This is the journal of my endeavours to grow a range of fruit, veg and flowers from seed, grow organically, and my attempts to create a personal paradise with 1/2 acre of maintained gardens and 1/2 acre wild meadows. Northern Ireland's average daily high temperatures are 18 °C (64 °F) in July and 6 °C (43 °F) in January. Soil type: Clay

Sunday 29 January 2012

Bird Watch 2012 results

I took part in the UK bird watch over the weekend. I spotted what I consider the 'regulars' (birds that eat peanuts on a daily basis). It was tough getting photos as the birds move very quickly.

I adore this little robin.
I think this is a Sparrow. My bird ID skills are pretty basic! 

One of three Blue Tits that regularly visit the garden. 
Sparrows. There's about 7 or 8 of them (at least). 

So my official Bird Watch Count is: 1 robin, 3 blue tits and 7 sparrows.
The little robin reminds me of Carol Klein's gardening show on TV - how she would hand feed a little robin. I haven't mastered that; a bit difficult with two cats following me around the garden.
The USA backyard bird count (and there's a photo contest!) takes place 17-20 Feb 2012. Further detail at http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/

11 comments:

  1. If you're short of birds, you can have some of my Magpies. They are such brash and aggressive birds that I find it hard to love them.

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  2. We will be participating in the bird count in Feb. Thanks for reminding me of the date. Your little robin looks so differently from our robin.

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  3. I didn't get chance to take part this year, but I always enjoy watching the birds which visit the garden. I hang feeders on the tree near the window and then I've got a great viewing point.

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  4. I took part this year. Difficult to count the chaffinches as they move so fast. But something frightened our birds and I was left for 20 mins with nothing to count...

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  5. Love those little blue tits! And your robin looks fat and happy!

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  6. I love watching the spring birds not to many spend much time In my yard though my neighbor is the local cat lady she probably feeds 40 to 50 in her house and they take care of any bird problems that might arise also they love to fertilize my raised garden beds.

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  7. Oops I delegated the bird watch duty to my daughter with being in Australia. She's in Scotland and is constantly letting me know all the details of her visitors to the feeders but I think she may have forgotten the date :$
    I'll have to check....
    I love little robins and you have a real smart one there. I miss them so. They can be quite tame especially if you have a little cheese in your hand. They adore cheese!

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  8. You're right about the sparrow Kelli - it's a male but your blue tit - well it's a great tit! It's a lovely photo of it too. I've just posted our results - we did fairly well this year!

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  9. Pretty bird photos! I will participate in the U.S. one on the 17th of Feb. Glad of the reminder.

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  10. That's cute little birds! Bird watch with cats? hahahhaha...

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  11. Looks really fun. The number of bird visit us each year increase but I am still not familiar with the names.

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