Early Signs of Spring

Today in Brighton we experienced wall to wall sunshine with cloudless blue skies. Mind you, it was very cold with temperature not getting above 6ºC. It is a hard time for our wildlife particularly the birds that visit my garden, but there are definite signs that Spring is on its way.

I first recorded a male Blackcap in the garden on 26th January, since when it has been in the garden everyday, on the feeders.

He is a particularly aggressive so-and-so, attacking the Goldfinches that are regular visitors to the sunflower seed feeders.

Blackbirds both male and female have been in evidence for more than a week, feeding mostly on the ground. Yesterday, for the first time this year, I spotted a ChiffChaff flitting around the garden.

Like the Blackcap, more and more ChiffChaffs are now over-wintering in the UK, particularly in the South.

Yesterday also produced the first Dunnock sighting this year in the garden.

And the birds all appear to be very busy. A sign of the approaching Spring. I just hope that we can arrive at periods of more clement weather without any further spells of Winter!

Days Like This

Perfect. Sat in my garden enjoying wall-to-wall blue sky, sunshine, 25℃ and a chilled glass of Chardonnay & Fernão Pires from Portugal. A good book lies open on the garden table, the Benedictus from The Armed Man by Karl Jenkins plays on the radio (Classic FM), Goldfinches are singing - their song a mix of trills and harsh notes, bumblebees are showing interest in the aquilegia flowers and a small Holly Blue butterfly drifts through the garden.

Moments to cherish.

Priceless....

Big Garden Birdwatch Results

Back in January, nearly half a million people counted 7.2 million birds over one weekend - counting the wildlife that counts on us. The numbers have been crunched by the RSPB scientists and we can now find out what we all saw.

This year in south-east England (my area) 92,000 people took part in Big Garden Birdwatch. The house sparrow remained the most commonly reported bird, with an average of three in each garden. Blue tits swooped in at number two, appearing in nearly three-quarters of all gardens, whilst the starling was the third most spotted bird.

The Top 10 birds seen in gardens this year were:

1. House Sparrow  2. Blue tit  3. Starling  4. Blackbird  5. Woodpigeon  6. Chaffinch  7. Goldfinch     8. Great tit  9. Collared dove 10. Robin

Starling

Female Blackbird

Goldfinches

Goldfinches have swooped into the number 7 spot. Before 2001 they were amber-listed. They are visiting our gardens more now and are particularly partial to nyjer seed.

For the first time in Birdwatch history the great spotted woodpecker has made it into the top 20.

Despite staying at number 1 spot the house sparrow is a red-listed species. Their numbers are down by 62% since the first Birdwatch.

Starling numbers have plummeted by 84% since the first Birdwatch in 1979. It is another red-listed species. The RSPB is urgently researching the reasons for the decline.

Song thrushes have declined by 81% since the Birdwatch began. They are currently in 21st place and like many of our favourite garden birds remain on the red list.

Some of the rarer garden visitors included Lapwing, Waxwing, Grey partridge, Barn owl and Chiffchaff and probably the rarest visitor in this Big Garden Birdwatch was a Yellow-rumped warbler!! 

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

No, it doesn't mean that you have to have a big garden to participate. 'Big' refers to the extraordinary number of people across the UK who do take part over this weekend. All you need to do is set aside one hour, either today or tomorrow, and record which birds and in what numbers, you see in your garden. Then send your record to the RSPB. This approach requires discipline. So, you start at 10:00am; that means you stop recording at 11:00am. You can almost guarantee that a bird you do not have on your list, suddenly appears at 11:10am. No, you mustn't!

So, I started at 9:00am this morning and almost inevitably birds I have been seeing all week decide to disappear or visit someone else's garden during my nominated hour! So, for what it's worth, here is my record for this morning:

10 x Goldfinch
8 x House Sparrow
2 x Blue tit
2 x Woodpigeon
8 x Starling
1 x Dunnock
2 x Feral Pigeon
1 x White Dove

And I haven't seen a Robin or a Blackbird or a Chaffinch or a Greenfinch or a Thrush - all day!

Weather - Forecast or Fantasy

I should not have taken notice of the local weather forecast this morning: 80% chance of rain all day. So, I postponed my visit to Warnham Nature Reserve and busied myself preparing all the garden bird feeders in readiness for the Big Garden Birdwatch that occurs this weekend. And I did all this in the dry - no sign of rain and it is now 12:30pm. I should have stuck to my original plan. Oh well...

I was watched closely by a Robin as I topped up the feeders - the first Robin I have seen this year. And a juvenile Dunnock showed keen interest in the food that finished up on the ground.

And the Goldfinches got stuck into the sunflower seeds as soon as I disappeared indoors.

Meanwhile I shall have lunch and then continue reading the book about Bletchley Park and the wartime code-breakers......

Inclement Weather for Garden Birds

I worry about the fate of my garden birds during this period of inclement weather: gale-force winds and torrential rain that has seen many households in Sussex, Surrey and Kent without power since 24th December. Another section of my garden fence has been destroyed and feeders have been ripped from their locations in my garden trees.

I replaced everything this morning and topped up the feeders. The weather had subsided somewhat and to my relief my garden birds were back. Goldfinches, House Sparrows, Blue-tits, Starlings, Blackbirds, Dunnocks, a Robin, Jackdaws, Collared Doves, Woodpigeons and Feral Pigeons all availed themselves of the bounty of food available and the water in the two birdbaths. My garden might look a mess but at least the birds are surviving this dreadful weather, although some, I am sure, have perished.

Still have not seen any sight of the Blackcaps though. I keep hoping... 

Late Autumn Garden Birds

Sunrise was at 7:42am today. It will set again at 3:57pm. A daytime of little more than 8 hours. The temperature hovers around 8℃ with a humidity level of 81% and a gentle Northeasterly of 6mph. Not much of a day to be out and about. The garden birds however are very active. Their need for food increases exponentially during these cold, short days.

The local Robin becomes more aggressive, chasing every Dunnock in sight. He is a feisty little so-and-so, determined to keep other birds out of 'his' garden. The Goldfinches devour feeders full of sunflower seeds and drink copiously. Water is just as important for survival. The Starlings are back in force and love the fruit suet pellets. Their antics as they hang onto the feeder is amusing to watch. Last week a small flock of Long-tailed Tits dropped into the lilac tree. These gorgeous humbugs are a joy to see, although an all too infrequent occurrence in my garden.

Over the weekend I dug over some ground at the bottom of the garden which resulted in a considerable number of earthworms coming to the surface. The Blackbirds thought that Christmas had come early.

The bird-table attracts the larger birds including Woodpigeons, Collared Doves, Jackdaws and Feral Pigeons resplendent in iridescent plumage colours. Blue-tits make foraging visits to feeders and the bird-table.

They all brighten up a dull, late Autumn day.

Starling

Jackdaw

Goldfinches

 

Autumn Wildlife to Watch Out For

I am already seeing an increase in the variety of wild birds visiting my garden as Autumn deepens and those foggy, damp days of November will soon be with us. The most numerous bird to the feeders is still the Goldfinch; the Dunnock is now back after several months' absence along with the Robin, several Starlings and Woodpigeons and an occasional pair of Collared Doves.

I am now anticipating the arrival of Blackcaps, those wintering warblers that are fans of high-energy fatballs and suet pellets. In winter, increasing numbers of blackcaps now make the journey here from Germany, while most of our breeding birds head off to Africa. I also love to see flocks of Long-tailed tits. These beautiful humbug-striped tits can often be seen clinging to hanging feeders as they forage in flocks of six or more. One winter I counted fifteen in my garden, albeit briefly.

Visits to deep freshwater sites around Sussex should result in sightings of the delightful Pochard, a duck that arrives here from eastern Europe. The flocks are mainly comprised of males because most females migrate to southern Europe.

Ros and I will be travelling down to Bristol soon for a long weekend and I hope to get some time birding on the Somerset Levels and, if time allows, along Severn Beach.

male Pochard

 

Bird Feeder Battle Zone

The amount of food my garden birds are consuming is increasing daily. I have just spent another £20 ($32) on sunflower seeds and I will be lucky if they last a week. The Goldfinches in particular love this food source and I often count 15 or more of this species at the feeders. Their comings and goings and occasional skirmishes are entertaining but hide the fact that they are in deadly earnest and sometimes have serious outcomes.

Our garden visitors are invariably in competition. The food we leave out is still a limited resource. If a bird is displaced from a feeder, an event which is commonplace in my garden and technically known as a "supplanting attack", it can appear to be a minor incident. The juveniles are often displaced by adult birds. If this happens repeatedly a bird could lose body condition little by little and be vulnerable to a change to colder weather. This is becoming of increasing concern given the forecast that we could be in for the coldest winter for 100 years.

This winter then it will be more important to spice up our watching to appreciate just how important aggression is. Bird feeders seethe with tension and it won't take long to spot it. I am seeing it already. Threatening birds stoop forward, head down (like a charging bull) with the bill open. The threatened bird usually simply flies off. It might also offer an appeasement posture, as finches do, which involves fluffing up the plumage. I have also witnessed the unusual appeasement ritual where the subordinate brings food to a dominant bird and feeds it beak to beak. I saw this only this morning.

Other inherently aggressive signals are more subtle. Watch Blackbirds and Woodpigeons when they land. They often lift the tail up and let it down slowly, both acts drawing attention to the individual.

Our garden birds are wild animals in every sense. Remember that when you top up your feeders. and do keep them replenished during the harsh winter anticipated...

October Garden Birds

It is still pleasantly mild in Brighton for early October. The temperature today is 20℃ and the garden is bathed in sunshine with a light breeze.

Since hanging out feeders containing sunflower seeds at the back end of last year the number of Goldfinches Carduelis carduelis has grown from 2 or 3 in January to a squabbling number of 14 or more today, the 'charm' containing first and second brood juveniles. A delight to watch.

Yesterday we had a solitary Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita flitting around in the lilac tree and the Dunnocks Prunella modularis are back after an absence of several months. A pair of Blue-tits Cyanistes caeruleus are daily visitors and a single Great-tit Parus major makes the occasional brief visit. Starlings Sturnus vulgaris have reappeared over the past few days. They certainly enjoy the fruit flavoured red suet pellets. A number of Woodpigeons Columba polumbus raid the feeders every day and since the beginning of the month a Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto has returned. Herring Gulls Larus argentatus and Jackdaws Corvus monedula are always about although they seldom land in the garden. The Jackdaws though do attack the fat-balls with relish.

Noticeable by their absence at the moment are Blackbird Turdus merula and Robin Erithacus rubecula.

Starlings Gulp, Goldfinches Sip...

Being retired has enormous benefits, not the least that I am able to spend considerable time watching the antics of birds in my garden (without feeling guilty that I have nothing better to do!) I have a number of strategically placed feeders and two bird baths - one hangs in the lilac tree and the other stands on a pedestal. I replace the water regularly.

Watching birds take a bath can be highly amusing, particularly the Starlings Sturnus vulgaris, who can empty a bird bath with their enthusiastic ablutions. Their drinking habits are noticeably different to other birds. Stick their head in the water, throw their neck back, beaks open - and gulp.

Sturnus vulgaris

The Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis on the other hand is rather more dainty, taking gentle sips. And strangely enough I have not yet seen a Goldfinch taking a bath.

Carduelis carduelis

It has been a pleasure this year to see a significant increase in the number of juvenile birds visiting the baths and feeders. Mind you, it's a costly pastime keeping the feeders replenished!

Juvenile Birds - Helping Our Wildlife

My constant vigilance in keeping the bird feeders replenished is paying dividends. For some time now we have enjoyed seeing juvenile Goldfinches and Greenfinches visiting the feeders, particularly those containing sunflower seeds. Today, for the first time, I spotted a juvenile Great Tit, rather grey overall with a shadow of the black streak on the breast developing, and a juvenile Robin, its breast developing a pale pink colour before it will have its full red breast.

So, what is the significance of this? Well, for me it is a clear indication of the need for householders to provide food for our native birds in our gardens, not forgetting the need for water as well. I have two bird baths that are constantly replenished and in continuous use. (Mind you, the rain today has done the job for me).

Today I have recorded Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Starling, Collared Dove and Woodpigeon on the feeders and in the bird baths. They are a joy to watch, are terrible time-wasters and provide me with a certain sense of achievement.

You too can help to reduce the decline of our resident birds. Place a few seed feeders in your garden and add a bird bath. The rewards are very satisfying and you can be assured that you are aiding the survival of birds that might otherwise not make it through the winter.

A world without birds is unthinkable. They need our help...

The Birdwatcher's "Glastonbury"

There are distinct similarities between Birdfair 2013 and Glastonbury festival as Graeme and I discovered on Friday 16th August..... Mud! We travelled by taxi on Friday morning, in pouring rain,  to the Birdfair site. We were suitably attired with boots, hats and an umbrella. But nothing can prepare you for the squelch through fields of thick mud! By the time we reached the admission point our boots were well and truly caked as were our lower trouser legs! But, we had our electronic tickets and soon escaped into the welcome of a very humid marquee...

Once 'inside' the weather is of little consequence. There is a fantastic buzz around the place. This was the first day of the 25th annual Birdfair, the largest and best wildlife fair anywhere in the world. And we were sharing this amazing event with 1,000s of other birdwatchers and wildlife lovers. The inclement weather is soon forgotten.

The 25th fair was huge, attracting almost 350 exhibitors and the most sponsors (24) than ever before. In the first marquee I bumped into David Lindo, writer, broadcaster, speaker and bird guide, aka The Urban Birder. A great character who writes every month in Birdwatching magazine. I would very much like to tour with David on one of his organised birding events.  http://www.theurbanbirder.com

Me with the Urban Birder David Lindo

BTW: you will notice in the photo that I am wearing a rather fine Tilley hemp hat unlike David's rather shabby baseball cap!

One needs a plan to navigate the Birdfair: eight marquees, the art marquee, the optics marquee, three lecture marquees and the catering marquee. So far as the last of these is concerned I am pleased (and relieved) that I managed to visit all the optics manufacturers' stands without adding to my collection of binoculars... (Ros - please note!)

The Isle of Islay stand was well worth a visit not only for the information on tourism and birdwatching opportunities on the island but for the fact that they were providing wee drams of Islay single malt whiskies. Well, it would have been rude to refuse! I also entered a competition to win a holiday to this fabulous location. Fingers crossed...

I always visit the Event Gallery and my favourite wildlife artist, Kay Johns. Her talent is astonishing and once again I had to purchase a piece of her artwork entitled 'The Line Up', a stunning picture of five Belgian Brown Hares. See more of her work here  http://www.theeventgallery.co.uk/default.asp  Last year I bought 'The Mad March Hare', which hangs in my study.

Lynn Hazel is a very talented sculptor of British Wildlife. It is pretty well impossible to visit her stand and not purchase something. I did. A beautiful Goldfinch, which complements the Wren I bought last year. More about Lynn here  http://www.lynnhazel.co.uk

One of the very busy marquees

Clint Banbury creates art that makes you smile. His illustrations have been featured in over a hundred different projects ranging from an Italian poster campaign for Vauxhall cars to his current children's Scribble Down transfer packs. More about Clint here  http://www.clintonbanbury.com . I bought the highly amusing "Blackbird & Robin".

Graeme and I spent six hours walking around the fair, taking in the Bat Conservation Trust, the Bird Watching Magazine, Birdlife International, Birdwatching Northumberland, British Birds, the British Dragonfly Society, Country Innovation Clothing (I did not buy anything!), Extramadura Spain, the Fair Isle Bird Observatory (a visit here is on my bucket list), Garden Bird Supplies, the Hawk and Owl Trust, In Focus, KT Nestboxes, Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust, Mongolian Ornithological Society, Oman Ministry of Tourism (I last visited the Sultanate of Oman in 1994), Outdoor Photography Gear, Rare Bird Alert, the RSPB, Shetland Nature and many more.

Six hours in the humid atmosphere of the marquees was enough and we taxied back to the Crown Hotel for a few well deserved pints of Everard's best.

We have booked to go again next year...... 

Goldfinches

These beautiful, highly coloured finches with a bright red face and yellow wing patch first visited my garden on 24th December 2012 just 48 hours after I first located a feeder containing nyger seeds in my lilac tree. In 27 years of recording birds in my garden these were the first Goldfinches to be seen. Since this occasion I have added two feeders containing sunflower seeds and these have quickly become the food of choice. Seven months on and there is hardly a moment goes by when I do not hear their delightful liquid, twittering song and call and see as many as six in the lilac tree. Most encouraging is that the number now includes two juvenile birds that have not yet developed their red faces.

They are a delight to watch and incredible time wasters.