Just a quick note to remind you about the Big Garden Birdwatch. If you haven’t done it today, there is still time tomorrow. Scarlett and I will be doing it tomorrow morning.
It only takes an hour, it gets you closer to your local wildlife and you’ll be helping to monitor bird numbers across the country.
See http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/takepart.aspx for full details of how to take part.
Tales from the Wood - The Diary of a Badger Watching Man 
Good for you in counting your garden birds but do you note your birds on other days? Personally, I subscribe to the BTO BirdTrack project which is a good thing to get involved with too.
Kind Regards
Tony Powell
I did it this morning (Sunday) but had a howler! Mainly due to my small garden, although a new county tick paid a brief then longer visit. It was a Coal Tit, a species I’ve only ever seen out of this county before. Other than that, the (MASSIVE) amount of food I put out was only eaten by 1 Magpie, 2 Woodpigeons, 1 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tits and a pair of blackbirds. Unfortunately the ‘usual’ pair of Long-Tailed Tits or our ‘resident’ Robin showed up.
I went for a somewhat local walk in the afternoon but only a Song Thrush, 3 Chaffinches, a Rook and a unidentified (Possibly Sparrowhawk) bird of prey flew over.
Hi Tony – thanks for writing in.
Yes, I’ve heard of the BirdTrack site. To my shame, it is only a chronic lack of time that stops me, as it sounds like a good idea on several levels. It’s a chance to keep a record of your own sightings, plus it contributes to the overall picture.
But as I say, time is the key thing. This diary is as close as I’ve ever got to keeping proper records, so I am gradually getting more organised, so I’ll see if I can go the next step at some point in the future.
PS – fascinating blog. I’ve learnt a new word today – ‘phenology’. I’ll have a good read shortly.
All the best
BWM
Very true E J!
I think the birds must know what’s happening. I could have doubled my ‘score’ if I’d done it later in the day, although most of that would have been the resident flock of piranha Blue Tits that swarm in and eat everything in sight.
All the best
BWM