This year's
RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch was unusual because the birds didn't disappear from the garden the moment I started the clock. This time, my birdwatch started with me stalking my first ever birdwatch Wren at the front of the house, Mum was calling out "Robin, Starlings ... " and so on from the back.
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| My Big Garden Birdwatch results for 26 Jan 2019. |
After the initial flurry of action, things settled down a bit and it was obvious that we were seeing some species in greater numbers than previously.
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| House Sparrows on our bird table |
It was a particular pleasure to see a group of eight or more House Sparrows - the best score that I have had for this species.
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| Woodpigeon |
We also had a group of seven Woodpigeons - again the largest score since I started. They were busy cleaning up under the bird tables after the smaller birds had scattered the food.
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| One of two Carrion Crows |
I think many small birds were intimidated by the presence of two Carrion Crows in the oak at the side of the garden - even the Magpie flew away - so I went and had another look at the front.
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| Coal Tit in the front garden |
I heard the Dunnock before I saw this modest-looking greyish bird. While I was looking at the it, two Goldfinches and a Coal Tit popped into view. At about the three quarter-hour mark I was getting a little concerned about the absence of Blue Tits as it would be the first year that I missed them. Mum said that they had been around during the week but, of course, that doesn't count. I enjoyed watching the secretive little Wren as it worked its way along a rather untidy hedge bottom and was rewarded by the appearance of a second.
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| Robin on the bird table. |
I checked the bird tables and wires near the bird box but didn't see any sign of the Blue Tits. However, the Robin that regularly follows me round the garden came and posed for photos.
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| One of three male Blackbirds |
I often see Blue tits working their way round the Oak tree. There were none around but a male Blackbird was in the tree, which, with the two already in the conifer, took me up to three.
Finally, as the last few minutes were ticking away, a lone Blue Tit appeared in the Robinia tree. This took my score up to 35 individuals from 12 species. This is the first time I have seen so many birds during the birdwatch - the previous high being 22 individuals. This was in 2011, which was also the only other year in which I saw 12 species. I think that my totals were boosted by new glasses and bird watching techniques learnt from David of the
Uckfield Local Nature Reserves Supporters Group but there were some genuinely bigger groups around.
This graph shows the ups and downs of my bird watches since 2011.
Last year's numbers were much lower.
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| The ups and downs of my garden bird watches |
