The RSPB listed the results of its Garden Survey 2009 today. The results for Lancashire in Birds per Hour (bph) are;
Starling 4.77 , House sparrow 3.50, Blackbird 2.77, Blue tit 2.25, Collared dove 1.60, Chaffinch 1.57, Long tailed tit 1.41, Goldfinch 1.30, Great tit 1.26, Robin 1.25.
Our garden bph would be: Great Tit 4, Blackbird 3, Chaffinch 2, Robin 2, Blue Tit 2, Coal Tit 2, Dunnock 2, Woodpigeon 2, Dove 2. With Thrushes, Long Tail Tits and Greenfinches occasionally, Goldfinches and Woodpeckers from time to time. Feral Pigeons sometimes arrive. Magpies are always around but rarely land and so are crows, jackdaws and seagulls. We don’t have starlings although we see them flying over.
Strange bird the Woodpigeon we had two sitting in a tree nearly all day. A bird of great body size with a small head and very timid with humans. Did they evolve to fill a pie. One of those in the tree has disappeared but it’s mate still sits there. There was a lot of wooing so maybe it was wooed away.
Check the bph of your county: http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/results/top10.asp
Extreme bph are chaffinches in north Scotland. The sky must be thick with them. Quite nice birds though, very placid, just sit there looking from side to side chewing a sunflower seed while other birds skip about.
After a bit of watching the pecking order and temperament come out. The robin, a bit of a show off trying to mimic the tricks of more versatile birds and bullying smaller birds but occasionally meeting its match unexpectedly with a Great Tit or Chaffinch. Have a look yourself.