tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post8884416729941265953..comments2024-03-07T16:00:45.676+00:00Comments on ShySongbird's Nature News: Curtain up on the Big Garden Birdwatch 2011!ShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-122678752792369702011-02-23T14:08:37.662+00:002011-02-23T14:08:37.662+00:00Country Mouse Studio
Bob Bushell
Hi Carol and B...<i><b>Country Mouse Studio</b></i><br /><br /><i><b>Bob Bushell</b></i><br /><br /><br />Hi Carol and Bob :) In the unlikely event you may check back here, please accept my apologies for omitting to answer your comments. They are always read with relish and greatly welcomed :)ShySongbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-2838413467964259902011-02-15T19:22:43.804+00:002011-02-15T19:22:43.804+00:00Rose
Hi Rose :) Sorry for the late reply. I would...<i><b>Rose</b></i><br /><br />Hi Rose :) Sorry for the late reply. I would love to see woodpeckers in the garden regularly, I know you see them in yours more than I do in mine.<br />I hope it is a little milder there now!ShySongbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-83652859123830055192011-02-15T15:49:56.838+00:002011-02-15T15:49:56.838+00:00I'm sorry, it has been so long. But, I am supp...I'm sorry, it has been so long. But, I am supprised at the amount of birds in your garden. Great to have so many.Bob Bushellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07819577478571292055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-26565845994195810122011-02-15T05:09:56.323+00:002011-02-15T05:09:56.323+00:00Such wonderful photos and I've learned so much...Such wonderful photos and I've learned so much, I'll come back and re-read this. You have so many birds I've never seen before.Carole Barketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18068078540295273489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-85024546798040106462011-02-10T19:27:18.064+00:002011-02-10T19:27:18.064+00:00shirl
Hi Shirl, thank you :) Blogger can be very ...<i><b>shirl</b></i><br /><br />Hi Shirl, thank you :) Blogger can be very temperamental, the worst is when, having written a long comment, it says there has been an error and you have to start all over again :(<br />I usually have a female Blackcap visit in the Winter but no sign so far, unless I have missed it of course.<br />Regarding the Chaffinch, it may be partly how the light was falling on the beak which makes it look more shiny. I must admit I hadn't noticed myself though. I think the bark on the branch behind may also make it look slightly deceiving but it does look a little overgrown and hooked. I know that birds do suffer beak deformities and that it has become of concern in Alaska particularly! I must do some more reading on that.<br />Have a good weekend Shirl :)ShySongbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-5193128063828033552011-02-10T14:13:29.295+00:002011-02-10T14:13:29.295+00:00I so enjoyed seeing your count, Jan. I think our ...I so enjoyed seeing your count, Jan. I think our Great American Bird Watch isn't until this weekend or next; I need to check this out so I can participate again. I doubt I'll have as many different species, though, as I did last year; I still haven't seen any woodpeckers here this winter. I did see a robin last week, which always makes me think of spring. But he may have flown back south when the winter storms arrived; I hope so because it's frigid here today!Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01384059342847120951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-27370548142442334922011-02-09T21:27:11.171+00:002011-02-09T21:27:11.171+00:00A great production, Jan! Love your star turns too....A great production, Jan! Love your star turns too... that must have been quite a treat for you. Great photos and good numbers too :-)<br /><br />Nice to see the Blackcap male. Haven't seen one in a few years. We usually see a female pass through but no sign this year. We haven't seen Long-tailed tits this year either.<br /><br />Your male Chaffinch photo caught my eye. Well, the beak actually. Maybe it's my imagination but I thought it looked bigger than the ones in my garden. They are never that dark and shiny either. However it was the length and hook of the top bill that made me look longer. I instantly thought of the crossbill.<br /><br />An interesting one, don't know if anyone else thought the same. Sorry, late with this. Had probs leaving my comment, Blogger must be playing up. Hope it works this time :-)Shirleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12956905954971466579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-65542016482190353242011-02-09T14:22:42.682+00:002011-02-09T14:22:42.682+00:00Ken
Thank you Ken :) Always nice to see you here....<i><b>Ken</b></i><br /><br />Thank you Ken :) Always nice to see you here. I have seen the Brambling several times since, I just need some better photos of it now.ShySongbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-72709167118871461432011-02-08T22:56:12.573+00:002011-02-08T22:56:12.573+00:00Hi Jan.
Like your bird sightings for the Big...Hi Jan.<br /> Like your bird sightings for the Big Garden watch. Nice comparing yours against mine. I just wish I had a couple of Brambling feeding in my garden,nice photo's JanKen.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01795172926321030227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-86183280038122499962011-02-08T19:59:11.636+00:002011-02-08T19:59:11.636+00:00Warren Baker
Thank you Warren :) I had a feeling ...<i><b>Warren Baker</b></i><br /><br />Thank you Warren :) I had a feeling you would say that about the Brambling ;) I still haven't seen a Waxwing though so you have beaten me there even though I know you would have preferred it to be officially on your patch.<br /><br /><br /><i><b>Midmarsh John</b></i><br /><br />Thank you John :) The amount of people mentioning the lack of Greenfinches is worrying, of course it could be that they are all in my garden :)<br /><br /><br /><i><b>denzil</b></i><br /><br />Thank you Denis :) I must admit they did me proud, they must have known it was a special day :)<br /><br /><br /><i><b>Derek Faulkner</b></i><br /><br />Thank you Derek :) One Blackcap in 25 years?? Oh dear! Still, never mind you make up for it with the goodies on your reserve.<br /><br /><br /><i><b>Greenie</b></i><br /><br />Thank you Greenie (and Carol) :) I do wonder what we miss sometimes, maybe we need CCTV cameras all around our gardens. I suspect we would be surprised at just what does visit when we are not looking.ShySongbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-69415866325293703612011-02-08T11:02:36.336+00:002011-02-08T11:02:36.336+00:00Randy
Thank you Randy :) We do get very much larg...<i><b>Randy</b></i><br /><br />Thank you Randy :) We do get very much larger numbers of birds visiting over the course of a day but the rules of the count are that it must only last for an hour and that you can only count the largest amount of any one species which you see in the garden at the same time Which of course is to avoid counting the same bird more than once and giving a false picture of how many birds visit.<br /><br /><br /><i><b>Kelly</b></i><br /><br />Thank you Kelly :) I was pleased with the count and it was nice to have a couple of surprises on the big day :)<br /><br /><br /><i><b>holdingmoments</b></i><br /><br />Thank you Keith :) It was great to see the Brambling and I have seen it a few tmes since too. I just need a decent photo of it now!<br />It feels like I am catering for a nature reserve with the amount of food I put out each day :)<br /><br /><br /><i><b>Glo</b></i><br /><br />Thank you Glo :) I wish I could post every day like you have been but I know I couldn't keep up the pace. I think your visits to Harzel must be invigorating you with special super powers :)<br /><br /><br /><i><b>The Abbot</b></i><br /><br />Thank you Trevor :) So many people have mentioned to me lately that they are not seeing so many Greenfinches which is worrying.<br />You are lucky to have Gold and FireCrests in the garden, I have never seen either in mine and have only ever had one fleeting visit from a Bullfinch that I know of.<br />Yes, thank you things are improving nicely here :)<br /><br /><br /><i><b>Phil</b></i><br /><br />Thank you Phil :) I was really pleased to see the Brambling, a shame it wasn't the flock we had three years ago though! The Redwing was a lovely surprise too and I would have been disappointed not to see the Blackcap as it had been around for a few weeks as had the Brambling of course but I didn't realise that until afterwards :)ShySongbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-16661328710643094472011-02-08T01:02:10.112+00:002011-02-08T01:02:10.112+00:00Cheryl
Thank you Cheryl :) What a treat to see Re...<i><b>Cheryl</b></i><br /><br />Thank you Cheryl :) What a treat to see Reed Buntings in your garden, I would love to but don't think it likely.<br />Although I have seen signs of that horrible disease from time to time, I still have good numbers of Greenfinches visiting, thank goodness!<br />Have a good week and I hope the wind has dropped where you are by now.<br /><br /><br /><i><b>Chris</b></i><br /><br />Thank you Chris :) I could always swap some of my birds for one of your Waxwings ;)<br />I do hope your health keeps improving...and stop laying in that snow!! :)<br /><br /><br /><i><b>RainGardener</b></i><br /><br />Thank you Linda :) Lovely to see you back, I hope you are feeling much better now.<br />I have seen the Song Sparrow on blogs but we don't have it here, I hope yours finds some friends soon :)<br />Yes, our Robin is very much smaller than yours, we love it here and it always features heavily on Christmas cards.<br /><br /><br /><i><b>Sharon</b></i><br /><br />Thank you Sharon :) Yours lasts for 13 weeks?? Goodness!<br />Yes, I thought about you and your Brambling when mine turned up. It seems to visit most days and I almost got a decent photo of it today...until the neighbour slammed a door and disturbed it :(<br /><br /><br /><i><b>Dixxe</b></i><br /><br />Thank you Dixxe :) You did make me laugh with your comment about the Pine Siskins, you painted such an amusing picture :)<br /><br /><br /><i><b>Mike Atwood</b></i><br /><br />Thank you Mike :) Oh dear! Better luck next year perhaps :)ShySongbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-28910613312847349502011-02-07T18:53:51.798+00:002011-02-07T18:53:51.798+00:00ShySongbird ,
Carol managed about the same number ...ShySongbird ,<br />Carol managed about the same number of species as you , but when it comes to 'quality' , you win hands down .<br />We agree with your statement that we never really know what visits the garden , as some of our stars 'just happen to be noticed' once , and maybe not seen again .<br />Great read and shots .Greeniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18036202102998375825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-83301106339984991292011-02-07T18:49:38.993+00:002011-02-07T18:49:38.993+00:00Jan,
Well done on your BGW list, wished I had hal...Jan,<br /><br />Well done on your BGW list, wished I had half of them, my best count was 32 House Sparrows. I have had one Blackcap in 25 years though, so can't grumble.Derek Faulknerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05140363868104172311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-48587408570509326112011-02-07T17:49:33.472+00:002011-02-07T17:49:33.472+00:00pretty good going jan for one hours watching, i...pretty good going jan for one hours watching, i'd settle for that for one weeks, bramblings and redwings to boot, i'll bet you looked like the cat that got the cream, well done.denzilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13207160993690254748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-78473715350020831612011-02-07T12:52:34.475+00:002011-02-07T12:52:34.475+00:00A great selection of visitors there Jan. Greenfinc...A great selection of visitors there Jan. Greenfinch numbers have plummeted here. I see the odd one from time to time. Great you got some star performers as well.<br />I think Samuel Dobell described the present weather condition extremely well.<br />A lovely collection of photos, poetry and prose.Midmarsh Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-12354615969778714442011-02-07T11:46:00.992+00:002011-02-07T11:46:00.992+00:00Good list there Songbird for just an hours watchin...Good list there Songbird for just an hours watching ! Redwing is a good species for the garden, and i'm well jealous of that Brambling, as you know ive been looking all this year for one!Warren Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16042798315431561018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-56952991137327753452011-02-07T10:00:02.526+00:002011-02-07T10:00:02.526+00:00Well done with the BGW Jan. You certainly made an ...Well done with the BGW Jan. You certainly made an effort and then reaped the rewards! I'm envious of your Brambling, haven't seen one for about three years now. With Blackcap and Redwing as well, it makes a great one hour list.Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10543610581948446675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-42288726368431950042011-02-07T09:59:25.713+00:002011-02-07T09:59:25.713+00:00I would say that is close to what we recorded in o...I would say that is close to what we recorded in our garden Jan.<br />Although some of the counts differ, namely House Sparrows, Starlings, Blackbirds and Chaffinches which are all into double figures.<br />We have a regular Brambling in the garden this year strangly a Moorhen also.The minus side has seen the decline of Greenfinch visitors (we have not seen one this year in the garden). Goldcrest and Firecrest have failed to appear and the Bullfinches are rather spasmodic. Lucky we still do have the Blackcaps.<br />I hope everyone is improving your end . A lovely post as usual.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10908298905702314245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-72637614344877922542011-02-07T05:48:22.796+00:002011-02-07T05:48:22.796+00:00It's always a good idea to make each day count...It's always a good idea to make each day count ~ and you definitely did with your wonderful variety of birds, lovingly enveloped with your sweet poetry and words.Glohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09532995590131801962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-41412931339632619702011-02-07T05:29:10.559+00:002011-02-07T05:29:10.559+00:00A good selection of birds Jan.
I seldom get Chaffi...A good selection of birds Jan.<br />I seldom get Chaffinches in the garden, and certainly not Brambling. A great visitor. <br />A Blackcap too; that's quite a nature reserve you have there :)<br /><br />Great pictures to accompany the post.holdingmomentshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16455039696354576430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-61895732907547647132011-02-07T03:51:19.996+00:002011-02-07T03:51:19.996+00:00...glad you got your Brambling and Redwing! I thin......glad you got your Brambling and Redwing! I think the photos are lovely too even if the sun decided not to shine. Looks like a successful count to me!Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02263405659108175434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-87417678222480053972011-02-07T01:10:32.655+00:002011-02-07T01:10:32.655+00:00Pretty good list, though very low numbers of birds...Pretty good list, though very low numbers of birds? Loved the goldfinch wow! I saw starlings and house finches today at the park, thank goodness they do not visit our feeders. A count of birds here would bring around the same number of different birds, yet we'd easily total over a 100 birds in number about any day.Randy Emmitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10292186655869617897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-62835870074004921742011-02-06T23:38:36.058+00:002011-02-06T23:38:36.058+00:00You had a much better day than I did. It was such ...You had a much better day than I did. It was such a miserable day I din't bother. Well done Jan.Mike Attwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-2081017541746493742011-02-06T23:06:41.316+00:002011-02-06T23:06:41.316+00:00I'd say you had a great turn out for you event...I'd say you had a great turn out for you event!! AND the photos you shared today are awesome...I love the chaffinch shot.<br />No way I could have counted the WILD and Unruly pine siskins in the yard today..they came in like a herd of buffalo and emptied the feeder and then off they went into the sunset!Sondrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03485055844682296876noreply@blogger.com