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getting ready for the great Garden Bird Watch

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  • WelshonionWelshonion Posts: 3,114
    The starlings leave one sentry in the tree to call the others when I put out the food. One year I put 46 into the Bird count (it was correct) and the RSPB queried it.



    I think they should ask if you feed the birds, because it makes a great difference to the numbers. Though we have plenty of wrens and wagtails and they never come to the bird table.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,617

    All my birds deserted me on bird count day. I think the neighbours with kids put out food that day,and my birds went to check  out new feeding points. The blackbirds are currently queuing in the magnolia, waiting for breakfast.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,136

    I think you may have sussed it Fidget image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,617

    New restaurant in town, everyone tries it, then goes back to the trusted favourite.image

    I feed the birds all year round. They know where to come in bad weather.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,136

    Same here - but maybe I'll try some new feeds over the next few weeks to keep them on their toes and interested in my garden and not other peoples image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286

    Woke up this morning to see new visitors at the feeders, long tailed tits, lots of them too, a really nice surprise for New Years Day image 

  • Peat BPeat B Posts: 441

    image

     And lo! What have we here ! A New Year  Blue tit, oop t'lotty. Happy new year everyone. 

    About this RSPB bird count. I can identify with all the comments about the birds disappearing on the day, when the day before, there were veritable FLOCKS of whatever you can think of ! Only yesterday, Vee and I counted 4 starlings, 3 dunnocks, 8 spuggies, 4 (?) blue tits, 2 Blackies,(waiting for us!) evidence of pheasants scratching around under the feeders, and, WAIT FOR IT !........ a first timer,   a small group of LONG TAILED TITS ! TA DAHHHHHHH ! It was the first time Vee had seen them live, and only three days ago, I had been wistfully thinking how nice it would be to see some oop t'lotty. All things come to those who wait with good intention. But, RSPB census is the kiss of death for our birds. I do however, send them reports of what turns up whenever an unusual visitor condescends to bestow upon us , it's presence and glory to wor plot.

    So here we go again. Another year of planning ( ho ho ho ho ), digging and preparation for the best, expecting the worst and getting something wonderful where we least expect it. As it Tony Hancock show, 'It's a GAME, isn't it Sid'?

  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286

    Great idea image

    So far today:

    blue tit

    magpie

    great tit

    long-tailed tit

    wagtail

    robin

    sparrow

    jay

    blackbird (they are enjoying some gammon fat I put on Christmas Day)

    collared dove

    starling

    dunnock 

    wren

    I would struggle with a head count, we have so many sitting in the trees and bushes whizzing backwards and forwards to the feeders.

    I started putting out mealworms for the first time yesterday, not much interest yet but I hope they might attract some new species and provide some variety to the regulars.

  • Peat BPeat B Posts: 441

    I forgot, we also had, 3 chaffinches, 2 coal titters, 3 jackdaws, and no fartridges in pear trees, 'cos our pear trees are on final warnings. No fruit, yer out this year !

  • Peat BPeat B Posts: 441

    We put mealworms out on the studio roof every morning, mixed with surplus porridge/ porrage and within minutes, the starlings, spuggies and jackers are swooped down and stuffing themselves.

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