Back in the office for most of last week so not much noted. Last 2 days have produced 3 new species for the lockdown garden list, swift no seen regularly high in the clear skies, Song thrush over early morning today and a single Lapwing also flew over heading east this morning. First fledgling of the year yesterday was a Wood Pigeon on the roof. More birds collecting food in the garden than I remember in previous years, could be more time looking but we have also been establishing more vegetation over the last few years so this may also be helping. 

Todays highlights include:

3 Canada geese north at c. 7.30 am

Several low feeding House Martin

Blackcap singing non stop from Astley St. Park

2 House martin feeding over the the park this morning and a Willow warbler just audible from the same direction, both new for the garden this year.

Highlights over the weekend were regular displaying Buzzards, new lockdown bird in the shape of a Cormorant, Bullfinch over on several occasions and a Dunnock which is aggressively displaying to its reflection in the back door.

Like most others, it's been very quiet for anything unusual in/over the garden recently. Daily sightings of Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Jay over the garden and a noticeable increase in Dunnock, Blackbird, House sparrow, Starling and both Blue and Great tits making feeding visits so assume fledglings wont be long in appearing!?

A Stock dove flying northeast on Saturday evening was not only the 50th species I've had since lockdown commenced but also a new species for the Garden list.. More frustratingly a Sedge warbler was heard singing yesterday  from scrub to the south of the guided busway about 300 metres from the garden.

Single Swallow drifted north, noisily this afternoon. 

Single Siskin flew north over garden yesterday evening and Blackcap  heard singing from Astley Street park this morning before the mowers and jet washers started up! 

Chiffchaff singing in Astley street park, Grest Spotted woodpecker flew from there calling as it headed east. Singing Skylark also over takes me to 45 for the Garden lockdown list. 4 linnet north and small numbers of Meadow pipit only other highlights so far today

Todays highlights included 2 Jay over, 2 Buzzard displaying over several times during the day at one point only just above roof top height in direction of Astley street park. Linnet over several times during day as well as small numbers of Meadow pipit and Alba wagtaips heading north.

Lockdown Garden list now stands at 40 with new additions including Meadow pipit and Linnet over in small numbers over last few days, Nuthatch calling from the nearby park and a single Sand Martin north over on Saturday, surprisingly scarce over the garden or maybe I just don't spend enough time looking normally?!

Should hopefully see/hear a few more migrants arriving over the next week or so.

Heard one flock of common scoter c. 9.55 last night in a brief listen. Did a more prolonged listen from 10.30 but didn't hear any more although a calling Oystercatcher and Tawny Owl kept me entertained along with other unknown noises, not sure if birds or not!

5 new species added this afternoon. Nothing to surprising but Kestrel and Coal tit are not that common. The Kestrel was seen a few times hovering over the busway area and the Coal tit was heard singing from Astley Street park.

Hoping for a bit more movement with the forecast change in wind direction at the weekend. 

A newish build estate (c. 2003) with not much vegetation in the immediate area. Tops of mature trees in Astley street park visible and can hear birds from here which has allowed me to add a few species to the garden list in the past. Otherwise most species are added as fly overs or heard at night records

Currently on 22 species over the lockdown period although did have to go into work until today so hope to increase this with some vis mig lunch hours!

Keep well everyone