RSPB bird count - again

I am repeating my 1 hour bird count today, this time at the front of our bungalow overlooking the grass patch, hedges and windmill near our local village museum. I expect to see fewer birds, but it will make an interesting comparison. 

This morning, there was a crow actually on the birdtable and a red-legged partridge underneath.   Both were missing from my count yesterday!

UPDATE 1725z:  Although there were fewer species spotted at the front (4 rather than 6) the number of starlings was much higher as there is a roost on the windmill sails. I saw 26 unique starlings but had this been an hour later it would probably been 100+.

RSPB birdcount weekend

Any 1 hour, record max number of each species seen in period. Last year just 1 wood pigeon! At previous house often saw 10-12 species.  Weather was setting full sun, about 5 deg C.

This year, 6 species recorded late PM (3.10 to 4.10pm):

• 2 dunnock, 
• 6 starlings,
• 5 wood pigeon,
• 1 blackbird, 
• 3 mallard, 
• 2 black headed gulls.

NOT seen, but often seen in garden, were long tail tits, blue tits, great tits, robins, jackdaws, rooks, crows, red legged partridges,chaffinches,collared doves.

Garden Birdwatch 2012

Every year for many years now I've taken part in the RSPB's Garden Birdwatch. You are asked to count the maximum number of each different bird species seen in your garden, or in a park,  in any one hour.  My house backs on to a lane and then open meadows with a good number of deciduous trees so I usually manage to see an interesting variety of the smaller birds. Last year the long-tailed tit (see left) was the big surprise with no less than 12 seen together. Occasionally we get a treat when a sparrow hawk, green woodpecker or spotted woodpecker appear, but so far never in the hour I am doing the count. Anyone can take part for any hour over this weekend and you do not have to be a Royal Society for the Protection of Birds member.