Winter 2005/06, the coldest in a decade, combined with a bare wild fruit larder, led to frenetic activity at UK birdtables. Many garden feeding stations buzzed with Goldfinch and Siskin, others were dominated by Rook, Pheasant and Woodpigeon, a few graced by unexpected visitors, including Hawfinch, Ring-necked Parakeet and Red Kite. All were intriguing features of a hectic winter for the BTO’s Garden Bird Feeding Survey (GBFS), in sharp contrast to the previous Winter 2004/05 which was often quiet and bird-less, characterized by a glut of wild fruits and lengthy frost-free spells.

Winter 2005/06, the coldest in a decade, combined with a bare wild fruit larder, led to frenetic activity at UK birdtables. Many garden feeding stations buzzed with Goldfinch and Siskin, others were dominated by Rook, Pheasant and Woodpigeon, a few graced by unexpected visitors, including Hawfinch, Ring-necked Parakeet and Red Kite. All were intriguing features of a hectic winter for the BTO’s Garden Bird Feeding Survey (GBFS), in sharp contrast to the previous Winter 2004/05 which was often quiet and bird-less, characterized by a glut of wild fruits and lengthy frost-free spells.

Busier UK birdtables
GBFS observers count all species coming to take food and water within their defined garden feeding stations, from October to March.

The 258 gardens sampled were broadly representative of dwellings across the UK countryside, both by type and regional spread. The range of species recorded taking food during the 2005/06 winter was relatively high; on average 22.5 species in suburban and 21.3 species in rural settings. Comparative figures for 2004/05 were 19.8 and 16.7 species respectively.
Yet again, species richness varied widely between gardens. The ‘barest’ birdwise, a wild windswept site covered by Miss L Campbell, of Orkney, attracted just nine species, with Robin, Blue Tit and Great Tit notable among the absentees and Starling and House Sparrow dominant. The ‘richest’ garden, counted by Mrs J Rayner and Miss K Adie, near Tregaron, Ceredigion, given over largely to wildlife, recorded a remarkable 52 species, including Mute Swan and Corn Bunting to grain, and scavenging Red Kite and foraging Goshawk within the feeding station.
Overall, an impressive 83 species were noted taking food or water during the winter. Robin, Blackbird and Blue Tit remained the top three, each absent from just three sites (Table 1). The top twelve list was similar to the previous winter. Compared with winters averaged across the 1990s, Collared Dove, Magpie and Coal Tit showed a marked increase, but House Sparrow and Starling showed little changes (Table 1).

Successive cold winter spells liven UK garden feeders
A string of striking weather episodes dictated the feeding patterns of garden birds over the winter. Initially, balmy, warm, settled conditions in much of October, extending into November (warmest first half since 1998), drew a few late broods of Dunnock, Stock Dove, Greenfinch and Tree Sparrow to enliven birdtables. Bird baths were well used, House Sparrow and Starling often dominating, though Red-legged Partridge, Hawfinch and Lesser Redpoll were recorded.
Although November was the sunniest on record, severe night frosts, and blizzards in Central Scotland and SW England on 25/26th brought an early taste of winter. These conditions led to earliest-ever reports of Brambling and Siskin to garden feeders. Jays, Magpies, Nuthatches and tits were observed food-caching, Coal Tit widely outnumbering Great Tit and Blue Tit at feeders. In the coldest second half of November since 1993, winter thrushes passed through berryless gardens, with Redwings notably in short supply, a feature of recent winters.
In stressful, cold midwinter weather, some birds displayed fresh skills: Stock Doves, Woodpigeons and Pheasants were observed flying at hanging feeders to access spilt contents; Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests and Treecreepers extracted fat and peanut fragments from containers; while Jackdaw and Jay as well as Rook and Carrion Crow, used beak and toes to lift and access food items suspended beneath birdtables.
Snow and destructive frosts on Boxing Day, from a brief blast of Siberian air, brought the first Blackcap, Goldcrest and Reed Bunting to some feeders. With acorns and beech mast in short supply, Jays, Mistle Thrushes and Woodpigeons visited extra garden feeding sites.
It was the coldest January since 2001, and driest since 1997. Southeastern parts of the UK received only one-third of expected rainfall, resulting in rock-hard frozen lawns and pasture. Starlings, thrushes and corvids turned increasingly to birdtable fare. Windfall apples, though sparse, were in great demand, Fieldfare and Mistle Thrush protecting prized items. Elsewhere, Mallard, Moorhen and Pheasant, and locally Green Woodpecker and Water Rail, plundered stocks.
Initially in February, stubborn anticyclones brought hoar frost, fog and sleet, with monthly temperatures 0.3°C below average. Finch flocks swelled in size, with Brambling delighting many. A timely Atlantic airflow during 11–17th lifted temperatures widely to 10°C, but nesting activity was limited compared to recent springs, though juvenile Robin, Blackbird and Song Thrush appeared at feeders.
A cold, snowy Arctic airstream returned from 26 February, spilling over into what turned out to be the coldest March since 1996, with daily temperatures 1.4°C below average. Birdtables provided a vital life-line, with extra Brambling, Bullfinch, Siskin and Lesser Redpoll gracing many feeding stations. In the final week, moist southwesterly winds lifted temperatures to a spring-like 21.8°C at Scampton (Lincs).

Bullfinch and Nuthatch add colour to feeders
In challenging conditions, a dozen species equalled or broke record attendance levels for the 36-year-old GBFS. The increasingly adaptable Goldfinch (74%), Wren (58%), Great Spotted Woodpecker (54%), Nuthatch (38%), Bullfinch (26%) and Lesser Redpoll (6% of sites) were positively welcomed, whilst Magpie (81%), Woodpigeon (80%), Carrion Crow (40%), Pheasant (36%) and Herring Gull (12% of sites) received mixed emotions. Sparrowhawk came to chase and kill ever more widely (59% of feeding stations), prey taken ranging in size from Firecrest and Grey Wagtail to Red-legged Partridge and Magpie. Collared Dove, though, was the most frequent victim, prompting observers to re-name this raptor ‘Dovehawk’, House Sparrow now figuring so low on its hit list.
More Kestrels were drawn to exploit garden bird feeding flocks than in recent winters (5% of sites), mostly in the harsh weather, as rodent populations dipped. Kestrel deployed low-level ‘hawking’ as well as conventional hovering, perch and pounce techniques. Fortunate observers also noted Merlin, (Tredegar, Gwent), and Hen Harrier, (Douglas and Andreas, I of Man), chasing and killing within gardens. Similarly, scavenging Buzzards were seen from Dartmoor (Devon) to Inverness (Inverness-shire), and Red Kite scavenged within gardens in the Thames Valley, Chilterns and mid Wales. Tawny Owl (just 1% of sites) remained top nocturnal predator, with Barn Owl also hunting alongside feeders at Beccles (Suffolk).
Blackcap returned in strength (29% of sites), feeding stations frequently hosting 2–4 birds. Ringing studies in some gardens indicated a turnover of a dozen birds or more. Success of the Blackcap is due, in part no doubt, to strong territorial defence of feeders against strong aggressive combatants, including Robin and Greenfinch, and a catholic diet. Observed preferred foods included apple, banana, cake, pastry, cheese, raisins, sunflower seed and porridge oats.
Even Siskins achieved almost pest levels in a garden in Canterbury, Kent. A flock 350 strong descended, 146 feeding at one sitting. One person’s visual pleasure can be muted by an expensive pain in the pocket.

Surprise feeders
As ever, unexpected surprise exotic species turned to food provided. At Inverkip (Renfrewshire), Avril Jones’s garden feeding station is adjacent to a bay in the Firth of Clyde, where a Whooper Swan was tempted to brown bread during the December cold snap. Meanwhile, Miss K Adie, at Tregaron (Ceredigion), noted Goosanders taking grain. These two brought the GBFS tally to 170 species overall.
Elsewhere, the pulse of keen-eyed observers was quickened, variously, by the arrival of Turtle Dove among a dozen Collared Dove, (March, Cambs), a Ring Ouzel that drank from a water container (Catfield, Norfolk), visiting Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Llanwrda, Carmarthenshire), Raven (New Milton, Hants) and regular Crested Tit (Boat of Garten, Inverness-shire). Garden birds never fail to surprise: witness the Water Rail watched by Dr L Maddocks, (St Mary’s Isles of Scilly), that dashed to grab a House Sparrow by the neck, plunging the hapless victim beneath the water of her garden pond, before seeking cover of bushes, presumably to consume its victim.
One wonders quite whether the oncoming winter 2006/07 can match the levels of excitement recorded recently.