Garden Birdwatch Update

We are now 3 weeks into recording the birds we see in our garden as part of the BTO Garden Birdwatch project, and we have already observed 14 different species. There are a few of the common species we have seen in the past that we have not yet seen this year, but I'm sure they will turn up before the Winter is over.

Our bird species list so far:
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Chaffinch
Coal Tit
Collared Dove
Dunnock
Great Tit
Greenfinch
House Sparrow
Jay
Long-tailed Tit
Robin
Starling
Woodpigeon

First Snowdrops

The snowdrops are starting to come up too. Not many yet, but they are very early like the aconites. See here for planting tips.

More Early Flowers

These Winter Aconites are normally the first flowers of the year to come up, but this year they really are early. More information on this plant can be found here.

Garden Birdwatch

This year we have joined the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Garden Birdwatch project. The information pack arrived this week, so we are starting to record the birds visiting our feeders each day over breakfast. Excellent relaxation before heading off to work. On the first day I counted 10 different species. We have been providing regular food for the birds over the past couple of years, so we have established a good number of regulars. Now we are trying to increase the number of species we attract by providing a wider variety of food.

Currently we provide water via a bird bath and a pond, seed mix enriched with extra sunflower seeds, peanuts, nyger seed and fat cakes (home made containing mixed fruit and crushed peanuts). We are planning to provide regular live food this year after trials with some meal worms last Spring. We estabished a breeding colony of meal worms over the Winter, and they are nearly big enough now to be put out for the birds. I should mention Robyn's Mealworm Page where I found the information I was looking for on how to breed mealworms.

First Primrose of Spring 2005

It looks a bit ragged, but I was surprised to see a Spring flower at all in the garden so early. Growing in what is supposed to be a bog garden next to the pond, except it dries out too easily in the Summer as it is higher than the pond. Something that I will need to sort out when this whole pond area get's a make-over.

Start of a New Year

I'm starting a new blog for the New Year, to record the changes in our garden here in the fens. I went out on New Year's eve, and found the first primrose in flower. Rather early for the Spring flowers, but that just shows you how mild the Winter has been around here! I took a photo, which I'll post to the diary shortly.