The other thing about the bird count is that different birds come at different times of the day. I usually do mine at intervals through the day to stand a chance of recording my most frequent visitors.
I'm delighted to say a flock of long tailed tits arrived yesterday - such pretty little birds - and a couple of goldfinches, but nowhere near the numbers I've had in previous years.
In anticipation of the actual 'birdcount' weeked, I generally step up the number of feeders, trays etc in the garden. Having had a few days away in Midlands I needed to refill everything depleted during my absence: 10 peanut feeders, 4 seed feeders, 3 fatball hoppers and 3 fatblock hangers all take quite a lot of maintenance. Still the 'birdy' benefits far outweigh the costs - that's what I tell OH....
It is frustrating when a bird that you see every day doesn't turn up but you have to stick with what comes in your alloted time as that bird(s) could be being counted elsewhere?
I have had several frustrating watches and last year was no exception as I had been getting up to 9 Reed Buntings in the garden every single day and for very long periods but during the count from memory I only seen one or two!!
I suppose we could always count all weekend, dividing the individual hours up, and submit the hour with the highest number - if we were feeling that competitive and if we had nothing better to do
I think the birds know their being watched that weekend and go into hiding - our feeders are usually full of birds but never anything much on birdwatch weekend.
Or do you think it's because lots more people are putting food out just for that weekend so they're spoilt for choice and neglect their old haunts?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
After a month in the new house, the birds are finally starting to come into the garden. They're eating the fatballs but the seed feeders are untouched. And so far all I've seen are starlings. But it's a start
I find that I get more birds at the feeders around 9 - 10am when I'm washing up the breakfast things than later in the day, so I'm going to do my count then
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
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The other thing about the bird count is that different birds come at different times of the day. I usually do mine at intervals through the day to stand a chance of recording my most frequent visitors.
I'm delighted to say a flock of long tailed tits arrived yesterday - such pretty little birds - and a couple of goldfinches, but nowhere near the numbers I've had in previous years.
In anticipation of the actual 'birdcount' weeked, I generally step up the number of feeders, trays etc in the garden. Having had a few days away in Midlands I needed to refill everything depleted during my absence: 10 peanut feeders, 4 seed feeders, 3 fatball hoppers and 3 fatblock hangers all take quite a lot of maintenance. Still the 'birdy' benefits far outweigh the costs - that's what I tell OH....
It is frustrating when a bird that you see every day doesn't turn up but you have to stick with what comes in your alloted time as that bird(s) could be being counted elsewhere?
I have had several frustrating watches and last year was no exception as I had been getting up to 9 Reed Buntings in the garden every single day and for very long periods but during the count from memory I only seen one or two!!
Luck of the draw I suppose...
I suppose we could always count all weekend, dividing the individual hours up, and submit the hour with the highest number - if we were feeling that competitive and if we had nothing better to do
I think the birds know their being watched that weekend and go into hiding - our feeders are usually full of birds but never anything much on birdwatch weekend.
Or do you think it's because lots more people are putting food out just for that weekend so they're spoilt for choice and neglect their old haunts?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Dove, think you could be right. We had far less eaten than usual. Fickle I say, just plain fickle
Blackbirds still loving their chopped up windfalls, but why do 3 have to bicker over one piece when there are about twenty bits to pick from!
Because that piece is obviously better than the other pieces - otherwise why would the others want it?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
At last we have got a couple of chaffinches and I haven't seen them for a long time - bet they don't come by for the big count though.
I find that I get more birds at the feeders around 9 - 10am when I'm washing up the breakfast things than later in the day, so I'm going to do my count then
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.