Corona Wildlife Diary: Day Twenty-four

LewesWildlife
, 10 April 2020
Corona Wildlife Diary: Day Twenty-four

Hey folks. How are we all doing? Well, last Saturday's Back Garden Bird Race was a lot of fun  (you can read about it here) and I've had a lot of people ask if we can do it again. 

I certainly don't want to start imposing any more restrictions on you - so we're going to be holding another bird race tomorrow (Saturday 11th) from 10:00-11:00.

Same rules apply: 

Back Garden Bird Race

1) Stand / sit in your garden or look out of your window between 10:00-11:00 on Saturday.

2) Note down all the species of birds you see / hear / smell from your garden or window - including ones flying over  (chickens and cockatoos don't count).

3) Post your list below,  on Facebook or on the new web app when it's over. That's it.

Try and get your list in soon after 11:00, then I can tot them up and I'll put out the results on Saturday.

It doesn't matter where you live. The contest is open to anyone who has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Which is everybody in the entire world.

Last week Barry (who can see our Rye Harbour Nature Reserve from his garden) won with 35 birds. Barry's the nature reserve manager - he's been there 37 years this week! You're probably not going to beat Barry (unless you live next door to him) but that's not the point. Everyone who took part said they really enjoyed it, learnt a bit about their neighbourhood birds, spotted a few unusual species or just enjoyed a reason to sit and focus on something other than the news for an hour. And I just loved sitting in the garden thinking about all of you out there birdwatching at the same time.

So step away from the news, stop counting your toilet rolls and join us as we stare into the skies tomorrow. See if you can beat your score from last week.

This week we've gone all upmarket. We've got a snazzy new logo - thanks to my colleague Sam Roberts.

BGBR logo


You can join in in a few different ways. 

You can post your bird list in the comments bit below this blog. 

You can join us live as we all list our birds on the Sussex Wildlife Trust Nature Table Facebook page (which got really intense last week!)

Or - we now have this really cool Back Garden Bird Race web app to help you to identify and list the birds in your garden. 

P1030773

A huge thank you to Dave Kilbey of Natural Apptitude who has designed and donated this amazing app just for us.

Click on the link here https://bird-race.coreo.app/ to take you to the web app.

Once there you can click on the app's I.D. Guide and you'll find photos, descriptions and sounds of 40 of the commonest birds you might find in your garden.

What's also really brilliant is if you log in and use the 'Records' function you can easily create your Back Garden Bird Race list. This list will then be sent to me and your bird records will be added to the seven million wildlife records held by the Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre to help us know more about bird distribution in Sussex.

I've also put together a bird I.D. sheet for you to print out and use (it should be in colour but I've ran out of ink).

P1030775

You can download that here >>Back Garden Bird Guide

I'll post the race results tomorrow. 


Good luck everybody!

(But not you Barry, I hope your telescope breaks).



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Comments

  • GORDON MCGOOCHAN:

    We will be there, hoping to improve on last week’s tally. The app looks great, I’ll download that, it will be very useful to be able to identify birds by their song, I’m sure I hear a lot more than I see. And the print out guide will certainly be useful. Looking forward to it.

    10 Apr 2020 09:36:00

  • Rachel Borrows:

    This looks great thanks for setting it up! I am looking forward to joining in tomorrow and getting the kids involved.

    10 Apr 2020 18:31:00

  • Mary:

    I know it’s early but I had to start/finish early owing to other jobs…
    Starling
    House sparrow
    Collared Dove
    Goldfinch
    Jackdaw
    Blue tit
    Herring gull
    Blackbird
    Wren
    Carrion Crow
    Robin
    Wood Pigeon
    Greenfinch
    Goldcrest?
    Chiffchaff
    Green woodpecker
    Great tit
    Reed bunting
    Hedge sparrow
    Cole tit
    Sparrow hawk? just a flash through the garden, not seen properly
    And yes, the neighbours’ hens!
    Like most of us, missing a few usual ones in the hour, so frustrating!! eg magpie, feral pigeon, buzzard…
    Thank you Michael for your blog and all the fun we’re having :) It’s wonderful.

    11 Apr 2020 09:56:00

  • Simon Linington:

    Hi Michael, Scores on the doors = 22 here in Barcombe this morning. Also three probables and a Holly Blue (latter flies but presumably doesn’t count). Thanks for organising this. Cheers, Simon

    11 Apr 2020 10:08:00

  • Dick Perrin:

    Thanks. I’ve enjoyed the 10-11am birdwatch. Here’s my list:
    Sparrow (lots)
    Coal tit
    Blue tit
    Robin
    Pigeon
    Collared dove
    Flying by:
    Wood pigeon
    Crows
    Black headed gull
    Blackbird
    Starlings

    11 Apr 2020 10:09:00

  • c hydes:

    Walberton, Arundel

    blue tit
    robin
    dunnock
    house sparrow
    goldfinch
    greenfinch
    wren
    pied wagtail
    starling
    blackbird
    crow
    rook
    magpie
    jackdaw
    herring gull
    buzzard
    great spotted woodpecker

    11 Apr 2020 10:10:00

  • Alan Parker:

    Here is my list from our garden on Fairlight Cliffs, looking inland for a change as light too bright at sea.: in order of appearance Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Herring Gull, Goldfinch, Wood Pigeon, Linnet, Robin, Chaffinch, Meadow Pipit, Wren, Great Tit, Collared Dove, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Greenfinch, Siskin, GBB Gull, Blackbird, Brambling, Buzzard, Red Kite [a first for Fairlight for me, so thanks !!

    11 Apr 2020 10:12:00

  • Phillip Wells:

    Birds seen Ringmer Garden:
    1 Collared Dove
    2 Blackbird
    3 House Sparrow
    4 Herring Gull
    5 Blue Tit
    6 Jackdaw
    7 Rook
    8 Peregrine Falcon
    9 Goldfinch
    10 Sparrowhawk
    11 Magpie
    12 Starling
    13 Buzzard
    14 Great Tit
    15 Robin
    16 Pheasant
    17 Pigeon

    Thanks!

    11 Apr 2020 10:14:00

  • Tom Howard-Jones:

    Garden Bird Race 11-04-20 10:00 to 11:00
    12 bird species
    Blackbird; Woodpigeon; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Magpie; Crow; Nuthatch; Sparrowhawk; Herring Gull; Chaffinch; Greenfinch; Jackdaw.
    Thanks for the idea and the event – good fun.

    11 Apr 2020 10:20:00

  • Allan Maddocks:

    Bird Race totals

    Greenfinch 5
    Goldfinch 7
    Wood Pidgeon 4
    Feral Pidgeon 6
    Blue tit 1
    Herring Gull 5
    Magpie 3
    Jackdaw 5
    Rook 2
    Blackbird 1
    Starling 5
    Dunnock 3
    Robin 1
    Great tit 1
    Collard Dove 2
    Red Kite 3
    Carrion Crow 2
    House Sparrows 3
    18 species in total

    11 Apr 2020 10:20:00

  • Janet & Colin Holter:

    Really enjoying the blog Michael, thanks so much.
    Back Garden Bird Race 11.04.2020, Steyning.
    Dunnock, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Wood Pigeon, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit,Wren, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Magpie, Herring Gull, Blackbird, Stock Dove, Mallard (1 flew over!), Starling, Buzzard, Rook + heard only Gt. Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Chiffchaff, & Blackcap = 23sp.

    11 Apr 2020 10:23:00

  • Sally Smallman:

    6 X Bluetit
    5 X male Blackbirds
    2 x female Blackbirds
    16 X Pigeon
    16 X Sparrow (some tree sparrow?)
    2 x Magpie
    2 x Robin
    1 x Buzzard
    4 X Mallard Ducks
    1 x Crow

    11 Apr 2020 10:23:00

  • Vince Massimo:

    Hi Micheal,

    Thanks for organising the survey and for keeping us all entertained with your diary.

    Results from my Crawley garden on 11th April (10am-11am):

    1. Common Gull 2. House Sparrow 3. Starling 4. Robin 5. Blackbird 6. Goldcrest 7. Blue tit 8. Goldfinch 9. Stock Dove 10. Crow 11. Wood Pigeon 12. Collared Dove 13. Great tit 14. Buzzard

    Also 4 species of butterfly and a helicopter. The best thing for me was the Goldcrest.

    Best regards,
    Vince Massimo

    11 Apr 2020 10:24:00

  • Anne Hart:

    Birds seen near Crowborough garden.
    1. Blue Tit
    2. Great Tit
    3. Wood Pigeon
    4. Robins
    5. Jackdaw
    6. Blackbird
    7. Goldfinch
    8. Nuthatch
    9. Wren
    10. Marsh Tit
    11. Buzzard
    12. Crow
    13. Chaffinch
    14. Magpie
    15. Great Spotted Woodpecker
    16. Blackcap
    17. Bullfinch
    18. Dunnock
    19. Chiffchaff
    29. Garden Warbler

    Enjoyed this – many thanks

    11 Apr 2020 10:24:00

  • Chris Brown:

    Chris Brown
    Suburban Brighton garden

    1. Feral Pigeon
    2. Robin
    3. Herring Gull
    4. Collared Dove
    5. Greenfinch
    6. Carrion Crow
    7. Woodpigeon
    8. Blackbird
    9. Goldfinch
    10. Starling
    11. Magpie
    12. Blue Tit
    13. House Sparrow
    14. Wren
    15. Dunnock
    16. Blackcap
    17. Great Tit
    18. Buzzard
    19. Sparrowhawk
    20. Jackdaw
    21. Jay
    22. Chiffchaff

    11 Apr 2020 10:25:00

  • Nigel Kemp:

    Heathfield. 16 species. House sparrow, blackbird, goldfinch, greenfinch, wood pigeon, jackdaw, wren, herring gull, robin, blue tit, rook, dunnock, carrion crow, sparrow hawk, heron, magpie.

    11 Apr 2020 10:26:00

  • Bob Eade:

    Sunny Seaford and only 16 seen, the highlight being a Swallow.
    Many regulars were a little shy today.

    11 Apr 2020 10:36:00

  • Martin Buck:

    Good morning Sussex. The scores from Cuckfield are as follows…
    Blue tit, Great tit, nuthatch, wood pigeon, collared dove, dunnock, carrion crow, greenfinch, blackbird, starling, house sparrow, wren, goldfinch, Robin, blackcap, magpie, jackdaw. 17…
    Thank you Michael for putting on a wonderful show. And who’s pinched my song thrush???

    11 Apr 2020 10:39:00

  • Tim D:

    As predicted, most of the birds in my garden departed to my non birding neighbours – not to reappear until later. However – Herring Gull, Robin, Green Woodpecker,Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Jay, Rook, Woodpigeon, Pheasant, Buzzard, Kestrel, Great Tit, Long tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, House Sparrow, Dunnock, & Chaffinch did appear – a total of 22.

    11 Apr 2020 10:42:00

  • Owen Douglas Hydes:

    Birds seen/heard in my garden in Mannings Heath: wren, robin, great tit, blue tit, wood pigeon, jay, nuthatch, blackbird, dunnock. carrion crow, jackdaw, great spotted woodpecker, pheasant, goldfinch, magpie

    11 Apr 2020 10:46:00

  • Gill Douglas:

    This morning from our garden in Amberley we spotted
    Mallard
    Wood pigeons
    Robins
    Sparrows
    Chaffinches
    Bluetits
    Great tits
    Shelducks
    Small regrets
    Seagulls
    Crows
    Blackbirds
    Buzzards
    Wrens
    Nuthatch
    Grey herons
    Canada geese
    Black caps
    Pheasant
    We look out over the Wildbrooks.

    11 Apr 2020 10:55:00

  • Roger and Sarah frost:

    Not to miss out a Morepork (Ninox novaeseelandiae ) squeaked in, (well more of a “moreporked in) at 10:58pm here in our South Island Bubble in the Upper Buller Gorge, NZ. No other sensible birds were about, not even weka!

    11 Apr 2020 11:13:00

  • Whitakers, london Se9:

    From our London suburban garden, observation time slightly interrupted by shopping deliveries from family but in between 14 birds seen/heard plus 4 butterflies (house sparow, wood pigeon, robin, blackbird, great and blue tit, crow, ring necked parakeet, feral pigeon, goldfinch, buzzard, dunnock, starling, LB gull or ? Herring gull.

    11 Apr 2020 12:12:00

  • Tom Forbes:

    I think the app worked but just in case. 19 species here in Punnetts Town, East Sussex. Not bad considering my father in law was harrowing paddocks and next door was cutting lawn with noisy mower!
    1. Pheasant
    2. Robin
    3. Chaffinch
    4. House Sparrow
    5. Jackdaw
    6. Buzzard
    7. Dunnock
    8. Chiffchaff
    9. Wren
    10. Carrion Crow
    11. Rook
    12. Song Thrush
    13. Herring Gull
    14. Goldfinch
    15. Blue Tit
    16. Nuthatch
    17. Woodpigeon
    18. Blackbird
    19. Great Spotted Woodpecker

    Unusually no Great Tits or Starlings. Good fun thank you :)

    11 Apr 2020 12:17:00

  • Chris Hall:

    A mere 12 species (submitted using the app) – not even regulars siskin, bullfinch, great spot and greenfinch. Irritatingly I looked out of the window after lunch to see a treecreeper!

    11 Apr 2020 14:06:00