Of Birds & Cake the Blog of Paul: Garden Birdwatch, End of an Era?

I did the Big Garden Birdwatch today starting at 8.30 and finishing at 9.40, I know it is supposed to be an hour but I needed a comfort break!! I'm old these things happen!!!😢So not a bad count, pretty much as expected numbers below.

Starling: 22 ( I had put some mealworms down yesterday and they come in big numbers when I do!

Long-tailed Tit: 3 (We have been getting visits everyday, usually there are 7 or so, but only 3 today, visited twice during the hour)

Blue Tit: 3 (These are our regulars, we occasionally get a visit from another small flock, so can have up to 8 but only 3 today)

Goldfinch: 4 ( Pleased to see them, had up to 12 in the Autumn but have tailed off lately)

Great Tit: 2 ( We have 3 regulars and I suspect 3 today but only saw 2 at any one time, rules is rules!)

House Sparrow: (2 a Male and a Female, this happened last year with numbers dipping right down in the winter, there were over 20 in the Autumn . Although I was expecting 5 or 6)

Woodpigeon:1 ( We usually have 3 chasing each other about but only 1 today)

Robin: 1 ( He seems to have chased off the other one we had)

Blackbird: 2 (Both Males)

Birds that I expected that didn't show, Dunnock we have a couple of regulars, Wren always seems to be knocking about at the back, Collared Dove, usually have at least 2, Feral Pigeon have about 4 multi-coloured ones visiting! No Jackdaws or Magpies either, usually appear when the mealworms go out

Birds that are irregular but have been seen a few times this winter, Blackcap, Song Thrush, Coal Tit, Greenfinch, Bullfinch.

The Blackbirds were of interest, both my regular readers will be familiar with Mr White-Eye our resident Blackbird who has strutted his stuff around our garden seeing off allcomers for at least 3 years. He has been missing for a few weeks, Margie had seen him on windfall apples up the road and he has been in a couple of times lately. However while he has been a way, taking his eye off the ball, an interloper, Mr Brown-wing (so named because he has a brown wing!! I'm nothing if not imaginative,😁 although it maybe he is a youngster so how long the wing will stay brown and be a reliable way of identifying him who knows😏) Anyway today battle was commenced in one of the most vicious fights between birds I have ever seen, some pictures below, they are absolute cack taken through the window and the action was incredibly fast and brutal!

Combat joined

Mr White-Eye, seemingly victorious

Mr Brown-wing lurking in the Hawthorn before departing!

So all seemed well Mr White-eye had vanquished his Nemesis and once again was in command. However he disappeared and a few minutes later Mr Brown-wing reappeared first posing on the Birdbath and then retiring to the Hawthorn where he still sits surveying his new kingdom?

So has Mr White-eye been usurped, will he return and battle be rejoined!! Who knows, I have soft spot for the old guy, so hopefully he can return and reclaim his territory and once again rule the roost!!!

The challenger returns

Mr Brown-wing, note the brown wing from whence he gets his name!! Though he seems to have a white spot under his wing, so I maybe able to come up with a name based on this!!

A few more pics taken during the count this morning again poor quality, through the window shots.