Cold, cold night...

[Emma S]

Tonight is a cold one...coldest so far maybe.

Just makes me feel for the small creatures out there, the little birds roosting.

There will be fatalities for sure. I know it's part of nature, but it's a shame.

Which species tend to be hit hardest by very cold nights?

[aeshna5]

Small birds such as Wrens, Goldcrests, etc. The smaller the bird the greater their surface area proportional to their size, therefore proportionally greater heat loss.

Also the feeding habits of a bird will be a factor- eg. if tree trunks are frozen, then it will be difficult for Treecreepers to access food.

One night's hard frost will probably only finish off the already weak. A more prolonged cold spell will be needed to have a real effect on bird numbers. The long term forecast for this winter is for a mild one, if you can believe such forecasts!

[JeffH]

When the forecast is that it's going to be a particularly cold night I always fill up all my feeders the evening before and put out a bit extra, just to give the birds the chance to feed well from first light rather than having to wait for me to get up from my nice warm bed.

Jeff

[aeshna5]

Certainly a hard frost here in London suburbs (-2 degrees) + I've just been through the park to get shopping + the turf is all white, though the gulls are still turning up. Had 11 Redwing fly over.

Getting back home + looking into the back garden there was my first Song Thrush for over 2 years in the garden pulverising an unfortunate mollusc! Always in the local area but good to see it in my own wildlife garden.

[demicav]

I went out earlier and put plenty out for the birds. There's one female Blackbird that's chasing everything else away but it's quite amusing. While she's chasing away the male Blackbirds the little Blue and Great tits are having a ball. I suppose it is survival of the fittest.

[Elizabeth B]

It certainly was the coldest night of the season here - the minimum temperature in the garden was -4.5ºC! It's also been the wettest week for some time - from Sunday to Thursday we had 60mm of rain. Whatever next???

[stephen p]

It was very cold i went out to the car last night at 7 and the cars were frooze already
I have filled all the feeders and added extra Fat feeders to help the little Blighters