Mark Burgess, Boothstown Garden - (COVID-19 lockdown)
Mark Burgess said
Sun Jun 14 8:55 PM, 2020
Hi Lez, Apologies for late reply, Yes unusual behaviour but obviously not unique, I've watched the same bird do this several times now.
Lez Fairclough said
Sat May 30 9:24 PM, 2020
Mark Burgess wrote:
Sparrowhawk seen circling over the house this morning, 5 Swift and 4 House Martin seen in the air at the same time, Garden Warbler, Blackcap and Chiffchaff still singing, Blackcap and Chiffchaff seen regularly however the Garden warbler is another story, at times both the Garden Warbler and Blackcap can be heard singing in the same area the Blackcap shows regularly however the Garden Warbler is very elusive not yet seen it. The House Sparrow which was a new bird for the garden list at the start of the lock down has been seen regularly and this morning was seen scaling the vertical wall of the house and the picking insects from the nooks and crannies in the bricks, Never seen this behaviour before from a House Sparrow
Lockdown garden list now at 39 bird species
So funny you should mention this Mark as for the last few days I've been watching a couple of House Sparrows
doing exactly the same thing under the soffits at the top of the brickwork & it's new to me!
Mark Burgess said
Sat May 30 7:25 PM, 2020
Sparrowhawk seen circling over the house this morning, 5 Swift and 4 House Martin seen in the air at the same time, Garden Warbler, Blackcap and Chiffchaff still singing, Blackcap and Chiffchaff seen regularly however the Garden warbler is another story, at times both the Garden Warbler and Blackcap can be heard singing in the same area the Blackcap shows regularly however the Garden Warbler is very elusive not yet seen it. The House Sparrow which was a new bird for the garden list at the start of the lock down has been seen regularly and this morning was seen scaling the vertical wall of the house and the picking insects from the nooks and crannies in the bricks, Never seen this behaviour before from a House Sparrow
Lockdown garden list now at 39 bird species
Mark Burgess said
Wed May 6 11:52 AM, 2020
A few new additions to the garden lockdown list First Swift of the year over the house on Monday morning, Oddly not seen a Sand Martin, Swallow or House Martin yet usually in that order, Strange Times....!!! 3 Mallard did several fly pasts over the garden And best of all a singing Garden Warbler in the woodland at the side of the house that can be heard from the confines of the garden, There are also singing Willow Warblers in the same woodland but these are not venturing close enough to the house and garden to be heard
Lockdown garden list now at 38 bird species
Mark Burgess said
Fri Apr 17 9:04 PM, 2020
First Buzzard of the lockdown seen today high over the garden soaring on the thermals A Black headed Gull was another first Oddly for me not seen a Kestrel yet, Usually quite common over the house and garden Blackcap and Chiffchaff still singing away, Also Wren, Robin and Dunnock Long Tailed. Blue and Great Tit all seen gathering nesting material Lockdown garden list now at 35 bird species
Mark Burgess said
Fri Apr 10 8:34 PM, 2020
20 mins in the garden this morning with a cup of coffee, Produced A Great spotted Woodpecker, landed in the Oak tree in the garden momentarily, 1st sighting whilst in lockdown A female House sparrow was a 1st for the garden ever...!!! There is a small population in a neighbours garden 4 doors away but never seen one in my garden before Blackcap and Chiffchaff still singing Herring Gull 4 Goldfinch 2 Chaffinch Both nest boxes on the garden fence now occupied by Blue Tits and one I have the in woodland viewable from the garden has a Great Tit, Not a great choose as a Great spotted Woodpecker opened up the access hole and predated the last occupence.
Garden list now at 33 bird species
Mark Burgess said
Tue Apr 7 11:36 AM, 2020
Sparrowhawk heard then seen this morning as it glided over the house
Garden list now at 30 bird species
Mark Burgess said
Mon Apr 6 8:44 PM, 2020
Ist Blackcap of the year singing at the side of the garden this evening at 20.00 also singing 2 Wrens Song Thrush Chiffchaff Bullfinch Robin Blackbird
Lockdown list now at 29 bird species
Mark Burgess said
Fri Apr 3 8:23 PM, 2020
15 minutes in the garden today produced A pair of Blue Tits checking out one of my nest boxes Pair of Long Tailed Tits collecting nesting material A lone Coal Tit feeding in a conifer And a fly over Jay (a new bird for the lockdown list) A Calling Chiffchaff Lockdown list now at 28 bird species
Mark Burgess said
Thu Apr 2 10:33 PM, 2020
Common Scoter flock heard passing over Boothstown this evening at 10.25.
Mark Burgess said
Wed Apr 1 5:33 PM, 2020
A Flock of Canada Geese flew over the house low calling this morning and heard a male Pheasant calling as it when up to roost in the woodland at the side of the house last night, Not a lot to report, Chiffchaff still singing always nice to hear.
Mark Burgess said
Sun Mar 29 8:50 PM, 2020
A small flock of feral Pigeons sat on a neighbours roof and a Nuthatch calling are the only new birds today, Only in the garden for 5 mins as it was icily cold in the wind. Chiffchaff sing singing away.
Mark Burgess said
Sat Mar 28 8:13 PM, 2020
A Dunnock was singing in the garden this morning and a Goldcrest flitting about the conifers at the side of the house, A couple of fly over Starlings added to the list, But still no sign of the Willow tits that have been present in the garden on and off over the winter, However similar behaviour as last year, I suspect they move further from the house to breed in suitable habitat
Mark Burgess said
Fri Mar 27 7:49 PM, 2020
Chiffchaff singing away this morning, Also Robin and Wren and a well hidden Song Thrush, Small population of Jackdaws always vocal as are Carrion Crow and Magpie, Great, Long and Coal Tit all seen from the garden but outside of the garden perimeter fence. Happy days!!!
Mark Burgess said
Thu Mar 26 8:46 PM, 2020
South'ish facing mature garden, Large Oak tree, tall Bamboos and evergreen shrubs etc, Separated from the Bridgewater Canal tow path by a 80/100M linear woodland,
Chiffchaff heard singing Monday morning, 2 days later that last year Bullfinch herd this morning Curlew also heard distantly burbling, Morley's hall farm area Blues Tits visiting 2 nest boxes on the woodland side of the garden fence A couple of Goldfinch over calling when out putting some household rubbish in the bins
Apologies for late reply, Yes unusual behaviour but obviously not unique, I've watched the same bird do this several times now.
So funny you should mention this Mark as for the last few days I've been watching a couple of House Sparrows
doing exactly the same thing under the soffits at the top of the brickwork & it's new to me!
Lockdown garden list now at 39 bird species
First Swift of the year over the house on Monday morning, Oddly not seen a Sand Martin, Swallow or House Martin yet usually in that order, Strange Times....!!!
3 Mallard did several fly pasts over the garden
And best of all a singing Garden Warbler in the woodland at the side of the house that can be heard from the confines of the garden, There are also singing Willow Warblers in the same woodland but these are not venturing close enough to the house and garden to be heard
Lockdown garden list now at 38 bird species
A Black headed Gull was another first
Oddly for me not seen a Kestrel yet, Usually quite common over the house and garden
Blackcap and Chiffchaff still singing away, Also Wren, Robin and Dunnock
Long Tailed. Blue and Great Tit all seen gathering nesting material
Lockdown garden list now at 35 bird species
A Great spotted Woodpecker, landed in the Oak tree in the garden momentarily, 1st sighting whilst in lockdown
A female House sparrow was a 1st for the garden ever...!!! There is a small population in a neighbours garden 4 doors away but never seen one in my garden before
Blackcap and Chiffchaff still singing
Herring Gull
4 Goldfinch
2 Chaffinch
Both nest boxes on the garden fence now occupied by Blue Tits and one I have the in woodland viewable from the garden has a Great Tit, Not a great choose as a Great spotted Woodpecker opened up the access hole and predated the last occupence.
Garden list now at 33 bird species
Garden list now at 30 bird species
also singing
2 Wrens
Song Thrush
Chiffchaff
Bullfinch
Robin
Blackbird
Lockdown list now at 29 bird species
A pair of Blue Tits checking out one of my nest boxes
Pair of Long Tailed Tits collecting nesting material
A lone Coal Tit feeding in a conifer
And a fly over Jay (a new bird for the lockdown list)
A Calling Chiffchaff
Lockdown list now at 28 bird species
A Dunnock was singing in the garden this morning and a Goldcrest flitting about the conifers at the side of the house, A couple of fly over Starlings added to the list, But still no sign of the Willow tits that have been present in the garden on and off over the winter, However similar behaviour as last year, I suspect they move further from the house to breed in suitable habitat
Chiffchaff heard singing Monday morning, 2 days later that last year
Bullfinch herd this morning
Curlew also heard distantly burbling, Morley's hall farm area
Blues Tits visiting 2 nest boxes on the woodland side of the garden fence
A couple of Goldfinch over calling when out putting some household rubbish in the bins