So, here then are the results from the LDNP score-sheet for the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2011 along with my results from previous years. Hope you had a good watch if you partook, I always enjoy the excuse of watching them all for an hour. I don’t seem to have any data from last year….which is strange.
|
2011
|
2009
|
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
|
| Blackbirds |
1
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
| Blue tits |
9
|
5
|
4
|
6
|
8
|
16?
|
7
|
| Chaffinches |
3
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
| Collared D’Oves |
0
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
| Dunnock |
0
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Feral Pigeons |
8
|
4
|
4
|
2
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
| Goldfinches |
2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Great Spotted Woodpecker |
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
| Great tits |
7
|
6
|
4
|
4
|
3
|
7
|
2
|
| Greenfinches |
1
|
4
|
5
|
7
|
9
|
9
|
2
|
| House Sparrows |
1
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
1
|
5
|
8
|
| Jays |
0
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Magpies |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
| Robins |
2
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
| Starlings |
2
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
| Woodpigeons |
2
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
Not quite as much of a change as I was expecting but a few notes, for my future reference as much as anything:
We still have two Blackbirds but Mrs B didn’t turn up during the count.
The number of Blue Tits has been noticably higher since our neighbours (who also fed the birds) moved away. I suspect we’re just getting a larger proportion of the flock now whereas before they were spread over the two gardens.
The Chaffinches remain pretty nervous and don’t often venture to the feeders close to the house.
More Feral Pigeons than ever, presumably because of how messy all the other birds are, the FPs just hoover up the spilt seed and destroy our little lawn in the process as they waddle round in circles waitiung for the seeds to drop!
Only two Goldfinches in the survey and we only usually see two most days but still occasionhally get up to seven.
Just a single Greenfinch and this sadly is the norm these days.
Ditto with the Sparrow.
There’s not often two Robins and indeed they were fighting when I counted them for the survey.
Lovely photo! It's interesting to see your count for this, and previous years.
Disappointing count in my garden. There were lots of fat brown birds but the little bastards kept flying at me out of the sun so I couldn't identify them properly.
Heh, heh, oh yes,they like to do that Foodycat…..tricky blighters those fat brown birds! ;D
For the past couple of years a family of rats has moved in under our conservatory (which is a couple of meters away from the bird table) on the exact weekend of the RSPB Garden Bird Watch. I guess I was overloading the platform with food, in the hope of competing with all the other Bird-Watchers. I always feel my regular birds are staying away from my garden on Bird Watch day because they've been lured by better food put out by local RSPB members! Anyway, the pest control man told me I couldn't keep calling him out like this every last week of January. So since last winter I have mostly stopped putting out bird food altogether. Hence, even less to spot on the Day. There is hope, however. During the really cold snap at the start of winter a family of rats moved in straight after I put out pizza for the birds on a particularly snowy minus 8 morning. They moved out again three days later though. Our new Pattterdale terrier must have scared them off! I haven't got back into the habit of feeding the birds again, but |I think it will be ok now.
Unfortunately I was too occupied with the paintbrushes, but that and the inability to submit did allow me the freedom to note the high points and amalgamate them all. That leaves me with about 30 starlings, 2 woodpeckers (love the way they chase the starlings off – mind that beak!) 2 robins about 10 goldfinch and 5 chaffinch. Still only one wren, no goldcrest
😉