Birds - Q1
After four months of the year it's time for an update on my ongoing survey of birds at my home.
In January only three species were present on three-quarters of the days in the month (Wood pigeons, blackbirds and starlings)
By April the number of species had risen to eight (wood pigeons, blackbirds, ring collared doves, house sparrows, rooks, starlings, green finches and hedge sparrows); The wood pigeons and blackbirds show up every day of the year. The bird whose frequency declined the most in April was the magpie from 74% to down to just one occasion.
However the most colourful visitors are the goldfinches
on up to 50% of days, and the occasional bullfinch.
{pictures ex Google Images}
Comments, Pingbacks:
Comment from: wordsmith [Member] 
· www.adbwilliams.co.uk
· www.adbwilliams.co.uk
You are very fortunate to have bullfinches. It is years since we have seen any in our garden.
A couple of years ago when we first started using niger seed at our feeding station we got a lot of goldfinches and they, too, are very attractive, but this year we have seen very few.
We have seen long-tailed tits on several occasions, though, and this year they actually used the feeders rather than just searching the seed heads we leave around the garden.
A couple of years ago when we first started using niger seed at our feeding station we got a lot of goldfinches and they, too, are very attractive, but this year we have seen very few.
We have seen long-tailed tits on several occasions, though, and this year they actually used the feeders rather than just searching the seed heads we leave around the garden.
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2009-05-03 @ 15:42
Comment from: chausiku [Member]
These are stunning. We had a woodpecker outside our 6th floor window last week, but I didn't get to my camera in time...
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2009-05-03 @ 16:49
Comment from: Marilyn Sylvester [Visitor]
Bullfinches are beautiful and overall I've seen a definite increase of finches, tits and sparrows this year, which I'm really pleased about as the sparrows seemed to all but disappear at one point - at least where I live. The dawn chorus wasn't/isn't as lively with chatter - it's still too quiet - it's certainly not like it used to be. Admittedly, I did spot quite a few sparrow hawkes around at the time of their decline - perhaps that was the reason, or my ears need a syringe.
One immense increase which I'm not too happy about is that of the pigeon and dove. They are everywhere!
As for wild flowers - dandelions are everywhere, too. There must be as many dandelions as there are stars in the sky. I don't mind dandelions though - they look like they are imitating/reflecting the sun in miniature.
Another increase and spreading - are mole hills. I wonder if this is a sign of the Earth warming up.
One immense increase which I'm not too happy about is that of the pigeon and dove. They are everywhere!
As for wild flowers - dandelions are everywhere, too. There must be as many dandelions as there are stars in the sky. I don't mind dandelions though - they look like they are imitating/reflecting the sun in miniature.
Another increase and spreading - are mole hills. I wonder if this is a sign of the Earth warming up.
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2009-05-04 @ 09:47
Comment from: Marilyn [Visitor]
According to my husband, the dawn chorus is just as loud and so I must be going deaf.
Spelling corrections:
sparrowhawke - sparrow hawk
mole hills - molehills
I told him that perhaps I can't hear the dawn chorus as a result of his snoring.
Spelling corrections:
sparrowhawke - sparrow hawk
mole hills - molehills
I told him that perhaps I can't hear the dawn chorus as a result of his snoring.
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2009-05-05 @ 12:42
Comment from: jak [Member] · jakill-jeansmusings.blogspot.com
Great pics. God bless Google.
I once saw a great flock of magpies when I was walking in the lane behind my old school in Torquay. They were everywhere; must have been a hundred or more. It was quite scary really. Normally you only see one, or two if you are lucky.
I once saw a great flock of magpies when I was walking in the lane behind my old school in Torquay. They were everywhere; must have been a hundred or more. It was quite scary really. Normally you only see one, or two if you are lucky.
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2009-05-05 @ 20:49
Comment from: linda d [Member] · http://www.writelink.co.uk/blogs/linda
· http://www.writelink.co.uk/blogs/linda
Not strictly garden visitors, but I've been pleased to see lots of house martins and a few swallows darting overhead. (1st swallow sighting this year 23rd April)
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2009-05-06 @ 17:15
Comment from: bob scotney [Member]
I thought I had seen a swallow last week but wasn't sure. I include swallows, house martins and swifts in my survey - the first swallow yesterday and house martins today.
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2009-05-06 @ 19:01