RSPB Big Bird Watch.

[Gypsydog94 4,607]

26 minutes ago, paulus said:

I have an air rifle in the conservatory all the time, still 2 squirrels to go yet Lol, Magpies are not to much of an issue here, ravens are though. 

I had 11 last time I had the trap in the garden. It’s okay till the local cat population finds it

[Greyman 28,592]

1 minute ago, Gypsydog94 said:

I had 11 last time I had the trap in the garden. It’s okay till the local cat population finds it

a friend of mine has a giant tortoise she starts work at 5 am and in the summer puts him out in the yard before she goes a few years back he was getting attacked every morning had small cuts on his face turned out it was magpies trying to get his eyes, I stuck my Larson down and had 7 out in one go and he,s been ok since excellent way of getting rid of them 

[Gypsydog94 4,607]

43 minutes ago, Greyman said:

a friend of mine has a giant tortoise she starts work at 5 am and in the summer puts him out in the yard before she goes a few years back he was getting attacked every morning had small cuts on his face turned out it was magpies trying to get his eyes, I stuck my Larson down and had 7 out in one go and he,s been ok since excellent way of getting rid of them 

It’s a shame more landowners don’t catch them. I caught 58 at work couple seasons ago. Population just getting big again so will start trying to catch again when the cold weather passes 

[tatsblisters 9,916]

1 hour ago, Greyman said:

a friend of mine has a giant tortoise she starts work at 5 am and in the summer puts him out in the yard before she goes a few years back he was getting attacked every morning had small cuts on his face turned out it was magpies trying to get his eyes, I stuck my Larson down and had 7 out in one go and he,s been ok since excellent way of getting rid of them 

I remember in the early 70s magpies were no were near as common as they are now in the area's we knocked about in as kid's though I think that was down to a lot of us being egg collectors as magies nests were easy to find .

[dytkos 17,802]

Do my birdwatch every time, sure it's twice a year? 

Cheers, D.

[comanche 3,037]

On 09/01/2024 at 09:30, chartpolski said:

Anyone else doing it this year ?

Ive always thought it was a bad time of year for it, but still do it, what with all the migratory birds still away. Surely the summer would be a better time ?

Cheers.

I think Charts that there are already a couple of Spring and Summer counts by other organisations and there are slightly involved rules about what to count and what not to include .

The RSPB Winter one is a lot simpler . Just stare through the window for an hour and count what you see. 

I suppose too   , birds are easier to count when the leaves are off the trees and ground cover dormant and females aren't  tucked up on a nest.

It probably has a use in monitoring birds when the population is at its  lowest and might help estimate potential breeding pairs.

Basically its bird counting for the layman and does it really matter if a few serious twitchers look down their noses? 

Whether it be a pleasant way for a housebound person to pass an otherwise boring hour or a youngster doing it for fun and maybe having a spark it surely  a good thing.

 

[chartpolski 23,945]

44 minutes ago, comanche said:

I think Charts that there are already a couple of Spring and Summer counts by other organisations and there are slightly involved rules about what to count and what not to include .

The RSPB Winter one is a lot simpler . Just stare through the window for an hour and count what you see. 

I suppose too   , birds are easier to count when the leaves are off the trees and ground cover dormant and females aren't  tucked up on a nest.

It probably has a use in monitoring birds when the population is at its  lowest and might help estimate potential breeding pairs.

Basically its bird counting for the layman and does it really matter if a few serious twitchers look down their noses? 

Whether it be a pleasant way for a housebound person to pass an otherwise boring hour or a youngster doing it for fun and maybe having a spark it surely  a good thing.

 

Well, I’m neither housebound or young, LOL !

I’ll be doing it at my allotments, where there has been a massive influx of native finches recently.

Ive no interest in either Packham or the RSPB, but I have a great interest in wildlife and the countryside, so if my observations help in any way, I’ll be happy! Plus I’ll find it interesting. I was toying with trapping and ringing birds and keeping a log of how many come back, but I’m not sure how legal that would be ?

Cheers.

[mackem 26,798]

5 minutes ago, chartpolski said:

Well, I’m neither housebound or young, LOL !

I’ll be doing it at my allotments, where there has been a massive influx of native finches recently.

Ive no interest in either Packham or the RSPB, but I have a great interest in wildlife and the countryside, so if my observations help in any way, I’ll be happy! Plus I’ll find it interesting. I was toying with trapping and ringing birds and keeping a log of how many come back, but I’m not sure how legal that would be ?

Cheers.

Look into one of those mentored ringing groups Charts,you go out with a licenced mist netter/ringer and learn the ropes,would be perfect for you.

[chartpolski 23,945]

10 minutes ago, mackem said:

Look into one of those mentored ringing groups Charts,you go out with a licenced mist netter/ringer and learn the ropes,would be perfect for you.

I’m not much of a “group” man, mate, I’d probably end up arguing with them ! 
It was just one of the myriad of ideas that flow through my mind in my idler moments.

Cheers.

[dytkos 17,802]

Seem to come and go in stages, nesting season I was getting a few bullies and greenies, hardly ever see them on my feeders now.

My record at one time was 9 long tail tits on the fat ball feeder at once.

Cheers, D.

[Arry 22,005]

7 hours ago, dytkos said:

Seem to come and go in stages, nesting season I was getting a few bullies and greenies, hardly ever see them on my feeders now.

My record at one time was 9 long tail tits on the fat ball feeder at once.

Cheers, D.

Out my Sisters Tuesday when a group came in on her feeders. Not the best of pictures as taken through patio doors with my phone. Two feeders close together.

Cheers Arry

[pesky1972 5,307]

Hoping to sell up and move somewhere rural when the kids are finished with school. Always had an interest in birds and picture myself whiling away my twilight years feeding and watching a myriad of bird species in a mature garden. When I was a kid sparrows and stuckies (starlings) were all I’d get in the garden. Things are better now, and after a mental tally, think i could name maybe 30 species I’ve seen this year in the garden. Not brilliant but keeps me interested and putting grub out for them.

[mackem 26,798]

Been looking out the window for ten minutes one woodpigeon and one parakeet,starlings and sparrows are the only other common visitors,pretty uninspiring.