THE BIG GARDEN BIRDWATCH

This year, the garden was once again subject to an hour of bird counting, as the annual RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch survey took place.

Last year the list of birds spotted and counted was as follows (starting with the most seen):

House sparrow – 9

Blackbird – 9

Great tit – 7

Blue tit – 6

Starling – 5

Robin – 4

Magpie – 4

Long tailed tit – 4

Dunnock – 4

Woodpigeon – 3

Goldfinch – 2

Tree sparrow – 2

This year the order changed slightly, and we didn’t see any tree sparrows or woodpigeons. The 2018 order was as follows:

Long tailed tit – 9

House sparrow – 7

Great tit – 4

Dunnock – 4

Goldfinch – 4

Blue tit – 2

Blackbird – 2

Magpie – 2

Wren – 2

Robin – 2

The weather on Saturday wasn’t the best and we did pick a time later in the day, so missed most of the action earlier in the day, hence the lower numbers.

The flock of long tailed tits didn’t disappoint again, and they even managed to outscore the house sparrow.

I’ve not noticed any real difference in the number and type of birds coming into the garden over the last few years, with sightings of tawny owls, sparrowhawks, crows and song thrush, among those who are seen perhaps a couple of times a year.

Among the flora in the garden, the snowdrops, winter rose and crocuses are already flowering, with others, including daffodils and tulips, starting to emerge as green shoots.

While it’s still January, and there’s likely to be more colder and stormy days to come in the next couple of months, the weekend did start to give us a feel of spring – temperatures reach about 14c on Sunday.

Which means it’s time to make sure the bird nest boxes are in good order and ready for any spring guests – particularly the camera nest boxes!

WINTER UNLEASHING FULL FORCE ON THE GARDEN

There’s plenty of severe weather around at the moment, although the garden is mainly being affected by strong winds.

Snow is always an unlikely feature in the garden, but strong and bitterly cold winter winds often whistle through.

With a north-facing garden, a prevailing westerly wind and open farmland to the west of the garden, it often bears the brunt of any Atlantic winter storm.

The smaller birds do have shelter within some parts of the garden, particularly the evergreen hedge and growing ivy, but it’s not ideal.

However, the food put out is gratefully received and quickly consumed in winter’s colder weather.

The apples have been generally eaten by a solitary make blackbird, with the odd small black slug taking advantage.

The blue tits, great tits, robins and house sparrows have been seen regularly recently on the peanut feeder, often reducing it by half in a day. The robin is often in song, seemingly protecting his territory.

They seem to ignore the fat feeders, although the local skulking cats might be playing a part in that.

The fat feeders are in a heavily fortified area, slightly away from a hedge and in a very spiky pyracantha bush – my hands get ripped when I put a new snack in.

Visits from a flock of long tailed tits is still irregular, although this might be more down to the fact most of the time I see the garden in darkness at this time of year.

Still, there’s the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch to do in little over a week, so perhaps that might mean I see more of them.

WINTER WEATHER INCREASING USE OF GARDEN FEEDERS

Hard frosts and cold days have resulted in the garden birds spending more time around the feeders in the garden.

Long tailed tits are now frequenting the garden, suggesting the natural food source is running low.

A flock of around 15-20 house sparrows spent about 30 minutes hoovering up from underneath a feeder, thankfully without any of the local cats noticing.

A pair of blackbirds has been feasting on the apples; with three down and one to go.

The male and female visit separately, but can spend up to an hour (without any disturbance) eating and digesting the fruit.

I do wonder if the fermenting fruit does make them slightly tipsy!

I’ve not checked the nest box cameras since before Christmas but, with the cold weather likely to be around for a while, January is a good time to check in on them and see if any winter roosting is taking place.

Coming back to the feeders around the garden, it’s interesting to see that the peanut seed feeders are finished first, while the fat balls and snacks feeders seem to have much less attention.

This could be down to the fact the former two are easier to pick food up from and move to a place of security, while the fat snacks need them to stick around a feeder for a time.

I could conduct research into this, but unfortunately work and family leave me no time.