We took part on Sunday in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch - we did initially try to do it on Saturday but it was very sunny and as the garden faces south it was too bright to see much of the garden so the first attempt was abandoned after a few minutes.
We saw 15 species which is more than we have seen in recent years. Usually the birds disappear during the hour you do the survey but this year there were loads around.
We saw the following :
Great Tit x 3
Blackbird x 4
Goldfinch x 7
House Sparrow x 2
Dunnock x 2
Blue Tit x 3
Coal Tit x 1
Robin x 1
Wood Pigeon x 4
Redpoll x 4
Collared Dove x 1
Carrion Crow x 1
Magpie x 1
Long Tailed Tit x 4
Goldcrest x 1
No signed of the Ring Necked Parakeets though!
Redpoll were the real highlight - we usually see them in the silver birch trees in the garden but on Sunday they actually came to the feeders. Goldcrest was the second sighting this year - it forages in climbers on the patio arch and in the Christmas Tree we have in a pot.
I look forward to reading what other bloggers have seen this year.
Thankfully, after a week on penicillin and, touch wood, cellulitis has disappeared for now so yesterday we popped to Coleshill to visit "Books Revisited" - a second hand charity bookshop that D and I both love.
I always park by the church so we walked back via the churchyard.
I love this Silk Tassel Bush.
St Peter and St Paul - Coleshill Parish Church
There were lots of crocus buds in the churchyard but I couldn't see any snowdrops so we stopped off at Castle Bromwich churchyard where I know they will flower in January.
It is always a treat to see the first snowdrops of the year and I hope I can visit more local churchyards next month and find more.
I bought myself a lovely bunch of rainbow tulips to brighten the hall.
In other news D passed his driving test first time last Saturday. I really am proud of him because these days with all the traffic on the roads it is not the easiest thing to pass.
All photos were taken with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera (D took the last snowdrop photo). (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one of mine or one of my son's I would be grateful for an email first - thanks).
4 comments:
You counted so many different birds in your hour. Great to have the Goldcrest and the Redpolls. Like you we tried on Saturday but were also facing South from the conservatory we couldn't see very well, but there weren't many birds about anyway. So glad you are able to get out and about again and yes, it's time now to seek out snowdrops and winter aconite. saw a few yesterday at Trentham but not the Hawfinch which had been spotted the day before. I hope you treated yourself at the bookshop. Congratulations to D for passing first time:)
That's good news on the Cellulitis. Congratulations to David. That is no mean feat. A first time pass is very, very good. At least you managed to do The Garden Birdwatch. I don't suppose it will belong before you'll be going back to OFFA? Just a few more weeks...
Thanks so much Rosie - we were fortunate this year that birds actually put in an appearance! It is always such a joy to see snowdrops and aconites at this time of year. Sorry you missed out on the Hawfinch but I hope you can see it another time. I was good in the bookshop this time although there was a Victorian Photo Album I nearly bought! Thanks re David.
Thanks Debbie - really chuffed for David especially as he was lumberd with the hardest test route and the one he hates doing! 4 weeks Saturday and we can return to OFFA :) I have so missed going there.
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