So I wrote a list of the 16 species I might reasonably expect to see in my garden, and sat there for an hour.
After 15 minutes, I had not seen a single brd. Not one.
By the end of the hour I had seen 5 species, and only one of those had been two at a time: wood pigeons.
I have 8 feeders/fat balls/trays out. I saw more bird feeders than birds.
Afternoon, went to the nature reserve and saw smews for the first time. :-)
Hi Diogenes,
Have a look at the Big Garden Disappeared Birdwatch thread - it seems you are not alone!!!
I bet your birds came whilst you were looking at smews!
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Yes, I saw that.
I think I just did it at the wrong time of day. Earlier in the day I'd seen collared doves anda few other things.
If I count my garden as including the adjoining hedges and the trees that immediately overlook it (the hinterland of my feeders!) then I have in the past seen at least 16 species. In the hour today, 5 species. In the day as a whole, possibly 7 species.
At the nature reserve, I saw more species than I could shake a stick at. I'm at that stage in my "fledgling" birdwatching career where even when I see familiar species, I am finding more ways of identifying them - noticing more subtle differences. Daft example: I've known for ages that Canada geese are the ones with black necks. It was only today that I "registered" in my tiny brain that they have those distinctive white flashes on the head. I had been seeing the black neck, nodding sagely, "Canada goose" and looking no further.
I noticed my first tree sparrows today. I have been confident on separating male and female house sparrows, and dunnocks, for a long time, but I've never knowingly seen a tree sparrow before.
Also, a kingfisher in silhouette. None of the spectacular colour clues, but I was certain from the shape and the flight.
I am also a beginner at bird watching, and like you I tend to home in on a particular colouring that I recognise rather than looking at all the plumage, legs, beaks and so on. I have a colony of house sparrows and have no problem identifying the males and females, and separating them from dunnocks. However, because I have these birds all day in my garden, I recently overlooked some reed buntings who landed. I assumed they were sparrows so took no notice other than to wonder why a couple of my sparrows had more white on them than normal. Later the same day someone on the forum posted a photo of a reed bunting who had arrived in his garden, and I could have kicked myself because this was the bird I had seen!!! It was too late, they had gone and haven't been back. I have learnt my lesson and now look at every bird more carefully.
Hi Diogenes, I am convinced that sometimes birds do things to deliberately fool/confuse us humans. The first time I saw my Pied Wagtail he was perched on the trellis. I turned to reach for my camera and by the time I turned back... yes, there was a bird sitting on the trellis and yes it was "black and white" (loosely speaking) but it was a magpie!!! I had to wait for what seemed like an eternity before Pied Wagtail returned and I knew I hadn't imagined it the previous time.
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
Hello everyone,
The birds are coming back to my garden, ive just purchased a fab bird feeder, bath and lots if brackets for hanging feeders from B&m bargains dont know if there old stock but they are well made metal and good value for £7.99 lets hope i get some finches and others
During the snow we were very conscientious about putting out food and had every thing you would expect in droves (except the long tailed tits that came for a week last year and never since- very disappointed). We are keen but not knowledgeable and during this period saw our first black cap in the garden, which was for us quite exciting!
However working long days and getting back in the dark we have been a bit slack and the birds have wandered off to find food now it is not so desperate. I only found out it was the big garden birdwatch yesterday (another exciting day as my husband had just bought his new binoculars at the local RSPB reserve and while testing them we had a lovely barn owl fly past us) so had rushed home to replenish the feeders and cross our fingers.
All morning I looked out to see if there was any activity and there was very little, but then the black cap appeared so I decided my hour would have to start, and suddenly everything appeared. We got to 15 species - and I recognised my first dunnock (see very new at this!). Only the pied wagtail, thrushes and magpies eluded me. There was even a great spotted woodpecker on the peanuts!
So I guess its all about luck!
For a pair of novices we did OK.
Hello Purpleplumage, and welcome to the forum.
We are a friendly lot here, and I know from personal experience you will get plenty of advice, tips, help, and a lot of fun from the forum. I hope you stay with us, and look forward to hearing more about your birds.
You seem to have a lot of birds that make me green with envy - blackcap, pied wagtail, woodpecker ... wonderful. I have had one blackcap, once, for one minute!! I do have occasional visits from a pied wagtail, but only when he's desperate!! Never had a woodpecker of any variety. Well done with your 15 species.
Hi Xandra - glad to hear your birds are back, and good luck with the new bath and feeders.
Squirrel B said:The first time I saw my Pied Wagtail he was perched on the trellis. I turned to reach for my camera and by the time I turned back... yes, there was a bird sitting on the trellis and yes it was "black and white" (loosely speaking) but it was a magpie!
Ah, they do that. It's a superhero thing. You never see the pied wagtail and the magpie at the same time - think about it. If you're quick, you might just catch him doing up the zip on his magpie costume.
Oddly enough, just the once after that they were both perched on the trellis at the same time but with a gap of over 6 feet between them. By the time I had cautiously reversed across the room far enough to fit both in frame (I had the telephoto lens on the camera) the P.W. got bored with waiting for this delayed photoshoot and flew off! I'll bet I never get that chance again......
I always consider Pied Wagtails rather common as they always seem to be around the school playgrounds. I shall have to keep a look out and see if there ar as many as I think and get a photo!
The lady black cap that visited us during the snow was very bossy and scared all the other birds away, now the weather has improved so apparently has her temperament!