My Outback (2004 / 16)

[birdman]

Saturday was cool, but not cold, with very low cloud and a trace of drizzle in the air. It was the usual entourage that ventured out for a Saturday stroll, but the journey was shorter due to a pre-arranged lunch date with the three women in my life.

The day itself was steady bird-wise; I think things are settling down after the rush of the New Year’s sightings, and I look forward to the arrival of all my summer visitors.

Still, we added Song Thrush to the year list (now 52), and had a reasonable selection for 90 minutes’ effort.

Singing Yellowhammers always brighten things up, and we were treated to three, and of course the Skylarks are worth listening to… although it should be sunnier when they sing!

My little helper took notes, as has become the Saturday norm, and was at least able to get a decent look at the Song Thrush and the Nuthatches, and the Green Woodpecker flypast, even if we dipped out again on any Greater Spotteds.

Well, list as usual…

Plain text = Outback day tick
Bold text = Outback year tick
Bold italic text = Outback life tick

(Number in brackets is highest number of individuals identified at one time)


Skylark : 9 (5)
Starling : 5 (5)
Black-headed Gull : 16 (16)
Blackbird : 1 (1)
Magpie : 7 (2)
Mallard : 8 (8)
Moorhen : 6 (6)
Meadow Pipit : 2 (2)
Coot : 6 (6)
Woodpigeon : 110 (100)
Blue Tit : 6 (2)
Chaffinch : 6 (2)
Green Woodpecker : 3 (2)
Robin : 1 (1)
Yellowhammer : 3 (1)
Tufted Duck : 1 (1)
Great Tit : 4 (2)
Kestrel : 3 (1)
Carrion Crow : 15 (11)
Pheasant : 2 (2)
Song Thrush : 1 (1)
Nuthatch : 2 (2)
Jackdaw : 3 (2)

[Andrew]

I too look forward to the summer arrivals on my WeBS surveys. Such birds include Spotted Flycatchers, Sedge Warblers & Reed Warblers. I will be sad to lose the reliable winter birds though such as the Redwings and Fieldfares.

[birdman]

Don't got much of a chance of Sedge Warblers and Reed Warblers on my Outback... although, there is a small reed "bed", more of a reed pouffe really, at the back of the island.

Spotted Flycatchers would be nice though.

Yep, I too will be sad to lose my winter thrushes... but they'll be back!

[Andrew]

That's the thing with patch listing (and all lists) the winter birds leave and are replaced by spring arrivals so the numbers never quite shoot up to give you a record. Having said that, I shall look very hard on my next survey (next Saturday) in case there is an overlap of arrivals and departures.

[Karl J]

Yes i'd agree with you .... looking forward to a few spring arrivals here as well

Never heard a singing Yellowhammer, least not knowingly. Mind you, I've only ever seen one. Nice one Birdman

[birdman]

I'm not particularly hot when it comes to bird song, but the Yellowhammer I've known for as long as I can remember.

It's the good old "little-bit-of-bread-and-no-chee-ee-ee-eese" refrain, that I first discovered as a kid.

Mind you, if they make any other sound, I've got no chance.

(5 of 'em in Report 17, BTW Carlos!)