RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2009

This year the RSPB hosted its 30th Big Garden Birdwatch. This is the first year I have taken part and I must admit that it was great fun. I bet many other wildlife bloggers also took part in the event. I thought I would do this posting to show you what I saw this year. I will first say that I didn't really see anything particularly unusual, but it is the taking part that counts, in my opinion. I haven't got any photos of the event but I have got quite an exciting video clip for you to watch- well, I think so anyway!

I watched the birds for an hour between roughly 09:10- 10:10 yesterday morning. I am yet to enter my results on the RSPB website, but I have my list here. I watched from my bedroom window (where I have the best view of the whole garden). The reason why I couldn't take photos from there is because the feeders are too far from the house for my camera to take close-up photos. Anyway, before I talk for too long, here is my list:

Blackbird x 1
Blue Tit x 3
Chaffinch x 2
Collared Dove x 1
Dunnock x 1
Goldfinch x 5
Greenfinch x 2
House Sparrow x 2
Magpie x 1
Robin x 2
Song Thrush x 1
Starling x 2
Woodpigeon x 4

This gives me a total of 13 species. I don't think this is bad, however, I was a little disappointed not to see a Great Tit or a Coal Tit. They obviously had other things on their minds. I suspect this isn't going to be a particularly great score compared to everyone else, but I guess it depends greatly on the time in which you do it. So, having seen 13 species, I would have been disappointed with my results. However, while I was counting the birds, I, for the first time, captured Blue Tits entering my camera nestbox. Admittedly, they didn't stay long actually inside the box, but I was still chuffed to bits to see it.



Above, I have included one of the two captured videos. There seems to be 2 males fighting over 1 female in our garden at the moment, which is very interesting, and it appears that it is one of the males that has visited the box. I have to say that this constant interest in the nestbox bodes well for the nesting season ahead. Of course it is only January and its early days yet, but as long as these birds keep visiting, I think its likely that they will nest there in spring. Fingers crossed for that!

I have left the video as I captured it for now, so you will find that nothing happens after the Blue Tit has left for around 20-30 seconds. Please stop the video after the Blue Tit leaves the box. I was very surprised with the fantastic quality of the video. Seeing the greyish wood shavings made me think that the colour wouldn't be very good, but I was definitely in for a surprise. I look forward to the nesting season ahead in our nestbox and everybody else who owns a nestbox!

Just before I go, I must congratulate and thank Shirl for her effort organising the Plant Challenge and also to the people who helped spread the word. It was a great event, and I was amazed with the interest it caused. Also, I look forward to seeing other people's results for the Big Garden Birdwatch.

Video taken in my camera nestbox on 24th January 2009