Get some help with Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush id

With the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch just around the corner, now is a great time to brush up on your identification skills. If you want to refine your Song Thrush/Mistle Thrush skills then two new things may be of particular interest. The first is a new factsheet, produced by the BTO Garden BirdWatch Team. Download a PDF (low resolution) or request a hard copy from us (gbw@bto.org).

The second is the latest in a line of identification videos to be produced by BTO experts. We've embedded the video here but you can also view it on the BTO's YouTube page.

BTO Abnormal Plumage Survey results revealed

The response to our call for observations of birds showing unusual plumage characteristics has been remarkable. We checked the database this morning and are delighted to say that we have now had 800 online submissions (we've not counted those coming in on paper forms yet). These have come from all corners of the country and refer to a real mix of species.

Leucistic Robin by Donna McGhee

Such has been the level of interest in the survey that we thought it would be interesting to share our preliminary results with you. You can find out more on our GBW web pages. If you have seen a bird in your garden showing unusual plumage characteristics then we would welcome your involvement in our simple survey, which can be accessed here.

The leucistic Robin shown here is one of a number of fascinating images sent in by participants. You can view other images in our survey gallery.

Unseasonal activity

We always receive a few reports over the late winter period of unseasonal nesting attempts, so it is perhaps a little surprising that we have not had more reported to us this year, especially given the very mild conditions.

From November through until now we have had reports of both Woodpigeon and Collared Dove on either eggs or young (both species can breed throughout the year), together with Moorhen (Birmingham) and Mallard (Gloucestershire) with young, and Tawny Owl on eggs (Grampian).

Robin carrying nest material - 12.01.2012 by Paul Baylis

We have also had reports other various species prospecting for nests or even building. These include Magpie and Jackdaw carrying material to nest sites, Great Tit taking material into a nest box and a Robin (pictured) in the early stages of building (Robin nests have a foundation of dead leaves, with moss, dried grass and a few dead leaves added to make a simple cup, which is then lined with finer grasses, plant fibres and rootlets).

Hard times for garden birds?

A recently published consumer questionnaire tackled the question of whether householders might be cutting back on feeding their birds this winter because of the pressure on household budgets. Interestingly, the study found that just one in ten people were cutting back because of the tougher economic conditions.

It seems that, as a nation of animal lovers, we are reluctant to reduce our efforts to help our feathered friends. This is good news for those birds that make use of the food we provide during the tough winter months.

Wren taking mealworms, by John Harding

Unexpected visitor

Spurred on by a recent piece in BBC Wildlife magazine by Mike Toms, Garden BirdWatcher Dennis Simpkin got in touch to share his unexpected garden visitor with us.

This is a  Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus), a species of Asian origin is often kept in captivity. This particular individual continued to visit Mr Simpkin's garden for a period of 18 months or so.

Looking a bit odd?

Every now and then you might spot an unusual bird in your garden. Sometimes this will simply be an unfamiliar species, perhaps something that has strayed off course on migration, but on other occasions it may turn out to be a familiar species with some form of plumage abnormality. Such abnormalities may involve problems with the pigments that give the bird's plumage its colour and we want to find out more about these.

You can help us by learning more about plumage abnormalities and by completing our simple online survey if you have seen a bird with unusual plumage. Perhaps it was a Blackbird with a few white feathers, or a House Sparrow with very washed out looking plumage.

Check out this House Sparrow, photographed by John Harding

Leucism in a House Sparrow, by John Harding

Marsh Tit or Willow Tit?

If you have struggled to get to grips with separating Marsh and Willow Tits then you will be pleased to learn that you are not alone. The similarity between the two species isone reason why they were not recognised as being different species until relatively recently, the Willow Tit thus earning the distinction of being the last regularly breeding British songbird to be identified and named.

Help is at hand, however, in the form of a new identification video, one of a series to be produced by the BTO. BTO Training Officer Su Gough talks you through the key features that you need to look (and listen) out for.