RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2024

 

Female Blackcap, quite a regular visitor

 

David and I spent an hour doing the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch this afternoon. We felt our results were disappointing, but that may be more to do with the fact that we did our count in the afternoon this year (when many birds are less active) rather than in the morning. We often see Great tits, House sparrows, Magpies and Blackbirds. We sometimes see a Great spotted woodpecker, a Song thrush and a Wren. None of these put in an appearance today. 

You can see our results in the list below.

 

 

I wonder how you fared, or perhaps you will do a count tomorrow (28th). The full results will be released by the RSPB on 12 April 2024. 

Back in 2010 when we were still living in Swansea, we counted these birds. Last year (2023), from the same suburban Suffolk home as this year, we submitted this list. 

I don't know whether our local bird numbers have decreased or whether the new time of day had more to do with our result than other factors. Yesterday when we were on a very local walk, we counted a slightly different mix of species (Greenfinch, Blackbird, Blackcap, Great spotted woodpecker, Great tit, Redwing and Starling), either from observation or from sound via the Merlin Bird ID app. It's good to know that we still have Greenfinches in our area as we rarely see these birds.

 

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2022

 

Long-tailed tits with Blue tit in the wings, 29 January 2022

 

The results of our 2022 Big Garden Birdwatch are in, and sadly we are a little disappointed at this year's numbers. We are not particularly surprised as (a) we have had a couple of very recent visits from a female Sparrowhawk and (b) conditions were far from ideal with Storm Malik blowing the bushes about. Incidentally, all my photos in this post were taken during the hour of the survey (through double-glazing).

 

Blue tits and Great tit

 

We put out four coconut fatballs, one container of peanuts and a small canister of Niger/Nyjer seeds. The Goldfinches (when they visit) are never interested in our Niger seeds, which is a shame. 

We had a total of 10 species:

1. Blackbird (three at once)
2. Blue tit (six at once)
3. Great tit (two at once)
4. House Sparrow (one)
5. Long-tailed tit (two at once)
6. Magpie (one)
7. Starling (two at once)
8. Carrion Crow (one)
9. Feral Pigeon (two)
10. Blackcap (presumably are 'regular' female) 

 

Female Blackcap

 

The 'regulars' who were noticeable by their absence on this occasion were the Robin, the Dunnocks, the Goldfinches, the Woodpigeons, the Great spotted Woodpecker and the Wren. We occasionally spot a Coal tit and rarely see Chaffinches, and Collared Doves. Very occasionally we notice a Song Thrush. There are often various gull species about, but few come in to land.  

I wonder what you have been seeing. Here are some of the visiting Blue tits ...

 

And finally, here are the RSPB charts pertaining to the data we submitted. It will be interesting to see the nationwide results in due course. 

There is always the Climate Crisis to consider, but I wonder how much the pandemic will be responsible for variations from normal trends. We have a hunch that the many Woodpigeons in our neck of the woods moved to other areas when a local entertainment venue was forced to limit its hours of operation, and there were consequently less pickings to be had.

 

 

 

Visiting Female Blackcap

 

Blue tit and female Blackcap

Last year we felt very privileged to have Blackcap visitors in the garden, and once again we have been delighted this week by the presence of a female. I wonder if there is a male waiting in the wings. What beautiful birds these are, and what fine bills they have. We have clocked up February and March sightings in previous years, but this is the earliest by a good few weeks.

Wasp Spiders and Other Garden Matters

 

Those who follow this blog will know that last summer we encountered Wasp Spiders in our Suffolk garden for the first time. We also noticed four of their extraordinary egg sacs. I read this morning in the latest issue of The Suffolk Argus, the magazine of our local Butterfly Conservation branch, that 'Suffolk County Council has just agreed a biodiversity plan to protect species such as the Wasp Spider'. I see this development was reported in our local paper, the East Anglian Daily Times (EADT), back on 5 December 20212. 

 

We took advantage of a break in the cloud and enjoyed an hour in the garden. I confess I was not the one digging, but it was good to recycle some earth from last year's tubs. We came across a few insects waiting to emerge ... and ensured that these woodlice were covered up again.

We had a second visit from the female Blackcap, but failed to take a photo this time. I hope she will reappear. We are still enjoying our bulbs, and looking forward to our first tulips ...

P.S. It seems we are in agreement over the presence of the mouse on our Trailcam photo. Thank you to those who took a careful look!

Female Blackcap, Latest Species at the New Feeder

David's photo

David's photo

David's photo

I have been keeping a close eye on our new upright feeder to see which species are making the most of the food (fatballs and seeds) we are offering. We were thrilled today to find a female Blackcap. We both had our cameras at the ready, and took the photos you see behind our double-glazing. I see from my record that we had a Blackcap sighting in the garden in February 2020, so perhaps a pattern is beginning to form. 

The list so far looks like this:

1. Long-tailed tit
2. Blue tit
3. Robin
4. Great tit
5. Blackbird
6. Wood pigeon
7. Starling
   
8. Blackcap 
9. Jay (seen and added 21 March 2021)
   

Happy St David's Day!

New Garden Visitor

We have been delighted this last week by the arrival of a new garden visitor: meet the Blackcap!

In fact, we have two for the price of one as a female (see below, 3rd and 4th pictures) has joined the male who features in the top two photos. If, like us, you spot these birds in the UK over the winter months, your sightings can be logged here. Since the 1960s more and more Blackcaps have been staying here all year round.

These photos were taken through glass on a dull day, but I think you can easily see that the male has a black cap. Well, no surprises there. The female, on the other hand, has a rich chestnut top to her head, so it is easy to distinguish between the sexes. 

Blackcaps are not rare: they have been awarded Green Conservation Status. However, it is always a thrill when a new species of bird is spotted in our home patch. As you can see below, the Blackcap is 'our' 27th bird to date. It is also our 1st new species for 2020. Blackcaps are members of the Warbler family. The RSPB site describes their song as 'fluting'.

The male Blackcap in our garden bides his time in the ivy around the coconut feeder, then when he feels the moment has come, he moves in and asserts his position in the pecking order. The female seems less feisty: she oftens waits to appear until the Great tits and Robin have stepped back. 

Avian sightings in our home patch: unlike the rules for the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, a bird seen clearly from the house or garden counts for my purposes. We have, for example, yet to see a Grey Heron landing in our home patch, but I have had good sightings of these birds flying over in the direction of the local nature reserve, one road away, and perching on a neighbour's roof. We have often heard the local Tawny Owl, but I am not counting 'birds heard' (unless they are also seen) at present. [R] indicates a regular visitor and [O] an occasional one.  

• HPb1   Great Spotted Woodpecker [O] [2019]
• HPb2   Great tit [R] 
• HPb3   Long-tailed tit [R] 
• HPb4   Blackbird [R]
• HPb5   Song Thrush  [27 April 2019 - a pair]  
• HPb6   Blue tit [R]
• HPb7   Robin  [R] 
• HPb8   Magpie [R] 
• HPb9   Wood Pigeon  [R] 
• HPb10 Dunnock [R] 
• HPb11 Starling [R] 
• HPb12 Carrion Crow [R] 
• HPb13 Goldfinch  [R]
• HPb14 Jay [O]
• HPb15 Green Woodpecker [O]
• HPb16 Wren [O]
• HPb17 Bullfinch [19 January 2017]  
• HPb18 Sparrowhawk
• HPb19 Mallard 
• HPb20 House Sparrow [1 June 2019] 
• HPb21 Chaffinch 
• HPb22 Grey Heron
• HPb23 Collared Dove [R]
• HPb24 Coal tit  
• HPb25 Redwing [20 January 2017] 
• HPb26 Kestrel  [8 June 2017]  
• HPb27 Blackcap  [30 January 2020 - a pair]