This has been hard actually, much harder than my top 10 UK rarities I did a few nights ago!
1. England - its where I do 95% of my birding so it has to be.
2. USA - I find the confiding nature of the birds amazing, in fact on my first visit to Boy Scouts Wood in Texas I literally couldnt stand up I was so 'blown away'
3.Spain - Europes best?
4. Morocco - just a beatiful place to bird, great birds and (mostly) lovely people.
5. Israel -stunning.
6. Thailand - probably not as good as it once was but some days were just spellbinding.
7. Costa Rica - lives up to its reputation.
9. France - so many memorable experiences.
10. South Africa - rough and tough (like a modern day Wild West) but oh so rewarding.
Who heard the BBC Radio 5 Live debate on taping birds in to photograph them this evening? Tomorrow time to say a few words on that subject...........................................................
Friday 13 May 2011
Thursday 12 May 2011
Just in - RSPB 2011 Big Garden Birdwatch Results UK's TOP 10 Garden Birds
Among 1000's we also took part from our garden in Droitwich Spa, we had the excitement of Blackcaps and Bramblings!
Its really great that the RSPB mail you with a smart leaflet giving the results of the 2011 Big Garden Birdwatch, repeated here are the results!
1. House Sparrow - on top for the eighth year running, and UP 10% since 2010. However numbers are still down 58% since the first Big Garden Birdwatch in 1979.
2. Starling - The Starling has increased by a quater since 2010 despite appearing in only half the gardens watched.
3. Blackbird - Although the numbers spotted are similar to 2010, the Blackbird coudn't beat the Starling to second this year.
4. Blue Tit - The agile Blue Tit is most often seen flitting on to bird feeders. Its numbers were 22% up on last year.
5. Chaffinch - Still at 5th, with numbers slightly up on last year. Since 1979, the Chaffinch's numbers have fallen 20%.
6. Woodpigeon - similar numbers to last year keeps this pigeon at six. Seen in 68% of gerdens this year, it's up 850% since 1979.
7. Great Tit - up 12% and one place since last year, this bird is faring well. Numbers in our gardens have increased by 78% since 1979.
8. Goldfinch - continuing its welcome recovery over the last two years, the Goldfinch is up 17% on 2010 and moves up two places in the top 10.
9. Robin - if you spotted this little character, you may have been treated to its winter song. Robin numbers fell 2% this year and it moved down two places.
10. Collared Dove - Originally from Asia and first recorded in the UK in the 1950's the Collared Dove has seen a rise 333% since 1979
So thats it in a nutshell - fits in nice with my current Top 10 themed birding blogs, let me know if your reading them - off to look for Grasshopper Warblers now (again) but tomorrows blog will be my Top 10 favorite Birding Countries - well worth a look ;)
Good birding.
Its really great that the RSPB mail you with a smart leaflet giving the results of the 2011 Big Garden Birdwatch, repeated here are the results!
1. House Sparrow - on top for the eighth year running, and UP 10% since 2010. However numbers are still down 58% since the first Big Garden Birdwatch in 1979.
2. Starling - The Starling has increased by a quater since 2010 despite appearing in only half the gardens watched.
3. Blackbird - Although the numbers spotted are similar to 2010, the Blackbird coudn't beat the Starling to second this year.
4. Blue Tit - The agile Blue Tit is most often seen flitting on to bird feeders. Its numbers were 22% up on last year.
5. Chaffinch - Still at 5th, with numbers slightly up on last year. Since 1979, the Chaffinch's numbers have fallen 20%.
6. Woodpigeon - similar numbers to last year keeps this pigeon at six. Seen in 68% of gerdens this year, it's up 850% since 1979.
7. Great Tit - up 12% and one place since last year, this bird is faring well. Numbers in our gardens have increased by 78% since 1979.
8. Goldfinch - continuing its welcome recovery over the last two years, the Goldfinch is up 17% on 2010 and moves up two places in the top 10.
9. Robin - if you spotted this little character, you may have been treated to its winter song. Robin numbers fell 2% this year and it moved down two places.
10. Collared Dove - Originally from Asia and first recorded in the UK in the 1950's the Collared Dove has seen a rise 333% since 1979
So thats it in a nutshell - fits in nice with my current Top 10 themed birding blogs, let me know if your reading them - off to look for Grasshopper Warblers now (again) but tomorrows blog will be my Top 10 favorite Birding Countries - well worth a look ;)
Good birding.
Wednesday 11 May 2011
top ten # 2 - UK rarities I have seen
.........so this maybe unique as no two birders have seen the same rarities?
I was thinking about this tonight whilst out looking for Grasshopper Warblers in Worcestershire (UK), this is a tough one but here goes, these are the 10 that gave me the most pleasure.
1. Golden-winged Warbler. - Kent 1990.
2. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater - Great Cowden 1988(was it '88?)
3. Pallas's Sandgrouse - Shetland 1990.
4. Ross's Gull - Cornwall 1988
5. Yellow-throated Vireo - Cornwall 1990
6. Gyr Falcon - Devon 1986 (and the other one too)
7. Ancient Murrelet - Devon 1990
8. Ivory Gull - Cleveland 1986
9. Northern Parula - Cornwall 1987.
10. Needle-tailed Swift - Orkney 1989
I have not checked the years so I may be a year or two out, I'll correct later.
Let me know yours even if your not in the UK!!
I was thinking about this tonight whilst out looking for Grasshopper Warblers in Worcestershire (UK), this is a tough one but here goes, these are the 10 that gave me the most pleasure.
1. Golden-winged Warbler. - Kent 1990.
2. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater - Great Cowden 1988(was it '88?)
3. Pallas's Sandgrouse - Shetland 1990.
4. Ross's Gull - Cornwall 1988
5. Yellow-throated Vireo - Cornwall 1990
6. Gyr Falcon - Devon 1986 (and the other one too)
7. Ancient Murrelet - Devon 1990
8. Ivory Gull - Cleveland 1986
9. Northern Parula - Cornwall 1987.
10. Needle-tailed Swift - Orkney 1989
I have not checked the years so I may be a year or two out, I'll correct later.
Let me know yours even if your not in the UK!!
Tuesday 10 May 2011
Topical - Birding 'Top 10s' #1 My Garden Birds
I always have an opinion on these! I'd really like to know what other think as an subject and their 'birding top 10's'. I have to start with the my favorite garden birds, those I have seen in my garden / or gardens over the years. What are yours?
1. Brambling - both in Worcs and Market Drayton.
2. Hobby - Market Drayton, only a 'fly-over' but that counts!
3. Blackbird - all the gardens I remember, beautiful song in Spring.
4. Song Thrush - just love 'em.
5. House Sparrow - yep, no garden is complete without them.
6. Willow Tit - Crowle in the 1970's, hardly ever see one now :(
7. Blue Tit - the first garden bird I ever remember seeing, still a delight now.
8. Reed Bunting - again in Crowle, only in winter no idea where they came from!
9. Blackcap - another 'bird watchers' bird, Crowle, Market Drayton and now Droitwich too.
10. Great Tit - they just look stunning.
I am going to post my top 10 'favorite UK rarities' next, that'll be fun compiling that.
1. Brambling - both in Worcs and Market Drayton.
2. Hobby - Market Drayton, only a 'fly-over' but that counts!
3. Blackbird - all the gardens I remember, beautiful song in Spring.
4. Song Thrush - just love 'em.
5. House Sparrow - yep, no garden is complete without them.
6. Willow Tit - Crowle in the 1970's, hardly ever see one now :(
7. Blue Tit - the first garden bird I ever remember seeing, still a delight now.
8. Reed Bunting - again in Crowle, only in winter no idea where they came from!
9. Blackcap - another 'bird watchers' bird, Crowle, Market Drayton and now Droitwich too.
10. Great Tit - they just look stunning.
I am going to post my top 10 'favorite UK rarities' next, that'll be fun compiling that.
Enjoy Birds!
I have a passion for the natural environment, in particular the most watched, or most easily watched group - The Birds.
I recently posted a photograph of on the 'Birdguides' website I remember writing on the caption that really its a good job the whole world doesnt Enjoy Birds as much as I do, if that was ever the case I would never get a seat in the 'hide' at Upton Warren, my local nature reserve. However it is clear that people preserve and cherish the things they care about and this comes from appreciation and understanding. On that basis if we are to pass on to the next generation a world with at least the level of biodiversity it has now we have to encourage as many people as posible in to contributing something in to consevation. If thats feeding the birds in their garden, providing a nest box somewhere or joining one of the many very credable conservation organisations then the way I see it is every little helps!
If through my birding or blogging or other methods yet concieved I can convert one person to sharing my passion and through that contributing in some way to conservation then I will count that as success. On that basis.........lets blog.
I recently posted a photograph of on the 'Birdguides' website I remember writing on the caption that really its a good job the whole world doesnt Enjoy Birds as much as I do, if that was ever the case I would never get a seat in the 'hide' at Upton Warren, my local nature reserve. However it is clear that people preserve and cherish the things they care about and this comes from appreciation and understanding. On that basis if we are to pass on to the next generation a world with at least the level of biodiversity it has now we have to encourage as many people as posible in to contributing something in to consevation. If thats feeding the birds in their garden, providing a nest box somewhere or joining one of the many very credable conservation organisations then the way I see it is every little helps!
If through my birding or blogging or other methods yet concieved I can convert one person to sharing my passion and through that contributing in some way to conservation then I will count that as success. On that basis.........lets blog.
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