BTO Garden BirdWatch 12-18 November

The figure in brackets shows the highest number of that species recorded in garden at any one time this week.

Greenfinch (16)
Robin (1)
Chaffinch (10)
Dunnock (1)
House Sparrow (7)
Collared Dove (1)
Sparrowhawk (1)
Blue Tit (1)
Starling (3)
Goldfinch (2)
Black-headed Gull (3)

We had Black-headed Gulls in the garden on Sunday - the first recording since last February. A sign, maybe, that winter is almost here? They were daily visitors last winter.

Our little part-time lodger of the nest box (Blue Tit) put in a very brief appearance on Saturday morning at 8:15am. The image is really bad quality, unfortunately, so I won't bother uploading it. Since having something to look at in the box - and generally paying more attention to it - we have realised the camera is total crap and cannot cope with changes in natural light (the box is an Eshwood box). Birdman is hoping to make a few adjustments: He's hoping to be able to change the camera completely and he also wants to add some lights (LEDs, or something similar) to give the box a constant level of light. I now know the importance of buying a nest cam box with LEDs! Tsk! Wouldn't recommend the one we have unless you are willing to rip the box apart and do some modding!

A Collared Dove had a close encounter with a male Sparrowhawk on Monday - the dove won!

Our hedgehog is still around and still taking leaves and straw into the hog house.