Those of you who read my post about the birdfeeders in our garden (15/12/21) will not be surprised to learn that the results for our hour of The Big Garden Birdwatch were unspectacular. On Friday I was away. Saturday was too windy. This morning i was otherw1se engaged. So 12.20-1.20 it was.
These were the birds seen. One robin turned up at once and was pleased to get at the scattered mealworms first. It was closely followed by a male blackbird, which preferred the fat sprinkles. We usually get half a dozen sparrows every morning, but this time there were just three. Because of old eyes I use binoculars to check, even at this short distance, and was glad to confirm a dunnock; I do like them a lot, so neat and unassuming. A blue tit made such a brief visit - a quick snatch of a sunflower heart, that I nearly missed it. I did miss something similar, for it came and went before I could get focused; it may have been a coal tit, but I did not enter it in my records.
After 40 minutes a fluffy black and white cat came over the fence. It withdrew before I could get my water-pistol pointed. Had it been a dog I could have pursued the owner, but cats are above the law.
Wood pigeons are regulars with us. During this hour there were three. In fact five minutes after the hour was over there were four - but not listed. I expected two magpies, but only one came. I wonder whether its companion has met with an accident.
And that was it. Not very exciting; but I do enjoy watching even these familiar birds. The Garden Birdwatch is not a competition as to who has the most, or the most exotic, but a scientific survey where accurate data is everything. If I want exotic I can walk less than ten minutes and hope to see dippers, goosanders, grey wagtails and a kingfisher. But the Water of Leith does not, I hope, run through our property even in flood.
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