Happy New Year to everyone!

This year I've decided to take part in the #LocalBigYear challenge, an initiative set up by Birdguides and Birdwatching magazine. (More details on their website here) The idea is to focus on a local patch - your garden, village or a larger area - and get to know the birds, and other wildlife, that inhabits it. It's a great way to focus your attention and come to really appreciate what is on your doorstep.

My plan is to concentrate on areas within a two mile radius of my home. This may not seem far but it includes a good variety of different habitats, including the River Tweed, Eildon Hills and various forests, towns, villages and ponds.

As today is the 1st of January, I had hoped to start with a bang. However, as I'm still battling a horrid cold I decided to stay very local. I spent 20 minutes watching the birds at the feeders outside my kitchen window. Twelve species were seen, including an excellent count of 19 Greenfinch.

Greenfinch-9417 Greenfinch were recently added to the red list, the highest conservation priority, with species needing urgent action. In the case of the Greenfinch, their jump from the green to red list is due to the decline in population numbers due to the disease trichomonosis, which is spread through contaminated water and food. Keeping your feeders and bird tables clean is the best way to help limit the spread of this disease. I feel very lucky to have such a healthy population in the garden - especially when others are reporting that they don't see any.

Siskins were another bird on the list this morning. Feisty little finches, there is no doubt as to who is the boss at the feeders when they are around. We do get them throughout the year but the numbers definitely increase in the winter and occasionally in the summer when the young birds fledge. Even as fledglings they can hold their own against the bigger birds in the garden - a stark contrast to others that follow their parents around begging for food for days after leaving the nest. Goldcrest-4445

A short walk around the village in the afternoon added seven more species to the list, including Bullfinch, Goldcrest and Treecreeper.

Goldcrest are fascinating little birds to watch. One of our smallest birds, sandwiched between the Firecrest and Wren, they can be an absolute nightmare to photograph. They rarely stay still and are constantly hopping around the branches searching for insects. However, when the trees are bare it is possible to get some shots and great sightings of the golden-yellow stripe on their head that gives them their name.

The final species list for New Year's Day was:

1. Blackbird
2. Blue Tit
3. Bullfinch
4. Carrion Crow
5. Chaffinch
6. Coal Tit
7. Dunnock
8. Feral Pigeon
9. Goldcrest
10. Goldfinch
11. Great Tit
12. Greenfinch
13. House Sparrow
14. Jackdaw
15. Robin
16. Siskin
17. Starling
18. Treecreeper
19. Woodpigeon

Each month I'll post an update here as well as regular updates on my social media channels, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Please have a look and give me a like or follow. Till next time, happy birding!

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