Thanks to the huge response from forum members to the posts by Pepperdoggie and myself about the RSPB Bird Watch , and how Wildlife Spotting can be a great PMR/GCA friendly , Painfree Family Activity for all , I thought everyone would like to know how we got on ( who won ?? you are all thinking)
I also thought I would let you know about some other Worldwide events that some members kindly suggested to me , so that you can keep going now the weekend survey may have got you motivated , and started a new fun tradition for you to do without the pain with your family and friends.
But do excuse me if I create a little story of it before giving away the results , like Hitchcock I always love to build up the suspense!
Pepperdoggie had a great day.
A liesurely walk out rewarded him with Mallards , Coots and Moorhens as well as a Border Terrier!!
His garden survey , despite the blowy weather brought equal rewards.
2 Blackbirds , 1 Robin , 2 Sparrows and tons of Tits!!! ( Both Blue and Great).
I , despite North Wales being thrashed by 78+ mph winds and rain , braved an hour in the garden , the rain held back and the wind reduced to a lovely 30mph!
The birds were trying to visit so how could I hide away , and as I could go out without being blown away , or being hit in the head by a stray plant pot, or flying house, I braved the cold.
So, sat by the unkempt scrubby corner I keep for the birds , I peered between the ragged blackberries and straggley ivy to achieve some results ( a perfect nook for roosting and cheating little birds).
I got far less than usual of course , about 50% less , and because of the timing I wasn't sure if I should include my Sparrowhawks .
They did turn up at the usual lunch hour , sat in a melancholy huddle , a soggy feathery mess, before giving up and swinging away like untamed kites back to the trees at the edge of the field beyond.
I got the following results, using the unconventional method of counting birds in a bush instead of in hand .
Here is my list , but with added commentary from a rather unorthodox Birdwatchers point of view:
5 Jackdaws ; from the generation of a family that live on our chimney lurking in the ornamental cherry tree.
1 Collared Dove ; a recently bereaved widower.
1 Wren ; popped out a head (to see who was stupid enough to go out) from the ancestral home it's family built many years ago by the patio. Despite encouragement from us by flattening the turf (when empty) and providing alternative accommodation in a twig nester they continue to create the equivalent of an Ancient Celtic Mound . I assume the must be local Royalty and bow to their right to reside.
12 Tree sparrows ; in the bush.
3 House Sparrows ; arguing with the neighbours in the same bush.
2 Greenfinches ; girls chatting in the bush , about feather couture or something ( even a gale can't stop a lass having a good natter😋).
1 Song Thrush ; same bush , the overcrowded housing issue at the bottom of my garden is becoming a bit of a social crisis!!
1 Blackbird ; Male , typical of the gender , ranting about the noise from the neighbours but doing nothing about it😋😁
2 Starlings ; watching the mayhem of the neighbours fighting from the wall ( they brought their own snacks from another garden to help make the entertainment more enjoyable).
And , of course , the indefatigable star , a chubby Robin!
My personal favourites popped in briefly , as it took them four attempts to fly in the garden and then they gave up trying to feed on the arcade ride the food pots had become and pushed off .
1 Male Goldfinch ; ( big hint!! If you want them put the dandelions you weed out in a pot to flower, the clocks are like cat nip to goldfinches)
2 Male Chaffinches ; unsuccessfully ' scouting for girls'!
And , despite the break in spotting , they visit everyday at 1.15 , so must get mentioned
2 very soggy Sparrowhawks
The End!!!
But WHO WON ?!?! I hear you scream.
I say it's Even Stevens! PDog and I can call it a draw , we are both Winners and all the PMR/ GCA wildlife spotters and their friends and families that took part are winners too.
Getting to enjoy a bit of disease friendly , pain free activity and still having the chance to show you were , ' Born to be Wild'!
And we can keep it up too because of the suggestions I received in my replies on the first post from kind forum members not just in the UK but Worldwide.
Ruadh reminded me that BBC Winter Watch is on live from Scotland , Tuesday to Friday on BBC2 or the iPlayer. With lots of ideas and help on how to make your Wildspotting in Winter fun .
Noosat , from Texas , suggested the ' Big Backyard' that happens twice a year to whet the appetite of those across the pond.
And NanJean , let me know about a great Worldwide survey for us all to do.
The Great Backyard Count with Cornell Ornithology Lab , 15 mins in your garden anywhere in the world , takes place 15th -17th February.
So , keep spotting , with Family , with Friends or with a cuppa and the radio and enjoy a little normality , brain training , light exercise and fun that no amount of PMR/ GCA pain can stop.
Big Hugs and a Tweet from the Bird Brain in Wales called Bleary-eyed aka Bee xx
PS: The photo is of me and the family two and a half years ago at Lakefest , just before the dreaded GCA/PMR struck!
We are riding on a very rare bird , the giant ride on plastic swan !!
Cambridge University rheumatology survey, particularly keen to hear from people with PMR
PMR/GCA v GCA/PMR
