BTO Garden BirdWatch 13-19 January 2008

Horribly dull, dark, wet and windy days for what seems like forever now. Not much sunshine at all...

We either have a new Sparrowhawk visiting the garden, or he's the usual one and he's upped his game - I saw him catch two birds on Wednesday, and one on Thursday. I know he has to eat, blah blah blah, but I don't want to make it easy for him, so I'm going to try moving his target feeder down to the bottom border where he *might* find it a bit trickier. I couldn't quite make out what he caught - but I think they were Siskins on each occasion. He's also taken to sitting on top of the bird table frequently.

Still no activity in the bird box.

1. Blackbird - 10
2. Siskin - 16
3. Chaffinch - 14
4. Song Thrush - 1
5. Blue Tit - 1
6. Woodpigeon - 13 (lol)
7. Collared Dove - 3
8. Coal Tit - 1
9. Goldfinch - 4
10. Greenfinch - 9
11. Carrion Crow - 1
12. Nuthatch - 1
13. Sparrowhawk - 1
14. Wren - 1
15. Blackcap - 1 (male)

*test*

BTO Garden BirdWatch 30 Dec - 5 Jan 2008

There was a light covering of snow for a couple of days this week.

1. Blackbird - 7
2. Goldfinch - 6
3. Greenfinch - 8
4. Blue Tit - 6
5. Chaffinch - 20
6. Woodpigeon - 4
7. Siskin - 5
8. Nuthatch - 1
9. Robin - 1
10. House Sparrow - 5
11. Black-headed Gull - 1
12. Carrion Crow - 1
13. Starling - 3

Nothing but dark, wet days so far this year, so no chance of any photos.

There's been no activity in or around the bird box.


Grrr.

BTO Garden Birdwatch 23-29 December 2007

1. Goldfinch (4)
2. Blackbird (15)
3. Chaffinch (12)
4. Starling (5)
5. House Sparrow (2)
6. Robin (3)
7. Black-headed Gull (9)
8. Greenfinch (4)
9. Woodpigeon (5)
10. Song Thrush (1)
11. Nuthatch (1)
12. Dunnock (1)
13. Carrion Crow (2)
14. Blue Tit (3)
15. Sparrowhawk (1)
16. Wren (1)

BTO Garden BirdWatch 16-22 December 2007

Big list this week thanks to the very cold weather...

1. Blackbird (14)
2. Chaffinch (32)
3. Greenfinch (7)
4. Goldfinch (6)
5. Robin (3)
6. House Sparrow (4)
7. Starling (26)
8. Carrion Crow (2)
9. Feral Pigeon (2)
10. Blue Tit (3)
11. Nuthatch (1)
12. Woodpigeon (4)
13. Wren (1)
14. Great Spotted Woodpecker (1)
15. Dunnock (1)
16. Pied Wagtail (1)
17. Song Thrush (1)
18. Yellowhammer (1)
19. Jackdaw (1)
20. Black-headed Gull (9)
21. Great Tit (1)
22. Collared Dove (1)
23. Sparrowhawk (1)
24. Fieldfare (1)
25. Siskin (1)

BTO Garden Birdwatch 9 - 15 December 2007

1. Greenfinch (4)
2. Woodpigeon (4)
3. Blackbird (2)
4. Chaffinch (8)
5. House Sparrow (2)
6. Goldfinch (2)
7. Robin (1)
8. Blue Tit (3)
9. Nuthatch (1)
10. Feral Pigeon (2)
11. Dunnock (1)
12. Pied Wagtail (1)
13. Collared Dove (1)
14. Coal Tit (1)
15. Wren (1)
16. Song Thrush (1)
17. Carrion Crow (1)
18. Starling (4)

BTO Garden BirdWatch 2 - 8 December 2007

Greenfinch (6)
Goldfinch (7)
Chaffinch (9)
Woodpigeon (3)
Blackbird (2)
Blue Tit (2)
Pied Wagtail (1)
House Sparrow (5)
Coal Tit (1)
Sparrowhawk (1)
Robin (1)
Dunnock (1)


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

For more information on the BTO's Garden BirdWatch survey click here

BTO Garden BirdWatch 25 Nov - 1 Dec 2007

The garden is still very quiet at the moment with most of the activity coming first thing in the morning, with very little then happening until just before dusk. This makes it a) a bit boring to watch, and b) not very good for taking photos!

We've had a few visits to the bird box from Blue Tits, but they're going no further than the entrance at the moment.

As there's nothing to tell, I thought I'd start blogging the BTO Garden Birdwatch lists again, or I might lose the will to blog!

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

1. Starling (2)
2. Chaffinch (9)
3. Greenfinch (4)
4. Robin (1)
5. Woodpigeon (4)
6. Blue Tit (1)
7. Goldfinch (8)
8. Pied Wagtail (1)
9. Wren (1)
10. House Sparrow (6)
11. Nuthatch (1)
12. Blackbird (1)
13. Dunnock (1)

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!)

BTO Garden BirdWatch 24-30 June 2007

We've had two new garden year ticks this week: on Sunday 24 we had our first Nuthatch of the year, and then on Thursday 28 we had a juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker feeding on the peanuts at the bottom of the garden.

In order of appearance:

1. Nuthatch (1 - garden year tick)
2. Great Tit (1 - juvenile)
3. Chaffinch (22)
4. Greenfinch (15)
5. Blackbird (5)
6. Starling (20)
7. Pheasant (1 - male)
8. Goldfinch (4)
9. Woodpigeon (4)
10. Collared Dove (3)
11. Siskin (2)
12. House Sparrow (25)
13. Blue Tit (2 - adult and juvenile)
14. Great Spotted Woodpecker ( 1 - juvenile GYT)
15. Jackdaw (2)
16. Song Thrush (1 - juvenile)
17. Carrion Crow (1)
18. Pied Wagtail (1)
19. Dunnock (1 - juvenile)

Juvenile Greenfinch

1. 

For more information on the BTO's Garden BirdWatch Project visit: http://www.bto.org/gbw/GBW_PROJECT_INVOLVED.htm


Our Garden Year List currently looks like this:

(in order of appearance)

1. Robin
2. Chaffinch
3. Greenfinch
4. Goldfinch
5. wren
6. Blackbird
7. Collared Dove
8. Woodpigeon
9. Starling
10. Blue Tit
11. Sparrowhawk
12. House Sparrow
13. Dunnock
14. Jackdaw
15. Black-headed Gull
16. Song Thrush
17. Pied Wagtail
18. Siskin
19. Blackcap
20. Chiffchaff
21. Long-tailed Tit
22. Great Tit
23. Yellowhammer
24. Feral Pigeon
25. Carrion Crow
    
26. Pheasant
27. Nuthatch
28. Great Spotted Woodpecker

Overhead, and nesting on some of the houses (not ours, unfortunately), we have Swallows and House Martins, though not as many as last year, and the odd flurry of Swifts passing through.

BTO Garden BirdWatch 1-7 April 2007

1. Siskin (1)
2. Robin (1)
3. Greenfinch (7)
4. Goldfinch (6)
5. Chaffinch (12)
6. Woodpigeon (3)
7. Blackbird (2)
8. Blue Tit (box visit on Monday) (1)
9. Dunnock (1)
10. Starling (2)
11. House Sparrow (2)
12. Great Tit (box visit Weds) (1)
13. Wren
14. Song Thrush (1)
15. Collared Dove (2)

There have been no more visits to the nest box since the Great Tit on Wednesday. I have placed both moss and sheeps' wool in the garden to try and tempt them, but neither have been touched at all so far. Perhaps nest building is yet to commence north of the border!

BTO Garden BirdWatch 25-31 March 2007

1. Woodpigeon (3)
2. Robin (1)
3. Wren (1)
4. Siskin (2)
5. Goldfinch (6)
6. Greenfinch (12)
7. Chaffinch (20)
8. Blackbird (1)
9. Starling (2)
10. Blue Tit (2)
11. Blackcap ( 1 male)
12. House Sparrow (1)
13. Great Tit ( 1 - year tick)

Finally noted the first Great Tit of the year in the garden on Friday.

BTO Garden BirdWatch 18-24 March 2007

1. Woodpigeon (5)
2. Jackdaw (2)
3. Goldfinch (6)
4. Chaffinch (47)
5. Greenfinch (17)
6. Chiffchaff (1)
7. Long-tailed Tit (1)
8. Blue Tit (1)
9. Blackcap (1)
10. Song Thrush (1)
11. Robin (1)
12. Siskin (2)
13. House Sparrow (1)

Current status of Nest Cam Box: Empty

BTO Garden BirdWatch 11 - 17 March 2007

1. Blackbird (2)
2. Woodpigeon (3)
3. Blackcap (1)
4. Goldfinch (5)
5. Greenfinch (16)
6. Chaffinch (26)
7. Starling (1)
8. Dunnock (2)
9. Wren (1)

The single male Blackcap has been a daily visitor to the garden since he put in his first appearance last Wednesday.

BTO Garden BirdWatch 4-10 March 2007

1. Goldfinch (6)
2. Greenfinch (15)
3. Chaffinch (26)
4. Woodpigeon (4)
5. Blackcap (1)
6. Robin (1)
7. Blue Tit (1)
8. Blackbird (1)
9. Song Thrush (1)
10. Collared Dove (1)

BTO Garden BirdWatch 25 Feb - 3 March 2007

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

1. Chaffinch (37)
2. Greenfinch (23)
3. Goldfinch (6)
4. Starling (12)
5. Woodpigeon (3)
6. Blue Tit (1)
7. Blackbird (2)
8. Siskin (2)
9. Sparrowhawk (1)
10. House Sparrow (2)

Today, Monday, is cold ( currently 6°C) and gusty. I am yet to see any activity around our nest box, or any of the others that I can see from the back garden. I have started to collect sheeps' wool from a barbed wire fence we pass regularly for any birds to take as nesting material. It was popular last year with tits and House Sparrows.

Lets have a look in the bird box, shall we?

Very empty at the moment - and has been since October/November last year when we had an overnight rooster for a week (Oct) and a fleeting visit in the daytime (Nov).

BTO Garden BirdWatch 19-25 February 2007

1. Chaffinch (13)
2. Woodpigeon (3)
3. Blackbird (3)
4. Greenfinch (10)
5. Goldfinch (6)
6. Starling (5)
7. Sparrowhawk (1 - no kill)
8. Blue Tit (1)
9. Pied Wagtail (1)
10. Jackdaw (1)
11. Wren (1)
12. Siskin (1)
13. Dunnock (1)
14. House Sparrow (2)

On Tuesday the male Sparrowhawk landed on the feeder pole near the kitchen window but, despite my very subtle movements trying to pick the camera up, had his beady eye on me the whole time and flew off before I got a pic. I may have forced him up the garden a little bit because I've put a row of garden canes next to the main feeding station to slow him down a little and give the finches more time to get away!

There has been no activity in the bird box yet. I can see four other nest boxes from our back garden and none of them have had any interest so far. We're missing the sunny days which seem to kick-start the interest in house-hunting!

We had a very close encounter with a Buzzard on Saturday - a bit too close: it hit the car. Eek. He was OKAY though. He clipped his wing on the corner of the roof but carried on flying and landed in some trees.

Hoping to get some proper updates done this week. Activity has increased slightly this week, and so my activity will decrease :o)

BTO Garden BirdWatch 11-18 February 2007

1. Blackbird (2)
2. Blue Tit (1)
3. Chaffinch (12)
4. Robin (1)
5. Woodpigeon (4)
6. Wren (1)
7. Black-headed Gull (4)
8. Jackdaw (1)
9. Goldfinch (7)
10. Greenfinch (5)
11. Starling (9)
12. Dunnock (1)
13. House Sparrow (1)

BTO Garden BirdWatch 4-10 February 2007

1. Robin (2)
2. Blackbird (4)
3. Woodpigeon (4)
4. Wren (2)
5. Goldfinch (5)
6. Blue Tit (1)
7. Chaffinch (15)
8. Greenfinch (4)
9. Starling (9)
10. House Sparrow (2)
11. Dunnock (1)
12. Pied Wagtail (1)
13. Black-headed Gull (2)
14. Sparrowhawk (1 - caught Goldfinch)
    

BTO Garden BirdWatch 28-03 February 2007

We hit another very quiet spell in the garden this week:

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

1. Woodpigeon (2)
2. Chaffinch (7)
3. Greenfinch (8)
4. Goldfinch (3)
5. Blackbird (2)
6. Robin (1)
7. Sparrowhawk (1)
8. Wren (1)
9. House Sparrow (1)

BTO Garden BirdWatch 21-27 January 2007

1. Woodpigeon (6)
2. Chaffinch (12)
3. Blackbird (4)
4. Goldfinch (7)
5. Greenfinch (8)
6. Blue Tit (3)
7. House Sparrow (2)
8. Dunnock (1)
9. Robin (1)
10. Song Thrush (1)
11. Straling (20)
12. Collared Dove (2)
13. Pied Wagtail (1)
14. Siskin (1)
15. Sparrowhawk (1)
16. Black-headed Gull (4)
    

BTO Garden BirdWatch 14-20 January 2007

The figure in brackets shows the highest count for that species seen in the garden at any one time this week.

1. Greenfinch (20)
2. Goldfinch (5)
3. Woodpigeon (5)
4. Dunnock (2)
5. Starling (35)
6. Jackdaw (5)
7. House Sparrow (1)
8. Blackbird (4)
9. Wren (1)
10. Robin (2)
11. Chaffinch (50)
12. Blue Tit (1)
13. Black-headed Gull (5)
14. Sparrowhawk (1)
    

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.

BTO Garden BirdWatch 29 October - 4 November

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

Starling (16)
Woodpigeon (2)
House Sparrow (5)
Chaffinch (12)
Dunnock (1)
Greenfinch (18)
Goldfinch (1)
Robin (1)
Coal Tit (1)
Blue Tit (1)

The roosting Blue Tit last used the nest box overnight on Monday.

We've had one or two sick birds in the garden most days this week; I am unable to tell if they're the same ones each day. Affected birds have been Greenfinches and Chaffinches.

Our hedgehog is still busy taking the straw I leave near-by into his winter residence! I will keep leaving bedding outside until he decides he's got enough. He knows better than me!

I am hoping the colder weather will bring back our Siskins and Blackbirds - all of whom seem to have be absent for a very long time!

There won't be many updates next week as Birdboy and I are away from Wednesday to Sunday. I will be leaving instructions for Birdman to fill the bird feeders and leave bedding for the hog!

BTO Garden BirdWatch 22-28 October

The number in brackets shows the highest number recorded at any one time this week:

Chaffinch (16)
Greenfinch (10)
House Sparrow (8)
Dunnock (1)
Starling (60+)
Blue Tit (1)
Sparrowhawk (1)
Robin (1)
Goldfinch (2)
Woodpigeon (2)
Collared Dove (2)


Highlight of the week was a new local patch tick at the Hirsel - a Dipper! Spotted him from the bridge over the Leet Water near to the Hirsel House. It's about time I got my local patch list sorted out! I'll work on that this week!

There's still no sign of The Lodger. Hopefully he'll return to the nest box once the weather gets colder.

BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch 15-21 October

Chaffinch (10)
Greenfinch (14)
House Sparrow (3)
Dunnock (1)
Goldfinch (3)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1)
Woodpigeon (1)
Blue Tit (3)
Sparrowhawk (1)
Wren (1)
Robin (1)
Carrion Crow (1)


The Lodger hasn't roosted in the box since 17th October.

The Sparrowhawk landed in the garden today long enough, and close enough, for me to reel off a dozen-or-so close-up photos. Most pleased as I'd waited so long for this opportunity! Thought I'd blog them all tonight. Once the hawk flew off (with no dinner, as usual) I had a look back at what I'd just managed to get .... and discovered there was no memory card in the camera ...

BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch 1-7 October

Greenfinch (26 - highest number recorded at any one time this week)
Chaffinch (23)
House Sparrow (15)
Woodpigeon (2)
Goldfinch (2)
Dunnock (2)
Blue Tit (2)
Coal Tit (1)
Starling (8)
Robin (1)
Collared Dove (1)
Pied Wagtail (1)

The Siskins have been absent now for 8 weeks and the Pheasants have been absent for 15 weeks. I wonder when they will return?

We still have hedgehogs in the garden - we can see the tracks they leave at the side of the house where we deliberately leave the grass to grow long - but no takers of Hog House as yet.

Bag o' shite Blogger won't let me upload my photos again.

Birdman has the week off and If I can peel myself out of my pit in the morning, we have a trip to Loch Leven planned.

More Garden Randomness

Here's the sick Greenfinch (taken yesterday). I have emptied and cleaned the water dish each time she's been on it.

And here she is compared to a healthy Greenfinch - her larger 'fluffed-up' size is very apparent. Both pictures were taken yesterday. She hasn't been seen today.

Our Robin lands on his favourite look-out post
Male Chaffinch
Woodpigeon. I like these. They vacuum up the mess :o)
Female Greenfinch
Proving difficult to photograph, as usual. The Blue Tits are rarely still ...
... and when they are, they turn away!

Fighting again. Tsk!

Of all our garden birds, these Greenfinches are probably the most quarrelsome - closely followed by the Goldfinches.

BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch 24-30 September

Chaffinch (15)
Greenfinch (10)
Blue Tit (1)
House Sparrow (12)
Robin (1)
Goldfinch (1)
Dunnock (2)
Coal Tit (1)
Starling (44)
Woodpigeon (2)

The Swallows and House Martins are still around, but in very small numbers.

I have placed a feeding pole near the kitchen window in the hope of getting some new and better photos of the Blue/Great and Coal Tits - so hopefully at least one of those will turn up at some point this week.

BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch 17-23 September

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

Greenfinch (14)
Chaffinch (13)
House Sparrow (5)
Blue Tit (2)
Collared Dove (1)
Starling (c.65)
Woodpigeon (4)
Robin (1)
Goldfinch (2)

BTO/CJ Garden Birdwatch 10-16 September

The figure in brackets shows the maximun number of that species recorded in the garden at any one time over the past week ...

Long-tailed Tit (3)
Blue Tit (1)
Chaffinch (8)
Greenfinch (6)
Robin (1)
House Sparrow (5)
Woodpigeon (1)
Goldfinch (1)
Coal Tit (1)
Starling (15)
Collared Dove (1)
Great Tit (1)

BTO/CJ Garden Birdwatch 3-9 September

Nothing much to report for the past week:

Blue Tit (4)
Greenfinch (9)
Chaffinch (11)
House Sparrow (10)
Starling (c.60)
Robin (1)
Blackbird (1)
Woodpigeon (1)

Woke up to a very cold morning on Friday (3.5C) and found hedgehog tracks through the dew on the lawn. No hogs have taken up residence in the hog house yet.

A Robin has been here daily, singing on the fence, among the sunflowers and on top of the hanging feeders.

The four Blue Tits on Sunday morning were all juveniles.

BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch 27 Aug - 2 Sept

A low number of species recorded in the garden this week - around half the average.

There was a surprise visit from around 75 Starlings on Friday - probably foraging for leather jackets in the lawn.

We had a walk out to the lighthouse in Berwick on Friday afternoon, and stupidly I forgot to take my binoculars. Not so much happening bird-wise but I did note Common Tern (love watching them dive bomb headlong into the sea and come back up with a catch!), Eider, Common Scoter, distant Cormorant (or possibly Shag - must remember bins next time!) and a distant LBJ, on the walls surrounding the lighthouse before we reached it, which I think was a Rock Pipit but it was too far away for a positive ID.

Must go again with the telephoto lens as the terns were very close at times.

The poor garden list for the week:

Blue Tit (2)
Starling (c.75)
Chaffinch (20)
Greenfinch (11)
Woodpigeon (1)
Coal Tit (1)
Goldfinch (1)

A Full BTO Garden BirdWatch Year

At last! I have now completed a full year of garden observations for the BTO Garden BirdWatch survey. Click on the picture to see the full-sized version.

The first column shows the species, the second shows how many times the species was recorded out of 52 weeks and the last column shows the reporting rate percentage.

i.e House Sparrows were recorded every week of the year so the reporting rate is 100%

Feral Pigeon, Goldcrest (two visits in one week), Nuthatch and Tree Sparrow all come in joint last place with one record each - 2%.

Click the pics. The charts are screen grabs from my BTO online membership.

"Common Species"


"Scarcer Species"

BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch 20-26 August

Starling (20)
Blue Tit (2)
House Sparrow (30)
Greenfinch (5)
Chaffinch (3)
Robin (1)
Chiffchaff (1)
Woodpigeon (2)
Blackbird (2)
Coal Tit (1)
Goldfinch (1)
Jackdaw (1)

More information on the BTO's Garden BirdWatch can be found here.

Our garden lists (birds & butterflies - moths coming soon!) can be found here

BTO/CJ Garden Birdwatch 13-19 August

No posts this week - mainly due to what was practically week-long rain.

Garden list this week:


House Sparrow (10)
Robin (1)
Greenfinch (5)
Chaffinch (15)
Blackbird (1)
Woodpigeon (1)
Starling (6)
Collared Dove (1)
Great Tit (1)
Blue Tit (2)
Siskin (1)
Pied Wagtail (1)

I don't mention them very often, but the Tawny Owls continue to call and hoot most nights.

We've been over to Glentress Forest today but there was nothing to report from there other than a(nother) Willowchiff near the cafe. I need to take a crash course in Warbler recognition!

Chiffchaff

Willow Warbler

Wood Warbler

Photos borrowed from:
Here
Here
and here

BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch 6-12 August

1. House Sparrow (20)
2. Siskin (1)
3. Woodpigeon (2)
4. Goldfinch (1)
5. Chaffinch (5)
6. Greenfinch (3)
7. Robin (1)
8. Pied Wagtail (1)
9. Blue Tit (2)
10. Starling (10)
11. Blackbird (1)
12. Dunnock (1)
13. Chiffchaff (1 - No positive ID - could've been a Willow Warbler but I'm going with my gut instinct!)

BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch 30 July -5 August

Another quite uneventful week in the garden, birdwise. Highlights this week were a male Sparrowhawk (on Friday) making his c.21st visit to the garden - he's yet to make a kill. Perhaps he chases the birds out of the garden and then catches them away from my sensitive eyes :o)

We had two juvenile Blue Tits and a single juvenile Great tit - all on Thursday.

Also on Thursday we had a rather rushed visit by twenty Starlings: They landed, foraged in the lawn (presumably for vine wevil larvae?) for around twenty seconds and then flew off as quickly as they arrived!

House Martins are in great numbers above the house. Swallows less so, but still good. The Swallows nesting above the front door of the house across the road are on their third brood, and the House Martins nesting on the house next to that one are on their second brood. Some days they are swooping in, out and over our garden so much I'm surprised one hasn't collided with me! Of course, they never land in the garden so I don't include them in the BTO survey. They are on my personal garden list as 'fly overs'.

1. Greenfinch (3)
2. Chaffinch (10 - last few weeks has been predominately female, but males are now returning)
3. Siskin (2)
4. Woodpigeon (2)
5. Blackbird (4)
6. House Sparrow (15)
7. Great Tit (1)
8. Goldfinch (1)
9. Blue Tit (2)
10. Starling (20)
11. Sparrowhawk (1 male)

Over:

Oystercatcher (4)
Swallow
House Martin

BTO/CJ Garden Birdwatch 9-16 July

1. Blue Tit (3 - fledglings)
2. Dunnock (2 - parent & baby)
3. Blackbird (2)
4. House Sparrow (12)
5. Starling (3)
6. Chaffinch (7)
7. Greenfinch (5)
8. Goldfinch (1)
9. Siskin (2)
10. Woodpigeon (2)
11. Collared Dove (1)

BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch 2-8 July

Not much garden watching happened this week, but the highlight came on Saturday morning when three baby Siskins arrived with their Dad and fed near the kitchen door.

Another visitor on Saturday morning was a baby Blue Tit who fed, somewhat acrobatically, on the peanut ball feeder.

We haven't recorded a Pheasant in the garden for four weeks now.

We abandoned our plan to attract and photograph moths last night due to quite high winds - it's windy again this evening so it might be abandoned again!

1. Greenfinch (5)
2. Chaffinch (10)
3. House Sparrow (10)
4. Blackbird (4)
5. Woodpigeon (5)
6. Siskin (4)
7. Goldfinch (1)
8. Dunnock (1)
9. Blue Tit (1)
10. Collared Dove (1)
11. Starling (5)

BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch 25 June - 1 July

The highlight in the garden this week was, of course, the juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker who visited on Thursday. He or she appeared just in time for me to take part in the BTO's GSW Survey which is being run in conjunction with Radio 4's Shattered Earth programme. More information on the survey can be seen here.

Whilst mowing the lawn earlier this week I found some hedgehog poo - so we watched the garden that night and sure enough we have an adult hedgehog visiting us. Tonight he gets some dog food! The number of mammals recorded in our garden is currently very low: Only hedgehog and rabbit. We have also had one single toad.

I found a two-spotted ladybird on one of Birdboy's sunflowers.

I received this year's Mammals on Roads Survey forms from the Mammals Trust UK this week. The survey runs from July to September and I record all roadkill seen on any journey longer than 20 miles. More info on the survey can be found on this page here. It sounds a bit grim, but it gives the Mammals Trust a good idea of which mammals are where and how well they are doing. Also, if they get many deaths recorded on a single stretch of road they may put up warning signs.

I think the only survey I don't do is the National Shopper's Survey. I'm too busy doing other surveys ;o)

1. Greenfinch (5)
2. Chaffinch (8)
3. Siskin (2)
4. Blackbird (6)
5. Woodpigeon (3)
6. House Sparrow (5)
7. Starling (8)
8. Dunnock (1)
9. Blue Tit (1)
10. Pied Wagtail (1)
11. Goldfinch (2)
12. Great Spotted Woodpecker (1)
13. Collared Dove (1)
14. Jackdaw (1)
15. Sparrowhawk (1)

BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch Survey 18-24 June

We have had a good number of Blackbirds this week - 3 male, 3 female and 2 juveniles all fighting over some muesli on and around the ground feeder. Two are instantly recognisible: Maddie, a young female who follows me around the garden waiting for me to throw her any worms I find, and also Scrap, a scruffy adult male.

The Sparrowhawk visited whilst Birdboy and I were playing in the sand pit - he made a swift manoeuvre as soon he saw us and left straight away - empty-clawed as usual.

We currently have a bold Dunnock who lets me get to within a couple of feet of him before he beats a retreat!

No Pheasant recorded this week, but maybe he visited whilst I wasn't looking.

Despite the huge reduction in numbers visiting, we are still going through 50lb of sunflower hearts in a month - I may have stretched it out by an extra week this time as I have had more nuts in the garden than usual.

1. Chaffinch (8)
2. Greenfinch (5)
3. Blackbird (8)
4. Siskin (2)
5. House Sparrow (5)
6. Jackdaw (2)
7. Goldfinch (2)
8. Starling (8)
9. Sparrowhawk (1)
10. Woodpigeon (4)
11. Dunnock (1)
12. Blue Tit (4)
13. Collared Dove (2)

For more info on the BTOs Garden BirdWatch click here

For our complete garden bird list click here

BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch Survey 11-17 June

Last Monday I noted on my survey results that our Sparrowhawk had been absent for two weeks - and what happens? He turns up the very next day and leaves empty handed as per usual!

Fledglings/juveniles noted in the garden so far this season: Blackbirds, Starlings, Collared Dove, House Sparrows, Greenfinches, Pheasants and ... Blue Tit! It was a very fleeting glimpse (actually the call that alerted me) so I hope s/he'll be back with siblings sometime soon!

There hasn't been much garden watching going on (or anything else for that matter) due to serious World Cup and Big Brother commitments, but normal service will resume shortly!

1. Blackbird (4)
2. Greenfinch (8)
3. House Sparrow (5)
4. Starling (18)
5. Woodpigeon (4)
6. Chaffinch (7)
7. Collared Dove (1)
8. Goldfinch (2)
9. Blue Tit (1)
10. Sparrowhawk (1)
11. Jackdaw (2)
12. Siskin (1)
13. Robin (1)
14. Pied Wagtail (1)
15. Pheasant (1)
16. Coal Tit (1)

BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch Survey 4-10 June

Last week was possibly the quietest week we've seen in the garden so far. We had blazing sunshine all week with no rain but the occasional wind. The exceptionally good weather kept the birds right down to a minimum. The most regular visitors at the moment are baby Blackbirds - we seem to have three in the garden at any one time.

The Swallows and Housemartins are still increasing in numbers - and a few more nests are appearing on neighbouring houses - not ours though, typically!

The Sparrowhawk has been absent for a couple of weeks now but I'm not complaining - I like my baby Blackbirds!

We drove over to Lilliesleaf Nursery and Ford Nursery on Saturday morning (before the match!) and bought some bedding plants (for instant colour!) and perennials (mainly tall late flowering).

1. Blackbird (5)
2. Woodpigeon (2)
3. Chaffinch (1)
4. Greenfinch (1)
5. House Sparrow (5)
6. Starling (21)
7. Goldfinch (1)
8. Siskin (2)
9. Robin (1)
10. Great Tit (1)
11. Blue Tit (1)
12. Pheasant (3, male with two babies)
    

Over:

Swallow
Housemartin
Oystercatcher

Our complete and up-to-date garden bird list can been viewed here

BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch Survey 28 May - 3 June

Really low numbers recorded this week due to very limited garden watching!

1. Siskin (2)
2. Greenfinch (5)
3. Chaffinch (3)
4. Goldfinch (2)
5. Woodpigeon (4)
6. Blackbird (4)
7. House Sparrow (2)
8. Pheasant (1)
9. Starling (4)
10. Robin (1)
11. Blue Tit (1)
12. Pied Wagtail (1)

BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch Survey 21-27 May

Fledglings are now starting to turn up regularly in the garden. On Thursday we had the first House Sparrow fledglings and on Friday we had a juvenile Collared Dove and a family of six baby Greenfinch - and judging by the way they were flying around the garden and almost crash landing in the trees, on the feeders and on the lawn I think they had left the nest just a few hours earlier. I wonder if one of our Pheasants will bring his family at some point?

1. Siskin (6)
2. Greenfinch (12)
3. House Sparrow (5)
4. Chaffinch (10)
5. Starling (9)
6. Woodpigeon (6)
7. Robin (1)
8. Dunnock (1)
9. Goldfinch (5)
10. Great Tit (2)
11. Blackbird (4)
12. Pheasant (1)
13. Jackdaw (5)
14. Collared Dove (1)
15. Carrion Crow (4)
16. Blue Tit (1)

Today (Saturday) we started reshaping and tidying the border edges. We were joined several times by a female Blackbird waiting for worms, and also the Great Tit from Thursday, who I now know is female, who was back looking for sunflower seeds behind the bench. Neither bird showed any fear and was quite happy to hop around us as we dug the garden.

Reshaping the border. These borders were only planted last July so are still very young.

You may be able to make out the trellis at the top of the border; this is where my sweet peas are growing (slowly!).

I now have a little bit more space to add something new! This is as far as we got today. We're about 1/3 done on this side of the garden!


This post is dated Friday as I started creating it yesterday and then saved it as draft when I realised it wasn't Saturday yet!- Birdman had the day off so I got confused with my days!

BTO/CJ Garden Birdwatch Survey 14-20 May

Sixteen species have been recorded this week - a bit better than last week's eleven!

A Pied Wagtail arrived on Friday - the first one recorded in 7 weeks. Up to four Pied Wagtails were daily visitors throughout the autumn and winter months.

On Saturday evening (talk about leaving it till the last minute!) we finally saw the return of a Blue Tit to the garden - they have been absent from the garden for the past four weeks.

I have noticed this week that one of our Great Tits has taken a liking to our red currant shrub now that it is covered in leaves and flowers. Hopefully this will result in more frequent visits.

1. Woodpigeon (4)
2. Greenfinch (15)
3. Chaffinch (6)
4. Blackbird (3)
5. House Sparrow (3)
6. Goldfinch (3)
7. Starling (5)
8. Robin (1)
9. Siskin (5)
10. Coal Tit (1)
11. Sparrowhawk (1)
12. Jackdaw (1)
13. Pheasant (1)
14. Great Tit (1)
15. Pied Wagtail (1)
16. Blue Tit (1)

Our complete garden list can be seen here.

For more information about the BTO Garden BirdWatch go here.

BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch Survey 7-13 May

Unsurprisingly, it's been another quiet week in the garden. We have dropped right down to only eleven bird species recorded over the past seven days. My Blue Tits are still AWOL and Great Tit, Wren and Robin are just three of the no-shows. Obviously, now that the garden is so much quieter than the busy winter months I don't 'garden watch' as much.

A new shrub addition to the garden this week: Ceanothus impressus 'Blue Puget'. It's an upright variety and should grow to 6ft x 5ft. I don't know why I like Ceanothus (Californian Lilac) so much, but this is the third one we now have!

I have been growing trailing lobelia from seedlings for the hanging baskets which we have under the front windows. We don't have a greenhouse so they have been grown in the living room on the windowsill. However, they have be getting on my nerves for the past two weeks and then they decided to flower so I've taken a risk and planted them outside in the baskets. I can quite easily bring them in if there's a chance of frost. Hopefully any frosts won't catch us out!

This week's list:

1. Chaffinch (7)
2. Goldfinch (3)
3. 
   
4. Greenfinch (13)
5. Siskin (2)
6. Woodpigeon (6)
7. House Sparrow (2)
8. Coal Tit (1)
9. Starling (1)
10. Sparrowhawk (1, at least 2 visits)
11. Pheasant (1)
12. Blackbird (2)

In addition to the Swallows and House Martins now above the house and garden, I saw three Swifts on 9th May, but haven't seen them since.

Our full and up-to-date garden bird list can be found here.

One-legged Greenfinch, Stumpy