedy Gonzales, where's the fire?"


"I'm sure someone said there was free corn here."


"Just look at that show off hanging down there."


Seeing the Blue Tit reminded me - a Blue Tit made a brief visit to the nest box on Saturday afternoon so it is still under consideration.

Early Morning Visitors

Last night I was working on the computer when I heard the relay click in the video camera recorder as it registered movement. It was a mouse which had arrived about 8.30 pm and sat in the seed dish for about a quarter of an hour helping itself to the seed put out for the birds' breakfast. That was the first time I had seen a mouse since early December, and never that early in the evening - more usually around midnight or the early hours.

Checking the night's recordings I saw that it, or one of its relatives, had visited just as it was starting to get light.



The next visitors were a couple of early Starlings helping themselves to dried mealworms and being told off by a male Blackbird which wanted to get at the suet pellets, soon followed by a female Blackbird. Other Blackbirds were milling about on the lawn. There were about ten of them altogether.

Although the Blue Tits are still visiting the feeders I have had no more sighting from inside the nest box as yet.