Pihabongaus 2020

The Big Garden Birdwatch came around again and my garden rose to the challenge.



Couldn't have asked for better weather. Blue skies, beautiful light and on the cold side, meaning feeders were active.

The hour started out well with a 2nd Cal White-Tailed Eagle chasing a Mute Swan at the far side of the lake. 

Several Goosander were present along with a couple of Goldeneye, Red Breasted Merganser and a single male Smew.

The usual party of Great Spotted Woodpecker put on a good show, with two birds drumming 






Great Spotted Woodpecker


Great Spotted Woodpecker - 4K video. Select highest resolution in YouTube.

Other decent birds in the hour included Robin (always scarce in Winter but our garden has one or two every year), Willow Tit, a flock of Northern Long Tailed Tit, Goshawk and a calling Black Woodpecker.


Tree Sparrow


Yellowhammer


Siskin

Notable absentees included Whooper Swan (herself had two in the bay Friday), Bullfinch (usual a flock of 7-8), Grey Headed Woodpecker (Usually a male and female, not seen all day), Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Least reliable Woodpecker in the garden, but often comes through the bay once a day), Buzzard (a good clear day for raptors but no luck.), Common Gull (there's been a couple floating around the bay most days).

There's notable differences in the species present this winter vs. our previous here. No Chaffinches or Brambling wintering here this year (last year we had dozens), however this is somewhat compensated with Siskin and Crossbill numbers present. 

A very enjoyable hour and just goes to show how good a Finnish garden can be.


Species and Totals

White-Tailed Eagle 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 8
Mute swan 1
Goosander 8
Goldeneye 2
Smew 1
Red-Breasted Merganser 2
Yellowhammer 25
Tree Sparrow - 20
Great Tit 10+
Blue tit 10 +
Treecreeper 2
Siskin 10
Greenfinch 6
Robin 1
Coal tit 2
Jay 5
Jackdaw 7
Hooded crow 9
Magpie 4
Redpoll 1
Crossbill 11
Blackbird 16
Goldcrest 2
Long Tailed tit 6
Willow tit 1
Sparrowhawk 1
Raven 2
Goshawk 1
Great Black Backed Gull 1
Herring gull 1
Black Woodpecker 1




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