I don't have a garden so I set up feeders in an old run down area where I do some "city birding" most days. 7 Redpolls have been turning up and it's always a delight to see them.
There is a healthy group of Goldfinches, usually about 30/35 turn up sqawbling and warring for the nyger seed feeder :)
Lots of Blue Tits, Great Tits, and Chaffinches, Dunnocks, even 5 Robins appear with just a little fighting and chasing but nothing too serious.
I have only seen one Wren, once. What is happening with them this year?
All was going well and even getting to see a fox walk by all the time. He's usually in the distance before I know he was walking by. I sit in a pop up hide so my view is blinkered.
But the dreaded Sparrowhawk has discovered the feeders as well. He's a flippin' nuisance LOL
Long Tailed tits are turning up as well but for ruined ground which attracts alkies and young neds to the area, the birds are doing well.The Blackbirds and Wood Pigeons are very timid.
Being next to the river I see a few water birds coming and going fishing. Cormorants, Grey Heron, Kingfisher, gulls, Goldeneye, Mallards, a few Redhanks, Little Grebes, Wagtails, Oyster Catchers, Goosanders and loads more from time to time.
Point is, even though you don't have a garden, or live in the heart of a city, doesn't mean you can't take part in the Birdwatch. Just find a spot where you can get relative peace and set up a few feeders. The birds will turn up. Amazing how it is always Blue Tits who turn up first :)
And now and again, you can get a few surprises. I am also working so I always pop down to my wee spot after work to top up feeders and as i finish early due to starting very early, I can get to see the birds for an hour or two before it starts to get dark.
And due to the current financial climate, I can't travel to reserves or other places as often as I used to as the cost is just too much wether it be petrol for the car or public transport.
Guess the birds in my area are winning as money usually spent on travel costs is going to them on feed :)
Glad I had a good day today with the birdwatch. Last year it was hopeless. Hardly anything turned up.
I forgot to add that I have set up a feeder station next to the buildings car park where I live and it's only a bit of grass with an overgrown bit of shrubbery but amazingly the birds have grown to enjoy a wee snack every day and the Sparrowhawk also discovered this. I will shoot him one day. Only joking but he does annoy me at times. I feed the small birds and he eats them. :(
That's nature.
He came today just as I was about to start the count so he was ruining the day for me. So I went down to my second location by the river. Is this ok? So long as I only count the birds from one place I guess it is?
Happy birding
Good informative post, Hunter.
"The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom" - Wlliam Blake
Thanks. I need to sort out my photos now. :)
Great idea, Hunter. The birds don't care that it's a run down area - they come for the food you generously provide.
I will do. Have alot to go through and my other half is nipping my head to go out so getting rushed for now LOL
Impressive Hunter - I think you have a mini reserve of your own there.
Annie
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
Einstein
Well done Hunter, sounds like a right birds haven you have there x
Here are some of the pictures from today
OOps! They do not seem to be working. Back to another image hosting site LOL
BT but got this instead.
www.dropshots.com/hunter1
hope that works. Can you let me know if it is working.
Thanks in advance.
BTW. I wont be winning awards for my photos LOL
Thanks, you're too kind :)
I use flickr but it's for something totally different from birding so don't want to use it fro anything else.
Thanks. I got one photo up to try it out on the RSPB forum here. Takes too long with one at a time though.
Lovely photos, such a variety. What camera and lense?