Talkback: My Big Garden Birdwatch

I had a bit of a disappointing count this year - in the days leading up to it, I'd seen a pair of long-tailed tits, a pair of greenfinches, a house sparrow and lots of collared doves, but none of them turned up during my hour, plus I only saw 1 each of blue tit, coal tit and blackbird when there's normally 2 of them around. Even the starlings gave a poor showing - only 4, when I regularly see upwards of 6 or 7! Maybe they were scared of the large camera lens sticking through the sitting room curtains? Nothing dodgy, I just thought it might be a nice opportunity to get some good shots of my avian garden visitors :-) I did also see a robin (a regular, although I've seen 2 on occasion, but then one of them is usually chased away!), 2 wood pigeons (again a poor showing) and a dunnock.

Overall not bad, I suppose, considering my garden is rather small, but I had hoped for so much more ;-)

I took part for the first time. Managed about 15 different species, including a lone Fieldfare, a regular visitor to our apple tree. Only a lone blackbird and a single starling. Recorded 4 blue tits and 2 great tits but I'm sure this is an under estimate because of the comings and goings. Coming top were 12 jackdaws, flocks of which regularly descend upon the seed feeder, particularly picking up seeds falling on to the lawn, with 4 house sparrow joint second, and 3 very fat woodpigeons and 3 green finches in joint fourth place. Disappointed with only a single blackbird, starling and song thrush.

I'm sure birds know when there's a camera pointing in their direction! Any bird records are of value to the RSPB, so do log on to their website and post your results. It would be great to hear what other birds people spotted.

It would be a good idea to have a section for the birds that are normally present in the garden. This year very few made an appearance in the hour, but most were back by the next day! I only counted four sparrows, but there were at least a dozen the next day. The resident pair of blackbirds were hiding and at this time of year we often get a flock of a dozen long tailed tits for a few days, but not this year. Perhaps some of our neighbours had put out tastier snacks and counted them!

Starlings were top of my bird watch and strangely enough I also counted 21. I thought after last years terrible weather numbers would be down but they appear to be more or less the same. Its a fantastic hour though isn't it, just sitting counting birds. I don't often afford myself that luxury, too much to do!!!

I have just seen 3 yes 3 green woodpeckers in my garden ! what a wonderful sight. Thats it I just wanted to share. Bye

For the last couple of mornings I've been watching a woodpecker on a neighbours' partially burnt tree. I think it's a great spotted although at first it was just a silhouette.I managed to get my 7 year old to look in the right direction but how do I get my 4 year old to see it?

I managed 11 species this year and have posted the results on my blog. I've had replies from 3 other bloggers who joined in. We all seem to have had less species in our counts this year. I think this might be due to the weather (dull) as I see from my previous counts that the best results are on sunny days.