Big Garden Birdwatch 2018

We didn't have a great birdwatch in Dan's yesterday due to the rain so I decided to do another bird count today at my mum's house.

The weather was cloudy and cold. This is what I saw...

Two for joy - Magpies

Robin #1

Robin #2

Female Sparrow

Starling

Starlings

Male Sparrow

Conclusion:

The Big Garden Birdwatch - 30/1/2018 - 10:00am

• Starlings - 7
• House Sparrow - 6
• Jackdaws - 1
• Magpies - 2
• Robin - 2

Grand Total = 18

Looking at last year's stats the number of Starlings (24 in 2017) seem to have gone down significantly. 

I submitted my results to the RSPB and you have until 8th February to submit yours :)

World Record at Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre

On Saturday 24th September Dan and I took part in creating a new world record to celebrate 20 years of marine conservation in New Quay, Ceredigion. We (Dan, I and over 300 others) created the world’s largest human superpod in the shape of a dolphin at New Quay Harbour. We were joined by the lovely Iolo Williams and the whole event was orgainsed by Staff and volunteers of the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre which is part of The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales #Superpod

Here are some pics from the memorable day...

Juvenile Herring Gull on New Quay Beach

The shape of the dolphin on the beach #Superpod

Black Headed Gull

Me before the world record on New Quay Beach

Dan and I with the wonderful Iolo Williams

We were all given dolphin masks to wear for the World Record

This is part of the dolphin's tail!

A pic of everyone getting ready with their dolphin masks

Steve Hartley (founder of CBMWC) giving a talk along with the Mayor, Pal the Puffin & Finn the Dolphin

Iolo starts the countdown

Below is a pic and post from the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre facebook page showing the human #Superpod we all created. They wanted around 300 people, but I think it was over 350! I have never been part of  a word record before :)

The whole day was full of fun and interesting displays including what they do when they rescue a dolphin. It's amazing what they do for marine conservation and learnt a lot.

A very interesting and informative dolphin rescue demonstration on the beach

The view of New Quay from the Marine Centre

Another Juvenile Herring Gull

Comma butterfly

Sparrow

Male &  female sparrow

We finished the day with a boat ride around the bay to see if we could spot any dolphins. The boat company was called Dolphin Spotting Boat Trips and you can purchase tickets on the main pier. The ride was a bit choppy and we managed to see quite a few Bottlenose Dolphins and a gannet! Unfortunately I have a really rubbish camera at the moment so I couldn't get any good pics - but seeing them in the wild was magical.

A windy boat trip to look for dolphins

Dan made a new friend on the boat

Bottlenose Dolphin in the sea

The tail of the dolphin

A terrible pic...but it's a Gannet!

When we got of the boat we stayed on the pier for a bit and watched the dolphins from there, a counted at least three jumping out of the water.

New Quay harbour from the Pier

A Bottlenose Dolphin viewed from the Pier

For more information check out the CBMWC website

P.S: So sorry I haven't posted a blog for awhile I have had such a traumatic couple of months concerning the possibility of being made redundant at work I just couldn't find the time or motivation to blog. Also my camera broke so I have had to go back to my old camera and I apologize that some of my pics are a bit on the iffy side. 

Day 29 - 30 Days Wild - Fledglings in the garden

* Today's random act of wildness - Fledglings in the garden *

It's the last but one day today - it has gone so quick! This evening was spend in my shed looking at the birds in the garden. I noticed we are getting a second brood of starling fledglings and a few younf sparrows show up too.

I haven't just fed these birds for the last 30 days I have been feeding them for years and will continue to do so for many years to come.

Cute Starling fledgling

Starling fledgling having a drink in the bird bath

Starling fledgling with adult

This is what I feed them - suet pellets and mealworm

Suet cake (I also feed them fatballs, peanuts etc...)

Sparrows, the one on the right is a fledgling

Male sparrow

Cinnabar Moth caterpillar

Cinnabar Moth caterpillar

Day 1 - 30 Days Wild - An Evening Garden Birdwatch

It's back! 

#30DaysWild - A whole month of doing cool wild stuff which I am super excited about it. In case you don't know what it is, for the second year running the Wildlife Trust have launched a campaign where they encourage people to do something 'wild' every day throughout the month of June. This is my second year to do it, I loved it so much last year I didn't want it to end and continued to carry on writing about my adventures in my main blog (www.sands-walks.blogspot.co.uk).

What to do for my first day? Well, unfortunately I had to work today and didn't get home until after six so I thought I would keep it 'very' local and for one hour I sat quietly and watched what birds come into the garden at evening...

*Today's random act of wildness - A evening garden birdwatch*

Well first off I would like you to meet 'Wildling the Fox' he will be my little mascot throughout the 30 days...cute isn't he and proudly wearing my #30DaysWild badge :)

Apart from fatballs, peanuts and coconut shells the birds love this concoction of mealworm and suet pellets. At precisely 6.30pm I put it out for them...

...within seconds we get our first visitor - a feral pigeon.

Next up the sparrows, mostly males tonight.

Then the noisy ones...the starlings

It all starts kicking off on the feeder between the starlings and the pigeons "he's behind you!"

A face off over the suet coconut! 

It's not long before the pigeons give up and move along leaving the starlings victorious of the feeder!

It's just past 7pm and already our list looks impressive!

Next visitor was a magpie...

...then more starlings with a few juveniles

Finally we finish our hour with a few jackdaws (the other is just off camera)

Phew! I thought it would be quiet this time of the night, but great to see so much activity in the garden and what a great way to kick off #30DaysWild with launching it with our regular feathered friends :)

The full list is:

• Starlings - 7
• Jackdaws - 2
• Magpie - 1
• Sparrows - 4
• Wood Pigeon - 1
• Feral Pigeon - 4