Because of a strange three months at the feeding stations I thought I would review my sightings, weather and food usage over the last twelve years.
On the average food used each year I have used nearly 50% less this year, I have not recorded a proper ground frost this year, only previous year with no ground frost was 2015, 2010/2012/2016 we had had a snowfall by end of the year, none this year, but this is definitely the wettest ground conditions, even 2015 (major flood Boxing Day) was drier.
Regarding temperatures, the past three months average is the highest (7 degrees C) but earlier in December over a 24 hour period I recorded 14 degree differential -2/+12.
There has not been any significant North Easterly winds this autumn/winter and the leaf fall was definitely later than normal and the fruit/seed crop was huge especially on Beech,Alder and Hawthorn.
So taking the above into consideration these may be contributing factors to my lowest number records over the last 12 years.
Variations of common species....
Blue/Great Tit 25% down.
Long-tailed Tit 40% down
Coal Tit 30% up
Goldfinch 20% up
Chaffinch 15% down
Bullfinch 60% down
Siskin 60% down
Robin 10% down
Dunnock....average.
Nuthatch 20% up
Wren....average
Great Spotted Woodpecker....average
Blackbird 40% down
Song Thrush 25% up
Jay 20% down
Jackdaw 40% up
Magpie 10% up
Carrion Crow 10% up
Wood Pigeon 25% up
Collared Dove 20% up.
Others....Tree Creeper still visits most days, two pair of Stock Doves have been regular, only Goldcrest twice, no Brambling (60+ last year) although the latter is scarce country wide this year, continental winter influx of Blackbird, Chaffinch etc has been very low, I usually see Mistle Thrush in harsh weather but none this year on my patch.
Another factor may be the continued presence of both Male and female Sparrowhawk on a regular basis, the only kills I have seen is a couple of Goldfinch and a Blackbird, but I have found the remains of two Wood Pigeons and a Collared Dove.
Also worth a mention is on regular walks around my patch species numbers seem to be ok, there are Bullfinch, Long-tailed Tits etc around and obviously finding food, I never get many Greenfinch but usually can find Redpoll but none this autumn.
It seems to me that these strange weather patterns are confusing everything and it may be something we will have to get used to......
