My RSPB Garden Birdwatch Results

It was just my luck that none of the more exotic visitors like the parakeets or the raven, or even the jays, put in an appearance. But between 12.30 and 1.30pm, this is what I saw. You had to count the greatest number of a particular species that you saw all together at one time, so one robin followed by another half an hour later, would still be entered as one robin, not two, even if it was a different bird! Here goes:

1 Blackbird; 7 Blue Tits; 1 Chaffinch (great, I hadn't seen one for ages and didn't know they were back!); 1 Collared Dove (usually there is a pair but I think its mate was caught by a fox recently as we found lots of pale grey feathers); 2 Dunnocks; 7 Feral Pigeons, aka Town Pigeons; 3 Goldfinches; 1 Great Tit; 7 House Sparrows (they're really making a comeback round here); 2 Long-Tailed Tits; 4 Magpies; 1 Robin; 2 Starlings; 1 Wren.

RSPB Garden Birdwatch

Later today, I am going to sit at the kitchen window, RSPB form in front of me and binoculars to the ready, to do the Big Garden Birdwatch. Wish I'd done it yesterday when it was clear and sunny and the garden was a-twitter with sparrows. Today, it's gloomy and misty and there's not a bird to be seen except for two mouldy old feral pigeons. 

There's a bit of news on the raven. A few days ago, it appeared with disarranged feathers sticking up like a mohical on top of its head and a big white patch over one eye. We feared it had been in a fight and lost an eye. However, it's now looking sleeker again and a close inspection through the binoculars showed me that its right eye is fine and the white patch - scar from a fight? - is above the eye, not across it. It must be keeping a close watch on the garden because yesterday afternoon it swooped down after I had fed some dog food to the fox, and picked the remnants out of the bowl. I hope it appears while I am doing the Birdwatch. I think I know a way to tempt it...