Wildlife Counts: Big Garden Birdwatch 2013

Greenfinch, one of the most colourful stars of the show ...

I wonder whether those of you who live in the UK have undertaken your 2013 RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch yet. The survey, which lasts an hour, can be undertaken at any time over this weekend.

I sat down by the window in our home this morning, and was pleased that despite the snow, most of the usual suspects showed up. Sadly there was no sign of the Blackbird or Wren, although I have subsequently seen the Blackbird. I also saw a single Starling, but since it flew on through without landing, it could not be counted. We have not yet been in this house for a year, so it was a particularly interesting survey for me.

We actually saw quite a few more birds than is indicated by the results sheet below. For this survey, you can, of course. log every bird you see if you choose to do so; but for RSPB purposes, you only submit the largest sighting at one time of a given species. This means that although I saw six Blue tits (well, two then two, then one, then one), I can only log one of the two-bird sightings (i.e. just the first pair and not the second - and not the single Blue tits), in case the other birds were actually not different ones at all.

My list below is what was submitted to the RSPB.

My actual list ran as follows ...

Blue tit ............ 2 then 2 then 1 then 1
Chaffinch ......... 1 then 1
Goldfinch ......... 3
Great tit ........... 1
Greenfinch ....... 1
Magpie ............ 1
Robin .............. 1
Song thrush...... 1
Wood pigeon ... 1 then 1 then 2 then 2 then 5

We spent the afternoon enjoying the area around Flatford Mill, the scene of many of iconic landscape paintings by John Constable. The RSPB has a small wildlife garden there (photo at end end of this earlier post here), the the folk in charge had set up telescopes and binoculars for the day of the Birdwatch. There was still a fair bit of ice around, but it was wonderful to see our first Snowdrop of 2013.

I shall probably do a separate post about our Flatford walk, since the snow scenes were so idyllic ... but I thought I would end this post with the bird we saw on our drive out of the village on our way home. It is, of course, a Barn Owl. My photos are just record shots as we were in the car at the time, and at some distance from the bird. However, we were able to stop safely and I managed to click the camera a couple of times.   

Barn Owl

Shortly after we arrived home, I noticed the moon over the snow ...

Seasonal Splash: Narnia in Home Patch?

Narnia in Suffolk?

I spotted the first corvid for my home patch 2013 bird-list ...

... and more Blue tits ...

... pecking away at the coconut fatball.

I love these trees in winter ...

... with their snow-lined textures.

A Chaffinch braved the cold weather ...

... which is more than I have been able to do today!

Home Patch: Birds in the Snow

It's a snow white world ...

... in front of the wild wood.

The local Bluetits ...

... swoop in for a quick meal ...

They are experts ...

... at perching.

A small flock of Goldfinches ...

... pause for a brief moment.

I have also seen gulls and pigeons overhead, and a blackbird in the distance. I am wondering whether the Blue tits are the most regular visitors at present because ...

[a] they are the about the smallest birds around and need to re-fuel more frequently.

[b] they are the ones who like the seeded fatballs on offer.

[c] they tend to come in pairs or small groups and feel there is some safety in numbers.

[d] my home patch is considered their home patch! 

Do let me know if you have any thoughts on this ...

Seasonal Splash: Birds in Snowbound Home Patch

We awoke to another snowy day, with frozen spiders' webs ...

... and a coating of (what seems to be) rime on the trees.

The Blue tits were very active ...

... but preferred the branch to the fat balls.

The Robin stared in at me ...

... before a little preening became essential.

He carefully covered his face with his wing.

Spot the Blue tit in this double-decker!

A pair of Chaffinches flew in but didn't stay long ...

... and as I write, the Blue tits are the busiest birds on the block.

All the above photos were taken through double-glazing, so my apologies if they are not as sharp as we would like them to be!

Enjoy the birds in your home patch - and I'll end with a seasonal reminder from the RSPB . . .

Nature Reserves: Minsmere (iridescent clouds)

We took a chilly walk at Minsmere last weekend . . .

... and enjoyed looking out from this hide.

We watched this pair of Mute Swans flying past (and spotted a couple of Marsh Harriers) ...

I think this shy Bullfinch delighted us the most!

As we turned to leave, I spotted this iridescent cloud ...

It changed as the sky around it darkened ...

 and seemed to be displaying more rainbow shades ...

... than those that can be seen in these photos.

A Muntjac deer appeared just as we were leaving.

I have watched a few coronas in Western Scotland, in places where there are frequent rainbows; but have not often seen these iridescent clouds in England. I suspect the cold temperatures were partly responsible and perhaps the quality of winter light by the sea. You might be interested in this site called 'Atmospheric Optics'.

2013 Bird list to date ...

1] Blue tit (HP = home patch)
2] Chaffinch (HP)
3] Wood Pigeon (HP)
4] Magpie (HP)
5] Mute Swans (Mistley and Flatford)

Second week update ...

6] Blackbird (HP)
7] Goldfinch (HP)
8] Great tit (HP)
9] Greenfinch (HP)
10] Robin (HP) 
11] Marsh harrier (Minsmere)
12] Black-headed gull (Minsmere)  
13] Bullfinch (Minsmere)
14] Song Thrush (HP)
15] Wren (HP)
16] Canada Goose (Needham Market)
17] Great Crested Grebe (Needham Market)
18] Mallard (Needham Market and Flatford)
19] White ?'garden escape' Pekin duck (Needham Market)
20] Moorhen (Needham Market)
21] Jay (HP)
22] Long-tailed tit (Minsmere)
23] Cormorant (Needham Market)
24] Turnstone (Southwold, Shotley)
25] Herring Gull (Southwold and Felixstowe) 
26] Shelduck (Minsmere)

Third week update 
27] Pheasant (Minsmere and Flatford)
28] Barn Owl (Flatford)
29] Carrion Crow (HP)
30] Starling (HP)
31] Pied Wagtail (Ipswich) 

My January Bird list for 2013 is a great improvement on last year's equivalent (though I spent part of the month of January 2012 in Philadelphia and New York and the rest in urban Ipswich). 

Other wildlife seen in 2013

• Rabbit (Minsmere and Landguard, Felixstowe)
• Muntjac deer (Minsmere)  

Nature Reserves: Needham Market, Suffolk

We took a chilly walk around the lake at Needham Market. It forms part of a Local Nature Reserve, and proved a good place for ducks and gulls.

The lake used to be a gravel pit, and the River Gipping flows through the site. Apparently grass snakes are seen in the warmer months, but this one above was the only serpentine creature to put in an appearance on this bitter January day. 

There were, however, welcome signs of spring, like these catkins. Hazel, Alder and Birch all produce catkins at this time of year. Alder trees produce not only male catkins but also female strobili which are like miniature pine cones in appearance.

For a moment we thought we had chanced upon an Easter Island council, but on reflection, it was possibly more like a woodland gathering of Ents!

There were a number of chilly-looking Moorhens about ...

... and moles were evidently not far away.

We were particularly pleased to see this Great Crested Grebe, as I do not recall seeing one in non-breeding winter plumage before.

The photo above shows the sunlight on the lake ...

... but I was puzzled by these small white ducks. I feel sure that they were not large enough to be Aylesbury ducks. I gather Mallard drakes are not too particular when it comes to pairing. There is a white duck called a Pekin (or domestic/farm) duck, bred originally from the Mallard in China. Perhaps these are Pekinese ducks, but they may be Call ducks. They are not albino as they have yellow bills. There are, of course, forms of leucism that can effect wildfowl.

Sadly this grebe above is a bit out of focus, but these are such graceful birds!

This trio of Black-headed Gulls (with deep pink legs) looked out on ...

... a lone gull with pale orange legs. I suspect it was also a Black-headed Gull, probably a 'first winter' bird. Do let me know if you think otherwise!