Garden List

[birdman]

Didn't know whether to put this in the Garden Birds Forum or here... but as you can see...

OK, 2003 Garden List so far

Magpie
Blackbird
Mistle Thrush
Robin
Blue Tit
Starling (including approx. 40 at one time 02/02/03)
Unidentified LBJ

[birdman]

Latest (and best) guess for the LBJ is Female Reed Bunting.

[birdman]

Pied Wagtail to add, but nothing else new, although the Starlings and a Blue Tit have begun to use the new Feeding Post.

[LuBird]

BRRRRRR! Birdman! It is mighty cold here in PA.


Juncos
Chickadees
Tufted Titmice
Mourning Doves
Cardinals
Sparrows
Starlings( I scared them away)
Blue Jays

When Oh When will Springtime come to Pennsyvania!!!!:gh:

[Reader]

LuBird

<When Oh When will Springtime come to Pennsyvania!!!!>

Never heard of that state. is it a new one: LOL

[LuBird]

Not that new John J3:-) A mere slip of the finger,Pennsylvania:t:

[birdman]

Hey LuBird...

Your New World species just sound so much more exciting than my Old World list!

I don't even knoe what Juncos are!!! (But I'll be looking in me book in a mo!)

And I just love the idea of "Blue Jays".

Envy envy envy....

[birdman]

Hey again

Told you I'd look them up...

I'm guessing yours are Dark-eyed... but my book says there are 5 different version of this.

Which do you get???

[LuBird]

I have envy of your list too Birdman. I only have one book that has your Country Birds listed in it. I have to get a better book. I can't spend all my time wandering the Net looking for a Thistle Thrush when you said Mistle Thrush,now can I.

Anyhow Birdman, John J is lurking around here,checking my spelling...... he certainly is trying to run a class act around this Forum, I just hope he isn't gonna notice my bad Grammer too.LOL

[LuBird]

With BirdBook in hand,ours are,"Snowbirds","Slate-Colored Junco or Northern Junco. The Males look quite like a group of busy Nuns,so sweet to watch them gather round o:)

[birdman]

My book says "Slate-colored"... and now I know, I can certainly imagine what you mean about the "busy Nuns"!

I love bird behaviour!

We had three Magpies this morning deciding whether or not to date to land in the garden. Eventually, one leant forward from the fence enough that gravity took over and it just about fell in.

It picked a piece of bread, took it back to the fence, transfered it from beak to foot - and proceeded to pick away at leisure. Never noticed that before!

[LuBird]

LOL Birdman. I have never seen a Magpie in real Life! I always find it hilarious when any bird loses its balance or footing:) They always seem to look around as though someone pulled a trick on them.

[birdman]

I love Magpies.

You might have noticed that they get a really bad press - they (allegedly) thieve, and they predate on eggs and young (apparently). But I think they are really exotic, and completely unlike anything else we have!

[marcus]

Birdman, have you seen a Waxwing yet? Just wondering.
Marcus

[marcus]

A Waxwing this year.

[birdman]

Hey marcus,

Never ever seen a Waxwing... it's definitely on the hit list!

[marcus]

I'm sure that a excellent birder like you means that he hasn't seen a Waxwing yet this year, right? I really doubt that a bird a NOVICE like me has seen has been seen by you. At least a related bird. I never have seen, and probably never will see a Bohemian Waxwing, but I have seen Cedar Waxwings. I saw my years first last Friday.
By the way, you've probably heard/seen the news about the bad snow storm over here, right?
marcus

[marcus]

I really doubt that a bird that a NOVICE like me has seen has not been seen by you.
That's what I meant. Sorry.

[birdman]

You are very kind, marcus - but I wouldn't in any way call myself an "excellent" birder. Certainly not in the same league many of the bods on BF!!

Sooooo... yes a Bohemian Waxwing would be a lifer for me. Unfortunately they're not exactly ten a penny (a dime a dozen?) here in the UK, although I believe they're just about annual.

They are an irruptive species, and we are pretty far west for them to show, I understand.

Anyhow, according to my Nat. Geog. Birds of North America, you should be able to see Bohemians if you go to W. Canada and Alaska, or you might be lucky to see them irrupt to the NE US in winter.

Trouble is, you live in such a HUGE country!!!

Good luck in this quest I have set you... any many congrats. on your first Cedar for 2003.

(PS. Only caught the weather report in a thread elsewhere - but I hear it's snowing a bit!!!)

[marcus]

Hello
I saw a absoultely, 100% definately saw a Fox Sparrow for the first time yesterday. It was hopping around in all that snow. I saw that 'red tail and rump'. I'm sure it was a Fox Sparrow. My first lifer of 2003.

[Gaye Horn]

We have
Two drakes and two female mallards.. they are here every spring
Many juncos... Slate,Oregon and pink sided...
House finches
Blackcapped chickadees
House Sparrows
American Goldfinch
Pine Siskins
Steller's Jays
Black Billed magpies
Northern Flicker
Cooper's Hawk
Ravens

That was it for today... great day too sun shining and blue blue skies...

[birdman]

Conrgats. on the lifer marcus - the first of many more in 2003 I hope!

Do you have a life list that you can post? If you put it in "Lists" I'd love to take a look, with my trusty American Field Guide alongside me!

Nice List Gaye - and I'm jealous as usual!
Was the House Finch male - and if so was he red or yellow?
Your Black Billed Magpie is the same species as mine (Pica pica) - but then you go and top me with your Steller's Jay (I love "Blue Birds").

[Gaye Horn]

Birdman... we have House finch in red, pale orange and some yellowish in colour... they are so pretty and singing so nicely right now...all males are the pretty ones of course!
Maggie is gorgeous and I dearly love her.. she was out there yesterday whilst I was cleaning up flower beds.. she actually chortles to me!!!
The Steller's were in in large numbers yesterday at least a dozen of them.. I have one that comes whistling down the mountain when I wolf whistle!He likes popcorn!!!
The Northern Flickers are calling and doing some arials displaying too.
The ducks are a surprise.. I hand raised a brood last spring and we released the survivors in early summer... and now we have two mated pairs back here..I am putting out the cracked corn!!!

[digi-birder]

Birdman, there are loads of Waxwings about at the moment. Do you have access to any birdnews services? If not, I can let you know the locations of a few if you're interested in catching some.

There are flocks in Sheffield, Barnsley, Grimsby - all not too far from you. One flock reported in Sheffield last week totalled 89 birds. That would be a sight to see. I remember a large irruption in December 1987 (or 1988). I didn't count them but there were a lot!

[birdman]

Thanks digi-birder...

I'd be very interested.

You can leave info here or pm me - whatever suits.

Muchas gracias amiga

[digi-birder]

De nada amigo.

PM on its way soon.

[Ashley beolens]

I managed to find a female Black Redstart in my garden on Monday morning, fantastic MK bird, although it didn't stay for anyone else to see it.

[birdman]

That's a superb bird Ashley.

Never seen Black Redstarts in the UK myself, but they're quite common in the area of Slovenia that I visit.

I'd be over the moon to get one in my garden!

I have seen Redstarts in N. Derbyshire though. They're good as well.

[columbidae]

My patio (not quite a garden) list so far this year:

House finches
Tutfted titmice
Carolina chicadees
Northern cardinals
Carolina wrens
Downy woodpeckers
Brown-headed nuthatches
Mourning doves
White-throated sparrows
Song sparrows
Fox sparrows
Dark-eyed juncos
Eastern towhees
Starlings
Pine siskins
Pine warblers
Yellow-rumped warblers

[birdman]

Nice list, columbidae,

I really hope the local woodpeckers will venture into my little sward of green from time to time.

And you've probably guessed by now that there's many member's this side of the pond envious of your Cardies!

[marcus]

For a really rainy, and foggy day, my day garden list is not bad. Or actually, my bedroom window list.
Beginning about 7:30 this morning, I saw:
Canada Goose
Mallard
Ring-billed Gull
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Starling
Northern Cardinal
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
I suppose that's pretty good for one day, not going anywhere, just looking out the window. Does anyone else have something similiar to submit.
marcus

[birdman]

That's quite an impressive bedroom window list, marcus.

I have a View From list in this forum, which includes a few waterfowl that are actually viewed from the bedroom window, as I cannot see over my fence!

[birdman]

It's taken more than a year, but I am finally able to announce the appearance of Passer domesticus (just the one, Mrs. Wembley) in our garden.

(And conveniently during RSPB House Sparrow Count as well!)

[LuBird]

First time ever,a beauty of a male Rose-Breasted Grosbeak(Pheucticus ludovicianus),of all things,perching vicariously, on a Finch thistle feeder in the drive. My list grows long Birdman:)

[Gerry Hooper]

Nearly got 100 species on list from house!!

Tiny garden but a big view, favourtes have been-

Lesser white throat
Firecrests
Black redstart
cirl buntings
Hen harrier
Red KItes
Most unusual was a Fulmar flying up the hill!

Eyes to the skies

Good birding all

[phyllosc]

I've never actually exactly added up my garden list but last week I added Little Egret to it. I live close to the Blackwater Estuary and they roost near by, so it's not too surpsring, I guess. It took 3 years for me to see one fly over and since then it does the same every night, around 21:40hrs.

A few hightlights: Common Tern, Brent Goose, Oyercatcher, (Flyovers) Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat, Siskin and, best of all, Pied Flycatcher.

One curiosity, I never seen Mistle Thrush in the garden but they flyover all the time (?)

Dave

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Dave,
No real surprise on the Mistle Thrush, they like to feed in large open areas such as football pitches. Unless you have a huge lawn, your garden is probably too small for them to feel comfortable in.

Michael

[phyllosc]

Michael

That would make sense.

Thanks

Dave

[bristolbirder]

Garden bird list for 2003 so far:-

Woodpigeon
Dunnock
Blue Tit
Magpie
Starling
House Sparrow
Greenfinch
Jackdaw
Bullfinch
Great Tit
Carrion Crow
Blackbird
Herring Gull
Chaffinch
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Robin
Feral pigeon
Collared Dove
Blackcap
Sparrowhawk
Black-headed Gull
Long-tailed Tit
Goldfinch
Wren
Chiffchaff
Goldcrest
Coal Tit
Jay
Pied Wagtail
Song Thrush
Redwing

[walwyn]

Well if we count both front and back:

Starling,
House Sparrow,
House Martin,
Wren,
Robin,
Blackbird,
Songthush,
Woodpigeon,
Collared Dove,
Pied Wagtail.

But mainly gangs of House Sparrow, normally about 6 in the gutters - I'm sure they are nesting up there, last year we had very young chicks dead on the ground, after a gale.

[phyllosc]

Walwyn

Good to hear you've got plenty of House Sparrows. The decline hasn't touched my estate and at present my garden is full of them. I've kept the feeders going throughout the summer and the birds are eating more now then they do in the winter.

A few weeks ago I put up a 'Sparrow terrace' nest box. It was too late for breeding this year but hopefully they discover if for next year.

Has anyone had any breeding successes with these boxes?

Dave

[Nancy]

Here is a different 'Magpie' for you. Australian White-backed Magpie. Named so by the early settlers who thought it looked a bit like the UK bird. It has a wonderful melodious carroling song, most often heard in late evening and early morning. I too love 'your' magpie and always say"Good Morning Mr Magpie" when I see one. I think that is supposed to bring good luck or prevent disaster. ( i have been back to UK several times to visit the rellies)

[walwyn]

RE: House Sparrows/Starlings perhaps the problem is modern construction. We live in a rural location and the sparrows and starlings are quite plentiful, last night there must have been a flock of 100+ starlings over the village. There are plenty of barns and outbuilds around here.

Where I used to live in Coventry we had an ivy covered walled and that used to become a roost for 20 or 30 sparrows each night (some nights you couldn't sleep for their noise). And during the summer you could see them in and out of the roofing space of neighbouring houses.

However, the first year we moved to our present house we had a starling find its way into the atticl, due to a loose brick. I wouldn't have minded that the problem was that they started to excavate the roof insulation material, dumping large amounts of it onto the pathway where it created an unbelievable mess, and was being blown into neighbours gardens. We had no choice but to block up the hole.

[Surreybirder]

Originally posted by Gerry Hooper
Nearly got 100 species on list from house!!
<snip>

Good birding all

My 'from the garden' list is 98 (if I include four species heard but not seen--tawny owl, sedge warbler, cetti's warbler and nightingale). I haven't included an unidentified tern (prob. common), a whooper swan or a barnacle goose 'cos they were probably escapes.
Inevitably I've had some 'probables' (which I've not been able to clinch for certain) including shelduck and peregrine.
Best birds (in my op.): black redstart, ring ouzel, hobby, snipe (40 together!), green sandpiper, water rail, little owl, buzzard and turtle dove.
After 10 years it's becoming hard to add new species. I think that nuthatch and little owl were the last two.
My best guess for the next one is rose-ringed parakeet 'cos they've been seen in the area.
We are moving soon, so I'll be able to start again :D
(if anyone wants to know why the list is long for an inland site, we back onto a mill pond and a stream. There's a pic in the 'my local patch' section.

[Michael Frankis]

Originally posted by walwyn
RE: House Sparrows/Starlings perhaps the problem is modern construction.

Hi Walwyn,

That may be part of it in some areas, but it is far from all. My area, both House Sparrows and Starlings have deserted holes that used to be used; the holes are still there, vacant.

In my local public park 20 years ago, just about every tree hole of suitable size had a pair of Starlings in, something like 40 or 50 pairs. I haven't been able to find a single nesting pair in the park in the last 4 or 5 years. But the tree holes are all still there.

Last year, I cut a new hole in our eaves, and a pair of Starlings occupied it. They failed to raise any young. This year, I think they may have fledged one chick (well, I saw one fledgeling in the garden, it could have come from another pair). Back in the old days, every Starling pair had 4 or 5 fledgelings in tow. That's the real problem, the adults just can't find enough food to raise a large enough brood to make up for mortality over the year.

Bird tables won't help much if at all; in their first few days, the chicks have to have live insect food to provide enough protein to live and grow. So the problem comes down to not enough insects - what is killing all the insects is the real question. And as yet, no-one knows the answer.

Michael

[birdman]

My extremely paltry Garden List (which needs sorting into one place on BF!) has ahd two fine addtions in the last two days...

Greenfinch yesterday, Goldfinch today.

Here's hoping the birdies have found out where we are!!!

[hornet]

Spooky coincidence Birdman. My garden list (also extremely paltry) has also had two additions in the last couple of days - first Greenfinch, then Goldfinch.

I hope this means the birdies have found my new house as well. :bounce:

[birdman]

There's not wonder our Garden Lists are so small hornet... clearly we are in the Twighlight Zone...!!!

[hornet]

Ah, but this is the turning point, Birdman.

Today, Goldfinch and Greenfinch. Tomorrow it'll be Reed Bunting, Nuthatch, woodpeckers, winter thrushes, Willow / Marsh Tits, Sparrowhawk, perhaps a Peregrine or how about Waxwing? :bounce:

Sorry, got a bit excited there. I'd settle for the Nuthatch though, if Father Christmas is reading...

[birdman]

Yep... you and me both!

[Pops_uk]

Goldfinch and Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Nuthatch, woodpeckers, winter thrushes, Willow / Marsh Tits, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine and Waxwing?
Yep, got those, how about wishing for something interesting ;-)

[birdman]

Envy! Envy! Envy! Envy! Envy! Envy! Envy! Envy!

[Pops_uk]

Originally Posted by hornet
Goldfinch and Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Nuthatch, woodpeckers, winter thrushes, Willow / Marsh Tits, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine and Waxwing?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yep, got those,

I wish

[Surreybirder]

Didn't know whether to put this in the Garden Birds Forum or here... but as you can see...

OK, 2003 Garden List so far


Unidentified LBJ

Could be a dunnock? They are rather 'anonymous' and tend to explore the flowerbeds and low vegetation. Some people confuse them with sparrows but they have a sharper beak.

[birdman]

Pretty sure it wasn't a Dunnock, Ken...

Even this much later, I recall it being very "stripey", and when I looked through my books, the best I could come up with was the Female Reed Bunting.

At the time, this seemed highly unlikely, but now that I know that there are Reed Buntings on the rough ground behind the garden, it's perhaps not such a poor guess.

Two problems though... it never revisited, and nor has any male.

Ho hum!

[christineredgate]

I can add jackdaws,a dunnock(I put special food for him in between the plant pots as we don't have a proper garden),a pair of pied wagtails,and of course the gulls arrive everymorning for breakfast at the front of the house,whilst the robin and blackbird visit their feeding dishes at the back,accompanied of by the inevitable noisy group of starlings.
Christine.

[Jane Turner]

150 for the year and 184 ever....(in three years)


Here is the 150!

Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata A
Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica A
Great Northern Diver Gavia immer A
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus A
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis A
Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis A
Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus A
Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus A
European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus A
Leach’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa A
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus A
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo A
European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis A
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea A
Mute Swan Cygnus olor AC
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus A
Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus A
Greylag Goose Anser anser AC
Canada Goose Branta canadensis AC
Brent Goose Branta bernicla A
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna A
Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope A
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca A
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos AC
Northern Pintail Anas acuta A
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata A
Common Pochard Aythya ferina A
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula A
Greater Scaup Aythya marila A
Common Eider Somateria mollissima A
Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis A
Black Scoter Melanitta nigra A
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula A
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator A
Eurasian Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus A
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus A
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus A
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus A
Merlin Falco columbarius A
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus A
Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus C
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus A
Little Plover Charadrius dubius A
Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula A
European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria A
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola A
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus A
Red Knot Calidris canutus A
Sanderling Calidris alba A
Little Stint Calidris minuta A
Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos A
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea A
Dunlin Calidris alpina A
Ruff Philomachus pugnax A
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago A
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa A
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica A
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus A
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata A
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus A
Common Redshank Tringa totanus A
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia A
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos A
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres A
Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus A
Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus A
Great Skua Catharacta skua A
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus A
Little Gull Larus minutus A
Sabine’s Gull Larus sabini A
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus A
Mew Gull Larus canus A
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus A
Yellow-leggged Gull Larus cachinans A
Herring Gull Larus argentatus A
Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides A
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus A
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis A
Common Tern Sterna hirundo A
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea A
Little Tern Sterna albifrons A
White-winged Tern* Chlidonias leucopterus A
Common Guillemot Uria aalge A
Razorbill Alca torda A
Rock Pigeon Columba livia AC
Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus A
Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto A
Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus A
Common Swift Apus apus A
Hoopoe Upupa epops A
Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla A
Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major A
Sky Lark Alauda arvensis A
Sand Martin Riparia riparia A
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica A
House Martin Delichon urbica A
Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis A
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis A
Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus A
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava A
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea A
White / Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba A
Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes A
Hedge Accentor Prunella modularis A
European Robin Erithacus rubecula A
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros A
Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus A
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra A
Stonechat Saxicola torquata A
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe A
Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus A
Common Blackbird Turdus merula A
Fieldfare Turdus pilaris A
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos A
Redwing Turdus iliacus A
Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus A
Common Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia A
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus A
Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus A
Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca A
Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis A
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla A
Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus A
Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix A
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita A
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus A
Goldcrest Regulus regulus A
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata A
Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca A
Coal Tit Parus ater A
Blue Tit Parus caeruleus A
Great Tit Parus major A
Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius A
Black-billed Magpie Pica pica A
Eurasian Jackdaw Corvus monedula A
Rook Corvus frugilegus A
Carrion Crow Corvus corone A
Common Raven Corvus corax A
Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris A
House Sparrow Passer domesticus A
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus A
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs A
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla A
European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris A
European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis A
Eurasian Siskin Carduelis spinus A
Common Linnet Carduelis cannabina A
Lesser Redpoll Carduelis cabaret
Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella A
Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus A

[jada dulo]

Woah , what a list Jane ! Ive counted that 26 of those are ticks for my LIFE list ... woah man , I need to move house ... here is my garden list ( incl flyovers ).
Canada Goose .
Greylag Goose .
Mallard .
Shelduck .
Goosander .
Teal .
Grey Heron .
Mute Swan .
LBB Gull .
GBB Gull .
Black-headed Gull .
Cormorant .
Curlew .
Lapwing .
Golden Plover .
Snipe .
Fieldfare .
Redwing .
Mistle Thrush .
Song Thrush .
Blackbird .
House Sparrow .
Dunnock .
Wren .
Blue Tit .
Great Tit .
Coal Tit .
Robin .
Starling .
Pied Wagtail .
Chaffinch .
Greenfinch .
Carrion Crow .
Rook .
Jackdaw .
Magpie .
Jay .
Buzzard .
Kestrel .
Sparrowhawk .
Corn Bunting .
Yellowhammer .
Wood Pigeon .
Collard Dove .

I think thats it ... not very impressive eh ? 44 species I think !
My Dads old house was fantastic though ... some of the better birds I saw IN his garden were ...

All 3 species of Woodpecker .
Nuthatch .
Treecreeper .
Marsh Tit .
Willow Tit .
Long-tailed Tit .
Goldcrest .
Dipper .
Kingfisher .
Siskin .
Brambling .
Redpoll .
Reed Bunting .
Sedge Warbler .
Reed Warbler .
Wood Warbler .
Grasshopper Warbler .

.... now I didn't see the next two species but my Dad wouldn't lie about them ..
Wryneck .
and on the hedge on the front garden ... Great Grey Shrike .

Plus all the usuall species you'd expect to see ...

[Jane Turner]

I can heartedly recommend getting a coastal house and garden!

Where is your dad's house?

[jada dulo]

He used to live at a place called Cound Moor , middle-of-no-where , Shropshire ... it backed onto a mixed woodland and had a stream running through the bottom of it ( Trout and Crayfish to be found in there ) . It was a beautiful , quiet place , but when me and my brother left it was just simply too big and far too much work involved in the upkeep for them to remain there . They now live in a bungalow on the out-skirts of Telford . My Dad still entices the odd good bird into his garden ... I saw two Blackcaps there last weekend !

[Jane Turner]

Sounds like a great place. I used to go ringing at a place on the Severn...I think just into Powys, and it was a mazing the amount of passage that went down the valley.

By the way your 44 has one species, Buzzard, that I haven't ever seen here, and once..Corn Bunting, that I have only one record of! Yellowhammers are thin on the ground too

[jada dulo]

Buzzards are hugely common here , I've seen 11 circling in one group ! But pretty much every day you will see at least a couple of Buzzards . There have also been recently reports of Honey and Rough-legged Buzzards seen about , although I havn't seen them . Not 100% sure I'd definately be able to possitively ID them anyway ?
Honeys have the whiter under-wing right ? and Rough-legged have the white upper tail I think ? I remember something about one of them having a longer necked appearence when flying ... I'm very hazy in many areas of birding . But , I'm working hard on bettering my ID skills every day .

[Adey Baker]

Jane
Living right near to the middle of England I've got no chance of getting anywhere near to your list total but I notice there's not a Hobby on your above list.

I've seen Hobbies sveral times from the garden, including one incident a few years ago.

I was working up the top of the garden and was aware of a Carrion Crow on the chimney of a nearby house.

Suddenly it's call changed from the familiar "caw" to a sound which I can best describe as sounding like Tim Brook-Taylor doing his 'Lady Constance' voice (if you've ever heard the radio programme 'I'm sorry I'll read that again' you'll know what I mean)!

Looking up I saw a Hobby come dashing thro' the gardens just a few feet away like an exocet missile! It was going that fast I had a job to turn my head quickly enough to keep up with it!

[Jane Turner]

That right. No Hobby this year...or ever! Has to be likely. I've had 4 ospreys, though not this year

[Nancy]

Jane, that is a fantastic Garden List, you must live in a wonderful place. In Australia we don't have the interesting ducks that you have over there. No real sea ducks which I find exciting to see when I am over there, but I suppose they are commonplace to you. It would be wonderful to wake up to see an airbourne flock of Bar-tailed Godwit from your bed!
I can't complain though.

[Jane Turner]

I realise that I am ever so lucky!