Wednesday, January 21

Getting ready for the RSPB Birdwatch weekend


Join in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend - click here for details

 Copyright: Original post from Our Plot at Green Lane Allotments http://glallotments.blogspot.co.uk/ author S Garrett





31 comments:

  1. Thanks Sue, I really must get my registration done today.

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    1. You can still take part if you forget to register, Jessica,

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  2. Awww, how cute is that little sparrow in the bird bath. Wonderful photos.

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    1. I took lots of bathing photos but most were just a flurry of feather and splashes, Jo

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  3. I'm looking forward to it, Mike has gone out to buy more sunflower seeds for them. Our visitors prefer them x

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    1. I hope that the birds enjoy them and you enjoy the count, Jo

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  4. I checked out the Big Garden Birdwatch site and what a great activity for the preservation of birds.
    Thanks for sharing info on the event. I'd never heard of it...it is just for UK right??

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    1. This one is Juliet but there is a US version in February The Great Backyard Bird Count February, 13 -16, 2015 Click here

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    2. Thanks! I'll check it out.

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  5. I've always meant to join in on one of these bird watches but always forget so thank you for the reminder Sue. I shall head on over to the RSPB site to see what's what :)

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  6. You really manage to get fab bird photos. I find this not an easy task! The Big Bird Watch is lots of fun and I always look forward to it.

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    1. It's the law of averages, Kelli, if you take lots and lots some are bound to turn our OK That is as long as they turn up in the right place at the right time

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  7. Oh, what lovely photos ! This sparrow looks wonderful in the bath !
    Greetings

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  8. What fantastic bird pics, I did enjoy them! Especially that little sparrow! I do it every year and the birds take it as a cue to totally disappear!xxx

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    1. Same here Dina. My theory is that people who don't usually feed the birds do that weekend and the birds are just taking advantage if the unexpected bounty knowing we will have food for them when that is all gone.

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  9. That last picture is very funny. You would think the poor thing has been sprayed again its will.

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    1. Sometimes the baths are crammed with birds, Alain with others waiting nearby for their turn.. The bath soon empties with them all splashing about, The sparrow does look a little cross doesn't he?

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  10. I was interested to read about your comparatively late sowing date Sue and the dates of your blooming season. In previous years I've sown sweet peas both in autumn and spring. However the recent run of milder autumns have resulted in very leggy plants so I decided to give autumn sowing a miss last year. I'm still debating about what to sow this year but I will certainly include 'Matucuna' for its scent. 'Gwendoline' is also on my short list. I'd never thought about sweet peas and squash as bedfellows but it makes sense :)

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  11. Sue I'm not quite sure how the above comment ended on this post as it should have appeared on the previous one! I did however have problems posting it which has been happening to me recently on Blogger blogs including my own when I've been answering comments. Anyway please forgive it for going astray.
    I'm all sorted for the RSPB Bird Watch but no doubt there will be the last minute panic when I can't find my specs :)

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    1. No problem I think this appeared as I was replying to your previous comment.

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  12. We sow most things a bit later than most do Anna but it works for us. Matucuna looks interesting, I was limited by what was on offer from Kings as we get discounts from their seeds.If these varieties let me down them I;ll look elsewhere

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  13. I joined in last year, had a very disappointing count, possibly because the weather was cold and gloomy. I will join in this time too :-)

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    1. There do seem less around when it is wet and rainy. I remember that you once mentioned that birds didn't seem to make use if your feeders, has this improved or do you think that they are wary of your cat;

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    2. I have removed my birdfeeder, it was mainly the squirrels that used it, and the 5-6 wood pigeons permanently living on my roof - so if anything is scaring the smaller birds it could be them. I got fed up feeding squirrels and pigeons so I took the feeder away last spring and didn’t put it up again this autumn. My cat isn’t interested in chasing anything bigger than wood mice or moths, I often sit outside in the garden with him in the next chair – the wood pigeons will land in the garden only feet away from us and he really can’t be bothered. And as long as I am sitting down and not standing up, I have magpies and blackbirds landing in the birdbath on a daily basis, they seem to have adopted that birdbath. My cat might lift his head and look at them from his chair, but he has never gone after them. I have had him for 13 years, since moving in here, but I have never found dead birds and my cat has never come inside with dead birds. I have had plenty of dead tiny mice presented to me though….no, I have concluded that my cat is well enough fed, and not very interested in hunting – or possibly rather lazy, certainly no threat to birds, sadly not to squirrels either :-)

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  14. I reckon our regulars know when it is the birdwatch weekend because suddenly the numbers plummet just within the allotted hour! They are definitely trying to skew the numbers in their favour:)

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    1. Isn't it strange sweffling so many people would agree with that. Maybe just for interest we should count at another time too and compare the results.

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    2. That's a brilliant idea: I don't know why I haven't tried it before. This year I shall do that, even if only for my own personal interest.

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  15. Wonderful photos, Sue. I particularly love the last one - this bathing sparrow is so funny!

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