Big Bird Watch

No...not that Big Bird...

The RSPB Big Bird Watch was a bit of a wash-out this year. Despite having a massive note about it on the fridge door - I completely forgot about it until the Sunday, and what with other morning commitments meant that it was early afternoon before I got round to counting anything - by which time all the birds who had been about their daily business in the morning [and yes I do mean ALL, there were many, I saw them] had retreated to the safety of their homes so as not to contribute to this year's census.

I decided to compile a chart/graph to see how bird numbers have fluctuated in the area in the last four years. Fortunately, I'd written up most of my findings in this blog; although last year's notes were missing. I knew I had done them, and written them down on a small and otherwise insignificant piece of paper somewhere....after much light swearing and pulling out bank letters from office orifices, I found I'd [sensibly] stored them with a load of old post office parcel tracking receipts.

This year I made use of my nature journal to properly document sightings.

Yes, I know the house sparrow colour is a bit off. It's artistic licence...and it's cute.

So, house sparrow numbers are up this year, along with magpies. According to the area [which somewhat confusingly the RSPB website considers to be "Midlothian"] average, we have the average number of dunnocks and magpies [1 and 2, respectively]. We get considerably more than the area average [3] of house sparrows - although considering I've counted well over 25 on a good day...I think they're just hiding to play the 'I'm an endangered species' card.

The 'elusive' house sparrows

As you can see, the sparrows here (above) are doing their best impression of the green parakeets in the latest David Attenborough documentary ['Wild London']; pretending to be the foliage on an otherwise naked shrub.

Elsewhere in the garden, I finally managed to source some sloe/blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) whips to bulk out the pyracantha hedge at the front. In its current state its still failing to deter the window cleaner [from climbing over it and dumping his ladder in the flowerbed]. Not sure how many more prickly species I can plant...maybe some holly if this doesn't work? The blackthorn should also produce some lovely blossom and maybe a berry or two to drop in some sort of alcoholic beverage.

The squirrels are still as frisky as ever and quick to point out [i.e. come begging to the back door] that the self-service machine needs a refill. Here is Side-burn Sid enjoying a bowl of out-of-date pine nuts (below), along with a pair of little wet footprints (probably belonging to the same culprit).

Hurrah! We've got a snowdrop!