Big Garden Birdwatch 2024

What can I say about the Sunday of Big Garden Birdwatch weekend? Well, it was mainly dry. It wasn't cold, due to a southerly wind. In fact the temperature was a balmy 50mph, so wind chill was still a factor. Small birds were entirely absent from the garden, even in the sheltered patch in the lee of a boundary wall. Not a House Sparrow from the local flock to be seen, and even the ever-dependable Mrs Chaffinch sent her excuses, presumably because she was staying in to preen during that particular hour. However, this was our first BGB from our new home, so we weren't going to miss out on the opportunity to put Burnbank on the map.

Thank goodness for the Brown Hare action in the stubble field. Well, I say action, it was mainly her hunkering down out of the gale, and him occasionally shuffling around in an ever-decreasing circle until he was sat right by his intended.

We managed a total of sixteen birds, not species, mind, sixteen individual birds. Of six species. The corvids arrived mob-handed, but even their numbers were much lower than normal. One particular Jackdaw stood out because it has a deformed bill, curving left and down. This bird feeds in a very specific way, its head tilted over to the right, and although the deformity is difficult to spot in real time, the mannerism is very obvious. Here's a photo of the Jackdaw from a few days ago when we first noticed it.

Another explanation for the lack of small birds was the fact that during the hour we chose, a male Hen Harrier made two passes across the neighbouring field, sending gulls, doves, corvids and everything else skyward. Hey ho, it's difficult to get upset with a male Hen Harrier, they are such gorgeous birds.

I have now uploaded our results to the RSPB website. The graphic below has omitted the solitary Rock Dove which deigned to visit the garden.

How about everyone else? What were the highlights of your Big Garden Birdwatch?