BIRD POPULATIONS - Birdpop.org

DAVID GLUEJackdaw. Perversely, a few complained of theaggressive nature, expense and daylong chatterfrom flocks of Goldfinch and Tree Sparrow. Howtimes change!Water tables remain high, and mid winterdownpours quickly saturated sodden gardens.Several GBFS sites charted first ever feedingwaterfowl, chiefly Mallard and Moorhen, butalso Wigeon, Snipe, Green Sandpiper andCommon Sandpiper, the last two species ‘new’to the GBFS, lifting the list to 174 species.Elsewhere, fortunate observers logged feralexotic Peacock (Bucks) and Ring-neckedParakeet (several), fleeting visits by migrantWoodcock (Durham), Whinchat and Ring Ouzel(Gwent) to refuel, surprise lingering Jack Snipe(Suffolk), Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dyfed),Stonechat (Cornwall) and Hawfinch (Wilts).Sparrowhawk easily retained ‘Top Predator’status appearing at 51% of gardens sampled, 3-4individuals regularly hunting in some sites. RedKite and Buzzard, alongside raven scavenged atextra gardens, reflecting range expansions.Winter 2007/08 finished with a flourish. Adogged chilly 10-week long spell from midFebruary, with northerly winds dominant, incombination with exhausted seed stocks, droveBramblings and Siskins to seed dispenserswidely in sizeable flocks, but with fewer LesserRedpoll. Many stayed until the third week ofApril, when winds headed back to the south.With another winter on the horizon, earlyindications suggest improved yields of wildberries and seed, when the UK’s resident birdsmay be under less pressure. It is foolish, however,to predict Nature’s fickle ways and coldwinters will still figure occasionally despite thetrends towards warmer and wetter ones.[144]