This year the number of anticipated participants was fifty-eight. In the 2007 part of the survey records were received from fifty-one, with fifty-two received for the second session in 2008. The number of contributors remained substantially the same as in the last survey, with five new recorders joining and four previous contributors not continuing. Seven survey members are not members of SECOS, one less than last year. Once more the level of support is most encouraging and a big thank-you is extended to all contributors new and old.
Since the beginning of SECOS Garden Bird Surveys in 1985, seventy-six different species of birds have now been recorded. No additional species were recorded this year
In this survey the ten most common garden birds remain exactly the same as in the last survey, although there were the usual minor changes to the relative positions as shown below.
Our current most common ten bird species in order are:-
1) Blackbird [1], 2) Robin [3], 3) Blue Tit [2],
4) Wood Pigeon [5], 5) House Sparrow [4], 6) Great Tit [7],
7) Starling [9], 8) Collared Dove [8], 9) Chaffinch [10],
10) Dunnock [6].
The number in square brackets following the name shows the corresponding position last year.
Again, blackbird, blue tit, robin and wood pigeon were recorded in every garden surveyed.
Records of brambling, red-legged partridge and little owl had a small presence in this survey, having been absent from the last. Garden warbler, marsh/willow tit, raven and ring-necked parakeet were not recorded this time. Redwings continued to be more numerous than fieldfares. Siskins were demoted from the “listed bird” part of the survey to the “other species” listing in this survey, but their record count recovered greatly, with small numbers appearing in a half of the gardens taking part, with a highest individual count of ten. Blackcap numbers retreated further from the low numbers in the last survey. Bullfinch, goldcrest, jay and rook records showed significant increases. Great-spotted woodpecker records retained last year’s position of being the most common bird of the “Other Species” table Lesser redpolls though not common enjoyed a greater presence. Mistle thrushes maintained the numbers of the last survey. Six records of buzzards were again included though this time from five different gardens rather than two.
For further details contact Trevor Clowes
email: “handt136@talktalk.net”
