Rob Thorpe, Ashton-in-Makerfield (COVID-19 garden lockdown)
Rob Thorpe said
Fri Aug 7 8:39 PM, 2020
A quick attempt to summarise the last few months:
Having been making a conscious effort to keep a garden yearlist this year, and at the same time start a proper garden life list, this thread - and the lockdown that triggered it, obvs - offered me the perfect excuse to put in some serious hours! I'm a big fan of the vismig style of birding, finding a spot and seeing what flies past, so being restricted to the garden due to lockdown just meant I didnt have to decide on the best place to watch from. In terms of the main vismig movements, Meadow Pipit passage was the feature of the first couple of weeks, followed by Swallow and other hirundine through mid April to early May, then a bit of a lull until late June into July where some decent Swift and Siskin passage also provided 8 Crossbill, with singles on 30 June and 01 July, and groups of 3 on both 07 July and 08 July, the latter date also seeing at least 45 Swift on the move. I also managed to get in on some Nocmig, after reading about others hearing them, I got some Common Scoter over on the night of 03 April, when I also heard Snipe, and even better Shelduck. The start of April was a really enjoyable time, with some good garden records, including Curlew, first Swallow and House Martin of the year, and garden firsts of Willow Warbler, Sand Martin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Reed Bunting, Bullfinch and Yellowhammer. But best of all were the 2 Little Egret which flew over on 10 April. I also had a single Little Egret over on 07 July. A relatively quiet spell through mid April preceded a good back-end of the month, with Hobby, Whimbrel and Osprey over on 22/23 April. The Hobby and Osprey were part of an impressive 6 species of raptor seen from my garden within 3 days, with the others being Peregrine, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard. Hobby was also recorded on 16 May (during the otherwise disappointing Garden Bird Race), and 17 July. And a Second Osprey was circling overhead on 13 May. But my raptor highlight had to be the Red Kite seen on 26 June, only my second ever gm record. Whimbrel were recorded on 3 more occasions, once 04 May and twice on 07 July. In terms of waders though, these were definitely outshone by the awesome flock of c45 Black-tailed Godwit which flew through on 10 July. A calidris type wader on 28 July was almost certainly a juv Dunlin, but I didn't pick it up early enough to confirm 100%. 2 Snipe over on 24 July were an unexpected record. I'd been hoping for Greenshank, Redshank, or Green or Common Sandpiper to fly over at some point, but no luck. Yellow Wagtail were much more frequent than I'd expected over the garden, with records from 24 June, 01 July, 11 July, 14 July (2), and 17 July. The end of the period saw a half expected Mediterranean Gull added to the list on 17 July, and a totally unexpected Nuthatch, the 72nd and last addition to the list, on 18 July. So to summarise, I had a great time and it's definitely inspired me to give the garden (or at least the sky above it) more attention from now on. Also, reading what others were seeing / hearing, both on here and on twitter etc., gave me the optimism to keep at it, in the vain hope of getting things like Bearded Vulture, White-tailed Eagle, Black Kite, Bee-eater, Common Crane and so on... If only! Anyway, personally I really don't see things getting back to normal any time soon, and I've been told to expect to be working from home for the foreseeable. So despite the unfortunate demise of this thread, I'll definitely be continuing my garden sky-watching, and might try and set up some sort of blog or something (rather than litter the Garden Birds thread with my daily lists). Well done to everyone who gave this a bash, thanks for giving me optimism, I hope my thread was able to do the same, and big thanks to Ian for setting this whole thing up!
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Friday 7th of August 2020 09:00:39 PM
Rob Thorpe said
Fri Aug 7 7:08 PM, 2020
And non-birds:
Butterflies: 001, Large White 002, Brimstone 003, Peacock 004, Small Tortoiseshell 005, Holly Blue 006, Speckled Wood 007, Orange Tip 008, Painted Lady 009, Small White 010, Red Admiral 011, Meadow Brown
Moths (I don't do trapping): 001, Lime Hawkmoth 002, Lesser Yellow Underwing
Dragonflies: 001, Emperor 002, Brown Hawker
Mammals: 001, Brown Rat 002, Grey Squirrel
Rob Thorpe said
Fri Aug 7 7:01 PM, 2020
Here's my full list, in order of appearance, starting from the morning of 24 March 2020: 001, Starling, 2020-03-24 002, House Sparrow, 003, Goldfinch, 004, Greenfinch, 005, Chaffinch, 006, Blue Tit, 007, Coal Tit, 008, Blackbird, 009, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 010, Herring Gull, 011, Black-headed Gull, 012, Woodpigeon, 013, Collared Dove, 014, Magpie, 015, Carrion Crow, 016, Dunnock, 017, Meadow Pipit, 018, Pied Wagtail
Apologies, I only just read the bit about not posting in here after Friday
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Monday 3rd of August 2020 10:42:40 PM
Rob Thorpe said
Mon Aug 3 7:45 PM, 2020
Sunday 02 August 2020
A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew from the green towards St Thomas' school, then flew north, directly over my garden, shortly afterwards.
1 Grey Wagtail flew over, heading north-west.
8 Swallow - 5 west together, 3 north-west together.
8 Black-headed Gull north together.
1 Linnet north.
Undoubtedly the rarest thing I've seen over the garden, I noticed a really big contrail to the east, and the plane at the front of it looked a really unusual shape and huge! Got the binoculars onto it and I'd never seen anything like it! On checking flightradar24 website I saw it was a / the Antonov An-225 Mriya - which, when I googled it, turns out to be the heaviest plane ever built, and the only one of its kind - from 1980s Ukraine / Soviet Union.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Monday 3rd of August 2020 07:48:56 PM
Another quiet day, after a late start, and not much watching done in between decorating. I heard a Siskin fly over, and then late at night a could hear some distant Oystercatcher action. Butterflies today included a Holly Blue, a Peacock and a Large White.
Not much watching done today, but I did see the fork-tailed Herring Gull yet again. Other things noted were a Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk and a few butterflies: Large White, Small White, Peacock, and Speckled Wood.
1 possibly 2 Willow Warbler - one heard calling a couple of gardens away, with Long-tailed Tits, then it or another feeding in woodpecker tree a couple of hours later.
1 Peregrine north, really low.
2 Common Tern - 1 ad. 1 juv. south together.
1 Oystercatcher north-west.
3 Pied Wagtail - 2 and 1 north.
1 Sparrowhawk - male, seen on 3 occasions.
64+ Swift - groups of 21, 20, 17 south-west, plus at least 6 hanging around.
Lots of gulls, mainly Black-headed, but with some Lesser Black-backed and a few Herring Gull (including a 1st summer bird I keep seeing which has lost its central tail feathers) feasting on flying ants.
Butterflies:
Small White.
Large White.
Blue sp.
Speckled Wood.
Peacock.
Meadow Brown.
Comma.
Small Tortoiseshell.
Helicopters:
1 Chinook east.
3 Merlin east together.
Balloons:
"1" and "8" heading east. Obviously someone's 81st birthday.
5 Swallow south - 4 together and another with a House Martin.
1 Pied Wagtail south.
2 Sparrowhawk.
1 Buzzard.
56 Black-headed Gull south at sunset, in groups of 30 and 26.
Rob Thorpe said
Tue Jul 21 9:33 AM, 2020
Monday 20 July 2020
Spent some time watching before work, but most of the day taken up with work then decorating. It was a fairly quiet morning, with the exception of a noisy group of 7 Lesser Black-backed Gull hanging around. Other things noted:
1 Grey Heron north.
2 Swallow south.
1 Pied Wagtail north-west.
1 Bullfinch.
2 Linnet.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Tuesday 21st of July 2020 09:34:17 AM
Rob Thorpe said
Mon Jul 20 5:57 AM, 2020
Sunday 19 July 2020
Sightings from tea breaks between decorating:
2 Siskin south.
1 Pied Wagtail south-west.
2 Buzzard.
2 Sparrowhawk.
Rob Thorpe said
Sun Jul 19 6:16 PM, 2020
Saturday 18 July 2020
Another rainy start to the day, and the kitchen fitters finishing off meant that I was watching out of the front of the house for a change. A Nuthatch calling briefly from the tall conifers across the road was a garden first, and species number 72 since lockdown. In the evening, while sitting out in the garden, a Common Gull flew west - only my second since the lockdown started.
Rob Thorpe said
Sat Jul 18 12:33 AM, 2020
Friday 17 July 2020
At last, a morning without rain! Managed to get a few hours watching from the garden, whilst having breakfast and a couple of coffees, before the kitchen guys arrived. And it was a cracking few hours too!
1 Mediterranean Gull (adult) east at 06:45. A garden tick, and 71st species since lockdown.
1 Hobby west at 05:37. 3rd garden Hobby this year / ever.
1 Yellow Wagtail north at 05:46.
1 Kestrel (male) south-west.
1 Swallow east.
1 Linnet north-west.
2 Pied Wagtail - 1 north, 1 heard only.
Black-headed Gulls - early-doors a tight flock of c30, presumably leaving a roost (probably Pennington Flash) heading west was a sign of the changing seasons already. Also, loose flocks, including many juvs, were going over, in all directions, all day.
The only other things noted after breakfast time were Goldcrest heard and Coal Tit heard.
Rob Thorpe said
Fri Jul 17 6:02 AM, 2020
Thursday 16 July 2020
Another rainy start, and a quiet day, with only Pied Wagtail of interest... noted on 6 occasions, one being 2 birds together, it was unclear how many individuals were involved. Goldcrest was quite vocal today.
Rob Thorpe said
Thu Jul 16 6:19 AM, 2020
Wednesday 15 July 2020
3 Mallard, 1 Oystercatcher, loads of rain.
Rob Thorpe said
Tue Jul 14 9:48 PM, 2020
Tuesday 14 July 2020
An early start with breakfast in the garden / building site before the kitchen fitters arrived, and it was all very wagtaily!
2 Yellow Wagtail - 1 north, 1 heard only.
1 Grey Wagtail east.
3 Pied Wagtail north.
1 Willow Warbler, only my second ever from the garden.
1 Bullfinch.
Goldcrest heard many times.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Wednesday 15th of July 2020 05:36:27 AM
Rob Thorpe said
Tue Jul 14 9:42 PM, 2020
Monday 13 July 2020
Work started on fitting our new kitchen today, so not able to work from my usual places of either the kitchen table or the patio. Restricted viewing provided only a Sparrowhawk twice, once with prey, and a calling Coal Tit.
Rob Thorpe said
Mon Jul 13 6:15 AM, 2020
Sunday 12 July 2020
Not much watching done, but I did notice a Cormorant fly north, a Sparrowhawk was over a couple of times, and it was flying ant day so lots of Black-headed Gull, Swift and House Martin activity.
Rob Thorpe said
Mon Jul 13 6:12 AM, 2020
Saturday 11 July 2020
1 Yellow Wagtail north.
1 Pied Wagtail.
32 Swift south-west together.
2 Buzzard.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Monday 13th of July 2020 06:12:57 AM
Rob Thorpe said
Sat Jul 11 12:30 PM, 2020
Friday 10 July 2020
A windy day, it was pretty quiet birdwise, but provided my highlight of the "lockdown" birding so far when a flock of around 45 Black-tailed Godwit flew east, high up, just to the north of me, at 06:20. My 70th garden species since the lockdown! Other bits and bobs were:
1 Siskin south.
1 Swallow south-west.
11 Rook north together.
1 Cormorant north.
2 juv Black-headed Gull.
1 Buzzard.
Goldrest heard.
Coal Tit heard.
1 Emperor Dragonfly.
1 Red Admiral butterfly.
1 Large White butterfly.
1 Small Tortoiseshel butterfly.
Rob Thorpe said
Fri Jul 10 12:52 PM, 2020
Thursday 09 July 2020
Another rainy start to the day ruined my pre-work skywatch. The best bits from a quiet day:
1 Siskin south.
1 Skylark singing.
4 Oystercatcher.
Common Tern heard.
juv Wren.
2 juv Robin.
Goldcrest heard.
1 Buzzard.
1 Sparrowhawk.
32 Black-headed Gull moving south, early evening, in ones and twos.
1 Pipistrelle.
1 Puma helicopter again.
Rob Thorpe said
Wed Jul 8 10:09 PM, 2020
Wednesday 08 July 2020
Much quieter today, with a miserable drizzly start to the day and overcast, with a light ENE breeze all day, before heavy rain in the evening. Of interest:
3 Crossbill south together at 09:44.
2 Siskin south, individually.
45+ Swift - a group of 14 east, a group of 25 west, and about 6 hanging around.
1 Skylark singing overhead.
1 Pied Wagtail around again.
2 Cormorant - 1 east, 1 south.
1 Buzzard.
1 Sparrowhawk 3 times, including once with small prey which might have been one of the Long-tailed Tits, as I could only count 7 later on, when there was previously 8 hanging around.
speaking of which, the Long-tailed Tit family seemed to have merged with the Blue Tit and Coal Tit families today, to form a mixed flock, which only added to the autumnal feel from this weather.
3+ Puma helicopter - 2 west, followed by 3 east, then 2 north-west. The one pictured appeared to have made the rookie mistake of forgetting to retract their landing gear!
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Wednesday 8th of July 2020 10:10:18 PM
Too windy to sit out, or even sit in with the kitchen doors open, so nothing noted. I did however miss the only excitement of the day, while out birding, when a Starling was flying around my house before finding its way out through an open window.
Saturday 04 July 2020
Most of the day was spent rearranging the garage, but I did hear Pied Wagtail, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit and Oystercatcher.
Rob Thorpe said
Sat Jul 4 9:16 AM, 2020
Friday 03 July 2020
Another mainly rainy day. Had a lot of work meetings so didn't spend much time looking / listening for birds, but I did notice:
1 Pied Wagtail spent most of the afternoon gathering beakfulls of insects from neighbouring roofs and gardens, before each time flying off west, presumably to feed young.
1 Common Tern east.
1 Cormorant south.
1 Buzzard south.
1 Swallow south.
1 Coal Tit.
1 Goldcrest.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Saturday 4th of July 2020 09:17:25 AM
Fairly quiet today, raining on and off until mid afternoon. The "highlights":
1 Skylark east.
1 Siskin south-west.
2 Linnet east.
1 Cormorant north.
1 Sparrowhawk.
2 Coal Tit.
8 Long-tailed Tit.
Oystercatcher heard.
Goldcrest heard.
Rob Thorpe said
Wed Jul 1 12:08 PM, 2020
Wednesday 01 July 2020
A decent morning with some good variety, the highlights being:
1 Crossbill south at 08:16.
1 Yellow Wagtail north-west at 09:38.
1 Siskin south.
2 Swallow south.
3 Pied Wagtail east.
2 Common Tern north-west.
1 Stock Dove west.
2 Mallard over, first for a few weeks.
2 Buzzard.
1 Bullfinch.
2 Coal Tit.
1 juv Dunnock.
Linnet heard.
Oystercatcher heard.
Rob Thorpe said
Tue Jun 30 6:59 AM, 2020
Tuesday 30 June 2020
06:56: A single Crossbill flew west. Species number 69 for the lockdown garden list, and number 70 for the garden yearlist/ proper list.
There was a lot of activity late morning to early afternoon as the rain cleared away. Lots of House Sparrows feeding in and around the garden again, including some that looked very recently fledged, presumably a second brood. At least 8 Long-tailed Tit were in and out of the woodpecker tree, along with a family of Blue Tit, a couple of families of Goldfinch, and the usual singing Dunnock. 2 Buzzard were circling in the afternoon, and a hunting Sparrowhawk shot through.
Sunday 28 June 2020 - Monday 29 June 2020
Nothing of note, but not much time spent watching in what felt more like late autumn weather than mid summer! House Sparrows have been feeding in the garden a lot during the heavier rain showers, and there's a decent flock of Starling around, but they're never in view for long.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Tuesday 30th of June 2020 07:11:31 AM
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Wednesday 1st of July 2020 06:09:33 AM
Awoke to heavy rain, so cancelled the alarms and had a lie in (not much chance of flyover Crossbill (or Bearded Vulture) in that weather!). When I did get up, and had breakfast in the garden, at around 8ish, there wasn't much happening bird-wise, and then the rain came again! I decided this was probably a good day to give the old eyes a rest.
On the couple of times I did venture out into the garden, between the rain showers, I got what I believe is my first garden Meadow Brown butterfly, bringing my garden butterfly list to 11, and a Bullfinch was calling from woodpecker tree before flying through my garden towards the green. In the 2.5 years I've lived here I've never noticed Bullfinch until the lockdown, but they seem to be around fairly regularly now. Similarly the obviously locally breeding Linnet that are over pretty much every day since April. Just shows what you miss when you arent paying attention.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Saturday 27th of June 2020 10:10:29 PM
04:51: Peregrine east, stooping, then flying back west.
04:56: Cormorant north.
05:02: Peregrine east again.
05:57: Siskin heard.
06:04: Siskin heard, sounded like several heading south. Not sure why I'm not picking them up against the cloudy sky, they must be too high up?
06:07: Siskin heard.
07:40: Skylark singing to the north.
07:44: Siskin heard.
07:57: Oystercatcher heard.
12:14: Grey Wagtail north-east.
12:22: Cormorant west.
12:52: 2 Stock Dove west.
13:18: Cormorant west.
13:24: Buzzard up to the north.
14:24: Oystercatcher heard, and a green number 5-shaped balloon drifting north-west.
14:45: Red Kite high, drifting south. Got a crappy record-shot through the bins (attached) before managing to get my dad on to it via phone call. Lockdown garden number 68.
15:25: Buzzard high, drifting north while being mobbed by a Lesser Black-backed Gull.
19:51: Oystercatcher heard.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Friday 26th of June 2020 07:52:21 PM
05:35: Curlew west, only my second since lockdown.
05:47: Siskin heard.
06:05: At least 2 Siskin heard.
06:19: 2 Grey Heron west.
06:40: Siskin heard.
06:42: Siskin heard.
06:55: Pied Wagtail north. That makes 3 wagtail species in the last 10 hours.
07:13: 2 Bullfinch just dropped into a garden to the north of me.
07:32: Pied Wagtail east.
07:45: A flock of 3 balloons, 2 star-shaped, 1 round, heading south-west.
08:21: Siskin heard.
08:58: Oystercatcher heard.
10:41 Siskin heard.
11:08: Oystercatcher heard.
13:54: 2 Siskin south.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Thursday 25th of June 2020 01:54:59 PM
Rob Thorpe said
Wed Jun 24 9:22 AM, 2020
Wednesday 24 June 2020
09:19: Siskin heard.
09:23: Sparrowhawk low south-east.
10:11: Siskin south.
10:15: Linnet east.
10:32: Siskin heard, heading south-east, sounded like at least 2.
12:55: Siskin heard. 2 Buzzard circling.
14:00: Comma butterfly.
16:31: Sparrowhawk east with prey.
21:26: Yellow Wagtail south. 67th bird for the lockdown garden list, first addition since 12 May! 68 on the garden yearlist, and only the second I've ever had over the garden.
22:28: A silent Canada Goose south.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Wednesday 24th of June 2020 10:29:18 PM
Rob Thorpe said
Tue Jun 23 12:03 PM, 2020
Tuesday 23 June 2020
12:02: 2 Swallow south.
12:47: 3 Buzzard hanging around.
15:44: Sparrowhawk west.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Tuesday 23rd of June 2020 03:44:58 PM
Rob Thorpe said
Mon Jun 22 11:20 AM, 2020
Monday 22 June 2020
11:11: Peregrine circling low, just to the north, before drifting north-west.
11:23: Buzzard east.
11:56: Oystercatcher heard.
12:01: Sparrowhawk east.
12:16: 2 Cormorant east.
14:03: A Siskin just took off from the trees just over our back fence. I can now hear at least 2 flying around close by.
14:15: Swallow south.
14:36: Sparrowhawk east, with prey.
14:54: Great Spotted Woodpecker heard.
17:10: 2 Oystercatcher west.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Monday 22nd of June 2020 05:11:56 PM
A quiet day, with the exception of a noisy Oystercatcher over on 4 separate occasions. The young Goldfinch was sheltering in the alder during a heavy rain shower in the afternoon.
Rob Thorpe said
Sun Jun 21 12:39 PM, 2020
Saturday 20 June 2020
The weather was much improved today, but the birds weren't particularly exciting. I did hear a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Bullfinch though. I saw a Grey Squirrel on the road in front of my house, only the second I've seen here I think. In the afternoon, whilst I was having a glass of wine in the garden, a Painted Lady butterfly was enjoying the sun, the first I've seen this year.
Another mainly rainy day, with nothing particularly noteworthy. Oystercatcher was over a couple of times.
Rob Thorpe said
Fri Jun 19 12:02 AM, 2020
Thursday 18 June 2020
Rain, rain, rain. Couldn't even leave the kitchen doors open today, as I usually would when working indoors, as the torrential rain was soaking the kitchen floor. The only things I noticed were the Goldrest calling early doors, a newly fledged Goldfinch being fed in the alder just over the back fence, a couple of House Sparrows sheltering in a half dead conifer, and a dozen or so Starling hanging around the roosting tree.
Rob Thorpe said
Wed Jun 17 4:01 PM, 2020
Wednesday 17 June 2020
At around 15:50 I could hear a Bullfinch calling from woodpecker tree, before I saw it, and possibly a second, fly north. Other things of interest so far today: Early afternoon a flock of 17 Herring Gull gathered low over the green and must have found a good thermal, within a minute they had gained a lot of height and been joined by the 2 local Carrion Crow, 3 Rook, a few Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Buzzard. 2 Buzzard had been circling to the north a little earlier, and I'd also heard a Siskin and a Pied Wagtail.
16:00: Oystercatcher unusually silent as it flew south-east.
16:15: Common Tern north, carrying a fish.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Wednesday 17th of June 2020 10:35:42 PM
14:15: While watching a nice big mixed flock of Swift, House Martin and a singing Swallow feeding directly overhead, a Peregrine flew north, really high, before turning back and stooping south until lost to view behind neighbouring houses. Other things of interest so far today have been a Mistle Thrush, a Pied Wagtain, Goldcrest heard, 2 Coal Tit, and at least 9 Rook.
Rob Thorpe said
Mon Jun 15 8:29 AM, 2020
Monday 15 June 2020
So far this morning, the Goldcrest has been calling again, a Sparrowhawk flew south, as did a Song Thrush, which is first one I've seen for a while. Another first for quite a few weeks was a Bullfinch, which was flying west towards the green.
10:33: A phylloscopus warbler sp. was just briefly in the woodpecker tree, but I never got a good view of it, and it never called, before it flew off over Craig Higson's street.
13:42: 2 low-altitude Siskin south, appeared to land near St Thomas school field. Also since the last update, a family party of 6 or 7 Long-tailed Tit spent some time in woodpecker tree, with a Blut Tit tagging along. The Coal Tit has been singing, Sparrowhawk had drifted over north twice, one time carrying prey, and a Buzzard has been soaring around to the north.
17:05: Pheasant heard.
19:42: Oystercatcher north-west.
20:47: Pied Wagtail south.
20:52: Oystercatcher heard between the thunder.
20:56: A tight flock of 10 Swift, zooming around and screaming in the rain.
Over 100 Starling gathered in the roosting tree this evening.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Monday 15th of June 2020 09:51:41 PM
Having been making a conscious effort to keep a garden yearlist this year, and at the same time start a proper garden life list, this thread - and the lockdown that triggered it, obvs - offered me the perfect excuse to put in some serious hours!
I'm a big fan of the vismig style of birding, finding a spot and seeing what flies past, so being restricted to the garden due to lockdown just meant I didnt have to decide on the best place to watch from.
In terms of the main vismig movements, Meadow Pipit passage was the feature of the first couple of weeks, followed by Swallow and other hirundine through mid April to early May, then a bit of a lull until late June into July where some decent Swift and Siskin passage also provided 8 Crossbill, with singles on 30 June and 01 July, and groups of 3 on both 07 July and 08 July, the latter date also seeing at least 45 Swift on the move. I also managed to get in on some Nocmig, after reading about others hearing them, I got some Common Scoter over on the night of 03 April, when I also heard Snipe, and even better Shelduck.
The start of April was a really enjoyable time, with some good garden records, including Curlew, first Swallow and House Martin of the year, and garden firsts of Willow Warbler, Sand Martin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Reed Bunting, Bullfinch and Yellowhammer. But best of all were the 2 Little Egret which flew over on 10 April. I also had a single Little Egret over on 07 July.
A relatively quiet spell through mid April preceded a good back-end of the month, with Hobby, Whimbrel and Osprey over on 22/23 April. The Hobby and Osprey were part of an impressive 6 species of raptor seen from my garden within 3 days, with the others being Peregrine, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard. Hobby was also recorded on 16 May (during the otherwise disappointing Garden Bird Race), and 17 July. And a Second Osprey was circling overhead on 13 May. But my raptor highlight had to be the Red Kite seen on 26 June, only my second ever gm record.
Whimbrel were recorded on 3 more occasions, once 04 May and twice on 07 July. In terms of waders though, these were definitely outshone by the awesome flock of c45 Black-tailed Godwit which flew through on 10 July. A calidris type wader on 28 July was almost certainly a juv Dunlin, but I didn't pick it up early enough to confirm 100%. 2 Snipe over on 24 July were an unexpected record. I'd been hoping for Greenshank, Redshank, or Green or Common Sandpiper to fly over at some point, but no luck.
Yellow Wagtail were much more frequent than I'd expected over the garden, with records from 24 June, 01 July, 11 July, 14 July (2), and 17 July.
The end of the period saw a half expected Mediterranean Gull added to the list on 17 July, and a totally unexpected Nuthatch, the 72nd and last addition to the list, on 18 July.
So to summarise, I had a great time and it's definitely inspired me to give the garden (or at least the sky above it) more attention from now on. Also, reading what others were seeing / hearing, both on here and on twitter etc., gave me the optimism to keep at it, in the vain hope of getting things like Bearded Vulture, White-tailed Eagle, Black Kite, Bee-eater, Common Crane and so on...
If only!
Anyway, personally I really don't see things getting back to normal any time soon, and I've been told to expect to be working from home for the foreseeable. So despite the unfortunate demise of this thread, I'll definitely be continuing my garden sky-watching, and might try and set up some sort of blog or something (rather than litter the Garden Birds thread with my daily lists). Well done to everyone who gave this a bash, thanks for giving me optimism, I hope my thread was able to do the same, and big thanks to Ian for setting this whole thing up!
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Friday 7th of August 2020 09:00:39 PM
Butterflies:
001, Large White
002, Brimstone
003, Peacock
004, Small Tortoiseshell
005, Holly Blue
006, Speckled Wood
007, Orange Tip
008, Painted Lady
009, Small White
010, Red Admiral
011, Meadow Brown
Moths (I don't do trapping):
001, Lime Hawkmoth
002, Lesser Yellow Underwing
Dragonflies:
001, Emperor
002, Brown Hawker
Mammals:
001, Brown Rat
002, Grey Squirrel
001, Starling, 2020-03-24
002, House Sparrow,
003, Goldfinch,
004, Greenfinch,
005, Chaffinch,
006, Blue Tit,
007, Coal Tit,
008, Blackbird,
009, Lesser Black-backed Gull,
010, Herring Gull,
011, Black-headed Gull,
012, Woodpigeon,
013, Collared Dove,
014, Magpie,
015, Carrion Crow,
016, Dunnock,
017, Meadow Pipit,
018, Pied Wagtail
019, Linnet, 2020-03-25
020, Buzzard,
021, Sparrowhawk,
022, Jackdaw,
023, Robin, 2020-03-26
024, Mistle Thrush, 2020-03-26
025, Wren,
026, Rook,
027, Grey Heron,
028, Great Tit,
029, Oystercatcher,
030, Cormorant, 2020-03-27
031, Canada Goose, 2020-03-28
032, Mallard,
033, Curlew, 2020-04-02
034, Snipe, 2020-04-03
035, Common Scoter,
036, Shelduck,
037, Reed Bunting, 2020-04-04
038, Song Thrush,
039, Swallow, 2020-04-05
040, House Martin,
041, Long-tailed Tit, 2020-04-06
042, Willow Warbler,
043, Goldcrest, 2020-04-07
044, Raven,
045, Siskin, 2020-04-08
046, Sand Martin,
047, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2020-04-09
048, Kestrel,
049, Bullfinch, 2020-04-10
050, Skylark,
051, Little Egret,
052, Feral Pigeon, 2020-04-11
053, Yellowhammer,
054, Peregrine,
055, Grey Wagtail,
056, Blackcap, 2020-04-12
057, Jay, 2020-04-18
058, Hobby, 2020-04-22
059, Pheasant, 2020-04-23
060, Whimbrel,
061, Osprey,
062, Stock Dove, 2020-04-24
063, Lapwing, 2020-04-29
064, Swift, 2020-04-30
065, Common Tern, 2020-05-03
066, Common Gull, 2020-05-12
067, Yellow Wagtail, 2020-06-24
068, Red Kite, 2020-06-26
069, Crossbill, 2020-06-30
070, Black-tailed Godwit, 2020-07-10
071, Mediterranean Gull, 2020-07-17
072, Nuthatch, 2020-07-18
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Monday 3rd of August 2020 10:42:40 PM
A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew from the green towards St Thomas' school, then flew north, directly over my garden, shortly afterwards.
1 Grey Wagtail flew over, heading north-west.
8 Swallow - 5 west together, 3 north-west together.
8 Black-headed Gull north together.
1 Linnet north.
Undoubtedly the rarest thing I've seen over the garden, I noticed a really big contrail to the east, and the plane at the front of it looked a really unusual shape and huge! Got the binoculars onto it and I'd never seen anything like it! On checking flightradar24 website I saw it was a / the Antonov An-225 Mriya - which, when I googled it, turns out to be the heaviest plane ever built, and the only one of its kind - from 1980s Ukraine / Soviet Union.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Monday 3rd of August 2020 07:48:56 PM
A very quiet start to the new month.
1 Swallow flew south, 10 Swift fed high overhead, and a Buzzard was soaring to the north.
Butterflies consisted of Red Admiral, Small White, and Holly Blue.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Monday 3rd of August 2020 07:50:29 PM
A hot sunny day - summer at last!
What sounded like a significant flock of Siskin flew over, but I never caught sight of them against the blue sky.
A Grey Wagtail was also heard-only.
2 Stock Dove flew west.
5 Swallow - 3 south, 2 west.
1 or 2 Pied Wagtail, with 1 north and another or the same south.
A juv Lesser Black-backed Gull was with a noisy group of adults.
1 juv Herring Gull north.
12 Black-headed Gull north together.
2 Linnet north.
2 Coal Tit.
insects:
Speckled Wood.
Large White.
Small White.
Peacock.
female Ichneumon stramentor wasp (I think, after a quick google research).
balloons:
1 "21", north-west.
Getting warmer!
1 Grey Heron circling, drifting north.
1 Swallow east.
12 Black-headed Gull south together.
12+ House Martin overhead, with quite a few Swift, feeding on flying ants.
insects:
Ants.
Brown Hawker.
Speckled Wood.
Small White.
Small Tortoiseshell.
2-spot Ladybird.
balloons:
A flock of 4 translucent-blue, north.
The weather was much more pleasant today, but strange cloud layers kept the temperature relatively subdued. Things of note included:
1 Raven high north, first here for a while.
1 Kestrel north.
2 Common Tern west.
2 Stock Dove south, separately.
1 Grey Wagtail west.
1-5 Pied Wagtail.
14 Swift north-west together.
1 Oystercatcher west.
1 Sparrowhawk, male with a missing left primary, seen 4 times.
1 Buzzard.
1-3 Linnet.
3 Coal Tit.
Goldcrest heard.
Insects:
Speckled Wood.
Peacock.
Small White.
Brown Hawker.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Thursday 30th of July 2020 11:11:10 AM
A windy day with frequent showers.
A calidris wader, most likely a Dunlin, flew south-west at 07:50.
A phylloscopus warbler flew from woodpecker tree towards the green.
2 Sand Martin south, separately.
2 Swallow south together.
14 Swift south in groups of 1-3.
1 Cormorant south.
1 Pied Wagtail north then south.
1 Sparrowhawk.
Insects included a Brown Hawker (new for the garden), Large White, and Small White. Also a pretty big spider.
Monday 27 July 2020
An Oystercatcher flying north through the torrential rain was the only thing noted.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Wednesday 29th of July 2020 06:12:37 AM
Another quiet day, after a late start, and not much watching done in between decorating. I heard a Siskin fly over, and then late at night a could hear some distant Oystercatcher action. Butterflies today included a Holly Blue, a Peacock and a Large White.
Not much watching done today, but I did see the fork-tailed Herring Gull yet again. Other things noted were a Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk and a few butterflies: Large White, Small White, Peacock, and Speckled Wood.
2 Snipe north, fairly high.
1 possibly 2 Willow Warbler - one heard calling a couple of gardens away, with Long-tailed Tits, then it or another feeding in woodpecker tree a couple of hours later.
1 Peregrine north, really low.
2 Common Tern - 1 ad. 1 juv. south together.
1 Oystercatcher north-west.
3 Pied Wagtail - 2 and 1 north.
1 Sparrowhawk - male, seen on 3 occasions.
64+ Swift - groups of 21, 20, 17 south-west, plus at least 6 hanging around.
Lots of gulls, mainly Black-headed, but with some Lesser Black-backed and a few Herring Gull (including a 1st summer bird I keep seeing which has lost its central tail feathers) feasting on flying ants.
Butterflies:
Small White.
Large White.
Blue sp.
Speckled Wood.
Peacock.
Meadow Brown.
Comma.
Small Tortoiseshell.
Helicopters:
1 Chinook east.
3 Merlin east together.
Balloons:
"1" and "8" heading east. Obviously someone's 81st birthday.
Sparrowhawk.
Rain.
1 Reed Bunting heard.
4 Siskin - 1 north, 1 south, 2 heard.
1 Pied Wagtail south.
Before work and after decorating:
1 Reed Bunting west.
1 Bullfinch south.
5 Swallow south - 4 together and another with a House Martin.
1 Pied Wagtail south.
2 Sparrowhawk.
1 Buzzard.
56 Black-headed Gull south at sunset, in groups of 30 and 26.
Spent some time watching before work, but most of the day taken up with work then decorating. It was a fairly quiet morning, with the exception of a noisy group of 7 Lesser Black-backed Gull hanging around. Other things noted:
1 Grey Heron north.
2 Swallow south.
1 Pied Wagtail north-west.
1 Bullfinch.
2 Linnet.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Tuesday 21st of July 2020 09:34:17 AM
Sightings from tea breaks between decorating:
2 Siskin south.
1 Pied Wagtail south-west.
2 Buzzard.
2 Sparrowhawk.
Another rainy start to the day, and the kitchen fitters finishing off meant that I was watching out of the front of the house for a change. A Nuthatch calling briefly from the tall conifers across the road was a garden first, and species number 72 since lockdown. In the evening, while sitting out in the garden, a Common Gull flew west - only my second since the lockdown started.
At last, a morning without rain! Managed to get a few hours watching from the garden, whilst having breakfast and a couple of coffees, before the kitchen guys arrived. And it was a cracking few hours too!
1 Mediterranean Gull (adult) east at 06:45. A garden tick, and 71st species since lockdown.
1 Hobby west at 05:37. 3rd garden Hobby this year / ever.
1 Yellow Wagtail north at 05:46.
1 Kestrel (male) south-west.
1 Swallow east.
1 Linnet north-west.
2 Pied Wagtail - 1 north, 1 heard only.
Black-headed Gulls - early-doors a tight flock of c30, presumably leaving a roost (probably Pennington Flash) heading west was a sign of the changing seasons already. Also, loose flocks, including many juvs, were going over, in all directions, all day.
The only other things noted after breakfast time were Goldcrest heard and Coal Tit heard.
Another rainy start, and a quiet day, with only Pied Wagtail of interest... noted on 6 occasions, one being 2 birds together, it was unclear how many individuals were involved. Goldcrest was quite vocal today.
3 Mallard, 1 Oystercatcher, loads of rain.
An early start with breakfast in the garden / building site before the kitchen fitters arrived, and it was all very wagtaily!
2 Yellow Wagtail - 1 north, 1 heard only.
1 Grey Wagtail east.
3 Pied Wagtail north.
1 Willow Warbler, only my second ever from the garden.
1 Bullfinch.Goldcrest heard many times.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Wednesday 15th of July 2020 05:36:27 AM
Work started on fitting our new kitchen today, so not able to work from my usual places of either the kitchen table or the patio. Restricted viewing provided only a Sparrowhawk twice, once with prey, and a calling Coal Tit.
Not much watching done, but I did notice a Cormorant fly north, a Sparrowhawk was over a couple of times, and it was flying ant day so lots of Black-headed Gull, Swift and House Martin activity.
1 Yellow Wagtail north.
1 Pied Wagtail.
32 Swift south-west together.
2 Buzzard.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Monday 13th of July 2020 06:12:57 AM
A windy day, it was pretty quiet birdwise, but provided my highlight of the "lockdown" birding so far when a flock of around 45 Black-tailed Godwit flew east, high up, just to the north of me, at 06:20. My 70th garden species since the lockdown! Other bits and bobs were:
1 Siskin south.
1 Swallow south-west.
11 Rook north together.
1 Cormorant north.
2 juv Black-headed Gull.
1 Buzzard.
Goldrest heard.
Coal Tit heard.
1 Emperor Dragonfly.
1 Red Admiral butterfly.
1 Large White butterfly.
1 Small Tortoiseshel butterfly.
Another rainy start to the day ruined my pre-work skywatch. The best bits from a quiet day:
1 Siskin south.
1 Skylark singing.
4 Oystercatcher.
Common Tern heard.
juv Wren.
2 juv Robin.
Goldcrest heard.
1 Buzzard.
1 Sparrowhawk.
32 Black-headed Gull moving south, early evening, in ones and twos.
1 Pipistrelle.
1 Puma helicopter again.
Much quieter today, with a miserable drizzly start to the day and overcast, with a light ENE breeze all day, before heavy rain in the evening. Of interest:
3 Crossbill south together at 09:44.
2 Siskin south, individually.
45+ Swift - a group of 14 east, a group of 25 west, and about 6 hanging around.
1 Skylark singing overhead.
1 Pied Wagtail around again.
2 Cormorant - 1 east, 1 south.
1 Buzzard.
1 Sparrowhawk 3 times, including once with small prey which might have been one of the Long-tailed Tits, as I could only count 7 later on, when there was previously 8 hanging around.
speaking of which, the Long-tailed Tit family seemed to have merged with the Blue Tit and Coal Tit families today, to form a mixed flock, which only added to the autumnal feel from this weather.
3+ Puma helicopter - 2 west, followed by 3 east, then 2 north-west. The one pictured appeared to have made the rookie mistake of forgetting to retract their landing gear!
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Wednesday 8th of July 2020 10:10:18 PM
A decent morning out in the garden before the rain set in, with the highlights being:
1 Little Egret west at 11:11.
2 Whimbrel - one heard only at 06:04, then another south at 07:45 (poor quality video grabs attached).
3 Crossbill south together at 07:01.
3 Siskin south separately.
1 Reed Bunting south, first for many weeks.
81+ Swift north-west in groups of 7, 20, 45+ & 9.
4 Swallow south together.
1 Grey Wagtail east.
1 Pied Wagtail to-ing and fro-ing.
1 Mistle Thrush west.
4 Linnet - 3 west, 1 south.
8 Cormorant south together.
2 Oystercatcher south.8 House Martin.
2 Coal Tit.
Goldcrest heard.
...and best of all, a Mickey Mouse balloon being circled by a flock of pigeons!-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Tuesday 7th of July 2020 08:07:01 PM
Another windy day, with the only highlights being a juv Black-headed Gull over and some nearby police helicopter action.
Too windy to sit out, or even sit in with the kitchen doors open, so nothing noted. I did however miss the only excitement of the day, while out birding, when a Starling was flying around my house before finding its way out through an open window.
Saturday 04 July 2020
Most of the day was spent rearranging the garage, but I did hear Pied Wagtail, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit and Oystercatcher.
Another mainly rainy day. Had a lot of work meetings so didn't spend much time looking / listening for birds, but I did notice:
1 Pied Wagtail spent most of the afternoon gathering beakfulls of insects from neighbouring roofs and gardens, before each time flying off west, presumably to feed young.
1 Common Tern east.
1 Cormorant south.
1 Buzzard south.
1 Swallow south.
1 Coal Tit.
1 Goldcrest.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Saturday 4th of July 2020 09:17:25 AM
Fairly quiet today, raining on and off until mid afternoon. The "highlights":
1 Skylark east.
1 Siskin south-west.
2 Linnet east.
1 Cormorant north.
1 Sparrowhawk.
2 Coal Tit.
8 Long-tailed Tit.
Oystercatcher heard.
Goldcrest heard.
A decent morning with some good variety, the highlights being:
1 Crossbill south at 08:16.
1 Yellow Wagtail north-west at 09:38.
1 Siskin south.
2 Swallow south.
3 Pied Wagtail east.
2 Common Tern north-west.
1 Stock Dove west.
2 Mallard over, first for a few weeks.
2 Buzzard.
1 Bullfinch.
2 Coal Tit.
1 juv Dunnock.
Linnet heard.
Oystercatcher heard.
06:56: A single Crossbill flew west. Species number 69 for the lockdown garden list, and number 70 for the garden yearlist/ proper list.
There was a lot of activity late morning to early afternoon as the rain cleared away. Lots of House Sparrows feeding in and around the garden again, including some that looked very recently fledged, presumably a second brood. At least 8 Long-tailed Tit were in and out of the woodpecker tree, along with a family of Blue Tit, a couple of families of Goldfinch, and the usual singing Dunnock. 2 Buzzard were circling in the afternoon, and a hunting Sparrowhawk shot through.
Sunday 28 June 2020 - Monday 29 June 2020
Nothing of note, but not much time spent watching in what felt more like late autumn weather than mid summer! House Sparrows have been feeding in the garden a lot during the heavier rain showers, and there's a decent flock of Starling around, but they're never in view for long.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Tuesday 30th of June 2020 07:11:31 AM
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Wednesday 1st of July 2020 06:09:33 AM
Awoke to heavy rain, so cancelled the alarms and had a lie in (not much chance of flyover Crossbill (or Bearded Vulture) in that weather!). When I did get up, and had breakfast in the garden, at around 8ish, there wasn't much happening bird-wise, and then the rain came again! I decided this was probably a good day to give the old eyes a rest.
On the couple of times I did venture out into the garden, between the rain showers, I got what I believe is my first garden Meadow Brown butterfly, bringing my garden butterfly list to 11, and a Bullfinch was calling from woodpecker tree before flying through my garden towards the green. In the 2.5 years I've lived here I've never noticed Bullfinch until the lockdown, but they seem to be around fairly regularly now. Similarly the obviously locally breeding Linnet that are over pretty much every day since April. Just shows what you miss when you arent paying attention.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Saturday 27th of June 2020 10:10:29 PM
04:51: Peregrine east, stooping, then flying back west.
04:56: Cormorant north.
05:02: Peregrine east again.
05:57: Siskin heard.
06:04: Siskin heard, sounded like several heading south. Not sure why I'm not picking them up against the cloudy sky, they must be too high up?
06:07: Siskin heard.
07:40: Skylark singing to the north.
07:44: Siskin heard.
07:57: Oystercatcher heard.12:14: Grey Wagtail north-east.
12:22: Cormorant west.
12:52: 2 Stock Dove west.
13:18: Cormorant west.
13:24: Buzzard up to the north.
14:24: Oystercatcher heard, and a green number 5-shaped balloon drifting north-west.
14:45: Red Kite high, drifting south. Got a crappy record-shot through the bins (attached) before managing to get my dad on to it via phone call. Lockdown garden number 68.15:25: Buzzard high, drifting north while being mobbed by a Lesser Black-backed Gull.
19:51: Oystercatcher heard.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Friday 26th of June 2020 07:52:21 PM
04:59: Grey Wagtail heard only, heading south.
05:08: Siskin heard.
05:16: 4 Linnet north-east.05:24: Grey Heron north.
05:32: 2 Siskin south.
05:35: Curlew west, only my second since lockdown.
05:47: Siskin heard.
06:05: At least 2 Siskin heard.
06:19: 2 Grey Heron west.06:40: Siskin heard.
06:42: Siskin heard.
06:55: Pied Wagtail north. That makes 3 wagtail species in the last 10 hours.
07:13: 2 Bullfinch just dropped into a garden to the north of me.
07:32: Pied Wagtail east.
07:45: A flock of 3 balloons, 2 star-shaped, 1 round, heading south-west.
08:21: Siskin heard.08:58: Oystercatcher heard.
10:41 Siskin heard.
11:08: Oystercatcher heard.13:54: 2 Siskin south.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Thursday 25th of June 2020 01:54:59 PM
09:19: Siskin heard.
09:23: Sparrowhawk low south-east.
10:11: Siskin south.
10:15: Linnet east.
10:32: Siskin heard, heading south-east, sounded like at least 2.
12:55: Siskin heard. 2 Buzzard circling.
14:00: Comma butterfly.
16:31: Sparrowhawk east with prey.
21:26: Yellow Wagtail south. 67th bird for the lockdown garden list, first addition since 12 May! 68 on the garden yearlist, and only the second I've ever had over the garden.
22:28: A silent Canada Goose south.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Wednesday 24th of June 2020 10:29:18 PM
12:02: 2 Swallow south.
12:47: 3 Buzzard hanging around.
15:44: Sparrowhawk west.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Tuesday 23rd of June 2020 03:44:58 PM
11:11: Peregrine circling low, just to the north, before drifting north-west.
11:23: Buzzard east.
11:56: Oystercatcher heard.
12:01: Sparrowhawk east.
12:16: 2 Cormorant east.
14:03: A Siskin just took off from the trees just over our back fence. I can now hear at least 2 flying around close by.
14:15: Swallow south.
14:36: Sparrowhawk east, with prey.
14:54: Great Spotted Woodpecker heard.
17:10: 2 Oystercatcher west.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Monday 22nd of June 2020 05:11:56 PM
A quiet day, with the exception of a noisy Oystercatcher over on 4 separate occasions. The young Goldfinch was sheltering in the alder during a heavy rain shower in the afternoon.
The weather was much improved today, but the birds weren't particularly exciting. I did hear a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Bullfinch though. I saw a Grey Squirrel on the road in front of my house, only the second I've seen here I think. In the afternoon, whilst I was having a glass of wine in the garden, a Painted Lady butterfly was enjoying the sun, the first I've seen this year.
Another mainly rainy day, with nothing particularly noteworthy. Oystercatcher was over a couple of times.
Rain, rain, rain.
Couldn't even leave the kitchen doors open today, as I usually would when working indoors, as the torrential rain was soaking the kitchen floor. The only things I noticed were the Goldrest calling early doors, a newly fledged Goldfinch being fed in the alder just over the back fence, a couple of House Sparrows sheltering in a half dead conifer, and a dozen or so Starling hanging around the roosting tree.
At around 15:50 I could hear a Bullfinch calling from woodpecker tree, before I saw it, and possibly a second, fly north. Other things of interest so far today:
Early afternoon a flock of 17 Herring Gull gathered low over the green and must have found a good thermal, within a minute they had gained a lot of height and been joined by the 2 local Carrion Crow, 3 Rook, a few Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Buzzard. 2 Buzzard had been circling to the north a little earlier, and I'd also heard a Siskin and a Pied Wagtail.
16:00: Oystercatcher unusually silent as it flew south-east.
16:15: Common Tern north, carrying a fish.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Wednesday 17th of June 2020 10:35:42 PM
14:15: While watching a nice big mixed flock of Swift, House Martin and a singing Swallow feeding directly overhead, a Peregrine flew north, really high, before turning back and stooping south until lost to view behind neighbouring houses. Other things of interest so far today have been a Mistle Thrush, a Pied Wagtain, Goldcrest heard, 2 Coal Tit, and at least 9 Rook.
So far this morning, the Goldcrest has been calling again, a Sparrowhawk flew south, as did a Song Thrush, which is first one I've seen for a while. Another first for quite a few weeks was a Bullfinch, which was flying west towards the green.
10:33: A phylloscopus warbler sp. was just briefly in the woodpecker tree, but I never got a good view of it, and it never called, before it flew off over Craig Higson's street.
13:42: 2 low-altitude Siskin south, appeared to land near St Thomas school field. Also since the last update, a family party of 6 or 7 Long-tailed Tit spent some time in woodpecker tree, with a Blut Tit tagging along. The Coal Tit has been singing, Sparrowhawk had drifted over north twice, one time carrying prey, and a Buzzard has been soaring around to the north.
17:05: Pheasant heard.
19:42: Oystercatcher north-west.
20:47: Pied Wagtail south.
20:52: Oystercatcher heard between the thunder.
20:56: A tight flock of 10 Swift, zooming around and screaming in the rain.
Over 100 Starling gathered in the roosting tree this evening.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Monday 15th of June 2020 09:51:41 PM
10:55: A pair of Sparrowhawk in display flight over the green.
10:58: Cormorant north.
11:05: 2 Oystercatcher north-west, and a Buzzard calling and circling to the north.
11:28: Coal Tit calling, and an adult Herring Gull circling overhead and drifting south.
11:38: Now 2 Buzzard in view, both high, one to the north, one to the west. Also, whilst mowing the lawn, I disturbed an underwing moth.
11:45: Goldcrest calling.
14:05: Peregrine east.
14:28: Siskin south-west.
14:52: Pink 3 and 0 shaped balloons heading north-west.
15:36: 3 Buzzard circling together overhead.
16:52: 4 Oystercatcher north, making a racket!
19:10: 4 Rook south.
19:34: Stock Dove south. Also, during a brief rain shower, at least 23 Starling gathered in the roosting tree.
20:03: 2 Rook south.
21:22: Sparrowhawk south, skimming the rooftops.
22:15: 2 Pipistrelle.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Sunday 14th of June 2020 10:18:09 PM