RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

Sunday 29th January 2012

Well today is the day that the RSPB do the Big Garden Birdwatch. Basically you pick an area, be it park, garden or wherever and watch and count all the birds that land in the area in a one hour period.

I have a number of 'feed-trees' in the garden so would normally expect a decent showing but the previous weeks wind coupled with a 10 degree drop in temperature had led to not much being seen in the garden over the last few days. Still we gave it a go between 10:00 and 11:00.

To be fair we were well rewarded with 8 x Great Tit showing

4 x House Sparrows

Some Chaffinch, a whole flock of Feral Pigeons, a Collared Dove

My two favourite Wood Pigeons, the usual pair of Starlings and half a dozen Blackbirds and I am glad to say the 2 x Siskin which seemed to have come back

Almost exactly on the hour they all disappeared, as if they had only put in a guest appearance to allow me to have something to record on the RSPB website.

Ten minutes later the reason for the disappearance became clear when my daughter called me to the window to see our first ever garden Sparrowhawk sitting on the back fence

Picture is a bit colourless as I had to take it through the bedroom window so as not to spook the raptor. Does explain, however why the 'meal ticket' birds all shot off.

That's it for now, other than to wish my good friend and fellow birder Bagsy a Bon Voyage as he sets off for South Korea and various other countries in that neck of the woods. His progress can be followed on his blog which can be found here, and is a superb read.

Vane Farm - 28th January 2012

Couldn't decide where to go today so ended up heading out the 'Shire towards Vane Farm for a wander. There was to be a bird ringing event today so thought that it may be worth a look. Fair to say that the temperatures had dropped quite considerably and although it was lovely clear skies with little wind, it was rather bitingly cold.
On arrival at the reserve I found it packed with families with young kids there to see the BTO folk carrying out the ringing, which is nice to see.


I got there in time to see the arrival for ringing of some Great Tit

A nice male adult Blackbird

 And another Tit

The BTO were allowing the young kids, under strict supervision, to release the birds again once they had been weighed, measured, ringed and recorded.


To be fair, the racket was doing my head in, and as the Visitor Centre is under refurbishment I couldn't even get in for a cup of tea to the temporary tea-room so it was down to the hides for a look.


First spot was a Kestrel which was sitting on a fence post. It was being strafed by two crows so kept moving along the post until it finally got peace to settle.

A bit far away for my lens but we gave it a go anyway.


On the other side of the hide two Buzzards appeared, settling down for a long rest

To be fair, other than a number of Whooper Swans and the usual collection of Carrion Crows, the 2 x Grey Heron and the various Finches, there was not much else to see. Sadly the White Tailed Eagles, which are still around somewhere had retired out of view.


Well that was it and after a coffee (benefits of a flask), it was time for home.


Big Garden Birdwatch tomorrow so we'll see what that brings