Big Garden Bird Watch

The results from the garden yesterday morning were as follows:

Blackbirds            14
Chaffinch              11
Dunnock               2
House Sparrow     4
Coal Tit                 2
Blue Tit                 2
Great Tit               1
Wood Pigeon        6
Collared Dove       1
Blackcap               2  (1m,1f)
GS Woodpecker   1   (fem)
Songthrush            1
Carrion Crow        1
Mistle Thrush        2


Sadly no Robin, Wren, Starling, Long Tailed Tits, Green or Goldfinches - all of which are regulars. 

So a total of 15 species which compares to 12 species last year, which also got the Mistle Thrush and GS Woodpecker - so a good improvement particularly when some of the common species did turn up during the count hour

Let us know how you did


Martin

Big Garden Bird Watch is coming

A quickie today to give an early notice of the annual RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch.

All the details are here for you.  So get yourself registered soon and take part on the last weekend of this month

I have taken part for as long as I can remember and it is always a useful way to spend an hour.

Have fun and let us know how you get on via the comments.

Martin

Pond Life Part 4 - More mating and mature colours

In Pond Life Part 3, I bought you mating Large Reds and the first Common Blue  Azure Damsel that we had seen emerge in the garden pond.

Well the Common Blues Azure Damselflies are now matured and mating as you can see below

Slightly lower POV and the female has put her abdomen deeper into the water, risking attack from the Newts

The Duckweed has been multiplying at a great rate, and I am skimming some off every few days to ensure that there is some clear water available, at least for the Pond Skaters to skate.

In addition to this mating pair, I also got a couple of full frame studies each of the Large Red male in beautiful full mature colours and an Common Blue Azure male.

All with the 7D and Canon 180 f3.5L macro, processed in Capture One V5.1 and Photoshop CS5.

Slightly further away from home, about a mile anyway, I got some great images of male and female Banded Demoiselle eating Mayfly so will post those up for you soon.

As promised I said I would give you a break from the North Uist trip reports to cover off some of my local wildlife.

In my next post, I will bring you some of this years Orchids.  Some are still quite early and some are out quite well, but I did get three different species on Saturday so will share those, before we get back to some more Scottish wildlife.

Update: What I thought were Common Blue Damsels are in fact Azure Damselflies.  I posted a couple of these images on here and had the ID corrected.  Must get myself a better book

Martin

Quick Reminder

As posted back a couple of days ago, this weekend is the RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch.

I just submitted my results from first thing, total of 12 species with the scarcer species of Great Spotted Woodpecker and Mistle Thrush.

Let us know what you recorded

Martin

That time of year again - RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch

It's this weekend folks, so get your chairs pulled up to the windows, get your binos out and a nice big mug of hot tea and toast and get your results in.

Not sure what day I will be doing it, but all the info is here.

Lets us know of any unusual sightings that you might have on the comment section.

Martin