14 species in dad's garden during a late Christmas dinner on 28th, most notably four Stock Doves. No sign of the Yellowhammers, Sparrowhawks or woodpeckers on this occasion, but did see a Coal Tit.
he reports that Yellowhammers have been regular in his garden of late ('yellowheads', he calls them), but I didn't see any. One Stock Dove did drop by.
On a walk over the fields at the back, in direction of the railway centre from about 5 - 5:30pm -
1 Skylark in song flight (it's officially spring!)
1 possible male Merlin. I noticed a smallish bird, certainly not larger than a pigeon and much slimmer, perched at the top of a tree. Got bins on it briefly enough to see it was a slate, or pigeon, grey bird of prey. It then buzzed over to the top of a nearby barn, showing a buffish wash and dark streaking on the underparts in flight, paler towards the rump, with some dark patterning on the underwings. Landed on top of the barn for a short while - again, the overall impression was of a grey bird, showing faint 'moustaches'. Then it flew over to another tree further away, fanning tail and showing a black band at the outer edge of the greyish tail, before landing and camouflaging into the tree, then taking off again and disappearing further away out of sight, displacing a group of about ten Woodpigeons in doing so.
Visiting my dad today, got the chance to watch the birds in his back garden for an hour. He has a range of feeders and puts out plenty of food (also feeds a Fox and has had Badgers in the past).
13 species in total, despite heavy rain: -
Stock Dove (Dad reports a pair regularly visit) Collared Dove Woodpigeon Magpie Carrion Crow Chaffinch House Sparrow Dunnock Blue Tit Great Tit Blackbird Robin Male Sparrowhawk buzzed across twice, landing on fence after unsuccessful sorties. Obviously fantastic to see, but of course also sent everything else into hiding.
Unfortunately, no Great Spotted Woodpecker dropped in, altho these are regular - he has also seen Green Woodpecker.
