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.

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

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 - they are not easy to make out as we have to reduce their size considerably to fit the web page! Until we find a happy solution, another set of links is provided underneath the charts that will load the charts into a new browser page at full size.

Birds seen daily - very common

 

Birds seen on three-quarters of days or more - common

 

Birds seen on between half and three-quarters of days - fairly common

 

Birds seen only on between one quarter and half of days - less common

 

Birds only seen on less than one quarter of days - uncommon or occasional

 

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