Charts are difficult to read as they have had to be reduced in size to fit on screen. You can, however, click on any chart (not the maps) and the chart will reload in a new page at full size and be much clearer. Further charts are available, follow the links to see them in the same way.

February 2009

February showed another drop in the number of reports received. Pleased to see some new ones but disappointed that so many of the previous contributors haven't participated this time. Could be, of course, a lack of publicity on our part!

We did not expect to see any marked difference from the previous survey periods. Most birds seen are 'normal' for this time of year. Weather always plays a significant part on sightings although, curiously, it is often the case that a spell of good weather will see a drop in numbers in some gardens while there is an increase in others. A bit of bad weather can see it change the other way round.

We anticipated a small drop in numbers, particularly among flocking birds, as this time of year is when birds start dispersing with a view to nesting. With the low number of reports received it is uncertain if this is the case but perhaps there is a hint that it is. The next survey in March should definitely show a trend as we would expect migrants to be starting to move and residents getting down to the serious business of nesting.

Allowing for the small number of reports and new locations, comparing the February returns with the previous ones, relatively there are more reports of Dunnock but less of House Sparrow. Greenfinch is about the same but Goldfinch down slightly. There are more sightings of Wrens and the first Song Thrushes seen. Siskin is down (one garden only reporting sightings). Greater-spotted Woodpeckers remain about the same, even up slightly. There is a fair rise in reports of Long-tailed Tit. Few reports of Brambling but the odd Redwing and Fieldfare came up. Collared Dove more or less stable. Two new sightings - Reed Bunting at Easter Earshaig and a Barn Owl at Nethermill.

Once again the Tit family (Blue, Great & Coal), together with Blackbird, Robin Chaffinch & Dunnock, are obviously very widespread and plentiful. House Sparrows are common in some gardens, totally absent in others.Greater-spotted Woodpecker and Collared Doves are still being recorded but only in a few locations. Herons are not reported this month. Only one garden has seen Brambling. One garden has had a Song Thrush, they should be appearing more frequently soon. No recorded sightings of Grey Wagtail, Redwing, Fieldfare or Goldcrest.

Overall Sightings

The same information in a different form -

All reports by location

Once again the Tit family (Blue, Great & Coal), together with Blackbird, Robin Chaffinch & Dunnock, are obviously very widespread and plentiful. House Sparrows are very sporadic, common in some gardens, totally absent in others. There are still fairly few reports of Wren. Long-tailed Tits seem down a bit on last month but they are still being seen regularly in some gardens. Greater-spotted.Woodpecker and Collared Doves are still being recorded but only in a few locations. Heron sightings are down, better weather is probably allowing them to feed elsewhere now. Brambling continue to be reported in a few isolated gardens, they are certainly not widespread this winter. Again, there were no recorded sightings of Song Thrush, Grey Wagtail, Redwing, Fieldfare or Goldcrest. There are some new ones, though. One record of a Tawny Owl, one of a Rook, one garden reporting daily Tree Sparrow. Two more are thought to be mistaken identity (and we all get it wrong sometimes), one of Garden Warbler and one of Pied Flycatcher. These are regarded as summer birds although there are reliable reports of Garden Warbler over-wintering. Pied Flycatchers are very unlikely but, who knows, perhaps there is one still around. We have still included these two birds on our list.

Now the maps. We have again included only selected species. If anyone out there would like to see more species listed, please get in touch and we will see what we can do.

You can change this map view to show the locations where some selected birds were seen and not seen. The symbols used are:

reporting point

sighting location for selected bird.

The choice of display is from the following options -

All locations

Nuthatch

Collared Dove

House Sparrow

Siskin

Long-tailed Tit

To give an indication of how common all these birds are, here are some more charts. Follow the links to open each in a new browser window.

Birds seen daily - the commonest birds
Birds seen on three-quarters of days or more - very common
Birds seen on between half and three-quarters of days - fairly common
Birds seen on between one quarter and three-quarters of days - less common
Birds seen on one quarter of days or less - least common/ occasional

 

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