<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning /> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas /> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables /> <w:SnapToGridInCell /> <w:WrapTextWithPunct /> <w:UseAsianBreakRules /> <w:DontGrowAutofit /> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This coming weekend is the annual Big Bird Count for the RSPB. We have been taking part in this for many years, the first of several natural history counts we have participated in. In recent years we have recorded butterflies for Butterfly Conservation and undertaken two surveys for Mammals Trust, one recording sightings and evidence for mammals at our local playing field for the period April to June and this is followed by the longer established survey of road kills. Here you record animals (dead or alive) seen on road trips of over twenty miles and this is done from July to September. Only recording in daylight hours it is still advisable for the driver not to be the spotter on these trips!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Not quite sure what we will record this year for the bird count though. In our front garden a single blackbird has almost taken up residence in the pyracantha in order to keep all the berries for his personal larder. In the back garden we rarely see more than a few sparrows, a couple of robins and occasional starlings, collared doves and jackdaws. We did see a wren one day last week and we hear the call quite often if in the garden but the undergrowth hides them well.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The lack of birds is most likely due to the mild weather as this means food is plentiful and they don&rsquo;t venture into gardens and to bird feeders so readily. We put out a variety of foods and have feeders in different locations but it makes little difference it seems. One thing that may be deterring them is the unusual open nature of the garden &ndash; until today that is. Before Christmas a panel of the fence blew down exposing us to the full view down the farmyard beyond. We arranged for a local chap to do the repairs &ldquo;as and when&rdquo; and that may have been a mistake. Related to the farmer who he knew was not fussed by the lack of fence in this instance the job has been put off and put off until last weekend a new post appeared whilst we were out shopping.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal">At various times during the past week the coping stones have been replaced. Bracing brackets have appeared on the remaining sections of fence and today, equally as mysteriously the fence is back in place. If we hadn&rsquo;t caught the odd glimpse of a retreating figure we may well have blamed the little folk for the work. The lack of fence has left us even more vulnerable to the various cats that reside in every building around us and their presence may well be deterring the birds. Let&rsquo;s hope they realise in time that a relative haven has now been restored complete with first class restaurant.</p>