Saturday 30 January 2016

Big Garden Birdwatch

It's that time of year again; the last weekend in January is time for the annual bird census conducted by the RSPB, the Big Garden Birdwatch.

My birds (of which there are generally a lot) always take against being counted and are reluctant participants in the event.

As usual the pigeons hijacked the event. The wood pigeon stomped around waiting for the rock and feral pigeons to drop food for collection; they have quite a good system going in which one pigeon sits and pecks the feeder or the tray and the rest congregate on the ground and pick up the bits. The pair of collared doves who often frequent the garden declined to make an appearance.

The small birds darted about; a dunnock, Mrs Chaffinch, blue tits and great tits and of course the robin. 

The parakeet family didn't visit en-masse but a couple of the members dropped by to sit in a tree and observe the proceedings. The magpies similarly observed from the distance, in the case a precarious perch on top of one of the evergreens at the bottom of the garden.

It's still quite windy out, although not raining (yet) so it is probably as good as it is going to get this weekend.

The pigeon crew, first a scout appeared to check out the food on offer - then the full scale invasion (!)

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One of the parakeet family; arrived with the usual amount of squawking

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I managed to catch one of the great tits flitting between feeders - the small birds don't stop long

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I enjoyed watching the birds today - I'm sure they'll be around until all the food is eaten!

Birdwatch 16

You can see all about some previous Birdwatches...

2015
2013
2012
2011
2010