2015 Bird Count

[Catherine]

I think it would be interesting for us to share what birds we have seen. Usually it is done as a bird count. Let us know what birds you have seen in 2015. Keep an eye on the totals and maybe we can do a forum bird count. It might be astounding how many birds we all see in a year.

As an act of administrative privilege I am letting you count any interesting bird you see between now and the first of the year.

I will start it off by saying I just saw a juvenile White Crowned Sparrow. I have never seen one before. As a juvenile the whole head was white, the black bars were not visible yet. I had to look it up.

[Tobi]

Wow platy! You saw all those today?

I only saw:
Jackdaw
Starling
Robin
Jay
Coal Tit
Blue Tit
Wagtail
Blackbird
Crow
Heron
Swan
(heard a Woodpecker but didn't see it....does that count??)

[Tobi]

Well, it wasn't so much a 'call' as someone hammering high up in a tree! I could tell by the 'big-ness' of the sound that it wasn't a nuthatch, but more likely a Woodpecker. And I have seen a lot of them about.

But Woodpeckers do make quite a noise sometimes vocally.

[Catherine]

It is bitter cold here today and very dark and I didn't see any birds!
I will have to catch up tomorrow. I will be near a wooded area with a river nearby so I should make a good start.

If it warms up on the weekend I will definitely see some birds. Winter in Canada is a bit of a birding challenge, but come migration season there will be birds passing through and that will be exciting.

Sigh, not even one bird.

[Catherine]

I did much better today. I saw a few pigeons( rock doves)(1), some Bonaparte gulls(2) and in the distance I saw what are probably cow birds(3). Early Jan on a cold day is bird challenged. I can't believe I haven't seen any sparrows yet.

Are the spotted doves like the little diamond doves?

[Catherine]

I came across a group of House Sparrows(4) hiding in the bushes. It was snowing heavy and the snow was creating a wall by catching in the branches and they were sheltered and warm. I will see more tomorrow as it is getting warmer again and will be raining.

So day three I have seen four kinds of birds.
Migration season will be better.

The Diamond Doves are much smaller. My little pair are so sweet. I would love to see them in the wild here, but it would be too cold for them.

[platy]

Scratch that. I just went outside for a bit, beautiful outside today, the last 2 days were 40 degrees and bad bushfires.

Jan 4
22. Black shouldered kite
23. Red-browed finch
24. Indian peafowl
25. Brown thornbill
26. White ibis

And it doesn't count as a bird, but I saw a fox just wandering down the back paddock. Was wondering what my dog was staring at so intently.

[Catherine]

You have seen some beautiful birds so far. I am just waiting for a nice day. I am sure we have some birds still here for the winter.

Forty degrees is hot, but it would be nice to walk outside without a ton of clothing. Too bad about the brush fires. I fear for all the little creatures that are caught be them.

[platy]

In 40+ degrees you don't walk outside lol I don't anyway I just melt.
Yeah I think there's a few still burning out of control. Sadly a kennel-cattery was wiped out, only a few dogs were saved. It's pretty hard on the wildlife too. There were some lorikeets hanging out in the plum tree so I turned the hose on and they came under for a shower. You know the birds are really feeling the heat when they sit there with beaks open and not moving on human approach. And the summer has only just begun

[Catherine]

We are having the opposite weather. Birds here are hiding from the cold and desperate for food. I am glad you can give the Lorikeets water. They must be so grateful.

I heard about the kennel fire, so sad.

I did see a flock of Canada Geese(5) today and some little starlings(6).
It is snowing and it will be cold tomorrow so I might not see too much.