BTO Garden BirdWatch 16-22 September 2007

Things picked up a little last week with a decent number of species having visited the garden by Sunday - although mainly in small numbers. The highlight was on Thursday when a Chiffchaff returned.

I spotted a neighbour's cat a little too late on Friday when it was striding out of the garden with a female Chaffinch in its jaw. Lucky for the cat that I didn't see it in action because I'd have kicked it over the six foot fence quite happily. I had already placed a pile of rambling rose trimmings under the Buddleia where it used to sit, but it must have found somewhere else to hide. Damn thing.

Still haven't cleaned out the birdbox but will do that this week sometime, then give it a clean and make sure everything is still in working order. We may be lucky enough to catch a Blue Tit or Great Tit roosting overnight as the weather gets colder.


Here's how the list looks for last week:

In order of appearance:

1. Nuthatch (1)
2. Starling (17 - highest number at any one time)
3. Collared Dove (4)
4. House Sparrow (43)
5. Woodpigeon (2)
6. Robin (1)
7. Blackbird (1)
8. Chaffinch (15)
9. Greenfinch (1)
10. Goldfinch (2)
11. Siskin (1)
12. Carrion Crow (2)
13. Chiffchaff (1)
14. Blue Tit (2)
15. Dunnock (1)
16. Wren (1)
17. Great Tit (1)

Collared Dove

Starling
House Sparrow

Chaffinch
Blue Tit (always, always have problems photographing these chaps!)

Chaffinch

Thought I'd better do a blog before the month runs out!

It's still very quiet in the garden, but with House Sparrows in great numbers (average flock size of 50).

Our Nuthatch has been a bit of a regular over the past few weeks, and yesterday he (or she?) ignored me while I was in the garden - he fed just six feet away from me, but unfortunately it was a hoe in my hand rather than the camera!

We've had a hedgehog using the Hog Hotel for about three weeks - perhaps he's claiming it ready for the winter. It has been cleaned and restocked with fresh bedding but I'll be leaving some extras outside so he can make it as cosy as he needs it.

Took some pics of the Chaffinches today. All of these were taken through the window, as normal.

And a female House Sparrow