[Quercus]

I've never made a proper list before.... but here goes.......

This week I move into a new home and job, I'm a professional gardener, I'm going to be looking after a large country garden, surrounded by it's own pastures, around 30 acres in all. I have my own 1/2 acre garden, tucked away in the trees. Situated near to where Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset meet in classic English courtryside

So, I thought... why not start a garden list!

I spent my last week's dole cheque on bird feeders, peanuts, seed and nest boxes (Thanks, UK tax payers, but a man needs to get his priorities straight!)

So here it is.. a garden list, and maybe a few thoughts too, feel free to add remarks, comments or questions, however random, I don't take my birding , or anything else, too seriously!

Oh... and as I haven't moved in yet...I can't start now!

[DaveN]

Originally Posted by Quercus

I've never made a proper list before.... but here goes.......

This week I move into a new home and job, I'm a professional gardener, I'm going to be looking after a large country garden, surrounded by it's own pastures, around 30 acres in all. I have my own 1/2 acre garden, tucked away in the trees. Situated near to where Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset meet in classic English courtryside

So, I thought... why not start a garden list!

I spent my last week's dole cheque on bird feeders, peanuts, seed and nest boxes (Thanks, UK tax payers, but a man needs to get his priorities straight!)

So here it is.. a garden list, and maybe a few thoughts too, feel free to add remarks, comments or questions, however random, I don't take my birding , or anything else, too seriously!

Oh... and as I haven't moved in yet...I can't start now!

If you would have mentioned at the beginning that you hadn't started yet then I wouldn't have kept reading. I'll feel cheated now.

[Quercus]

Good things come to those who wait!

Ya never know this time tomorow the list might have "rook" and "starling" on it!

But, on the otherhand I don't get a phone line til friday!

[DaveN]

Originally Posted by Quercus

Good things come to those who wait!

Ya never know this time tomorow the list might have "rook" and "starling" on it!

But, on the otherhand I don't get a phone line til friday!

Anyway, good luck in your new home and new job. Look forward to reading how you get on.

[palval147]

All the best to you in your new job, new home & many happy hours garden bird watching too. Looking forward to your lists of species.

[Quercus]

I haven't had time to look properly yet.... but for those impatient ones out there


1 Magpie.
2 Carrion Crow.
3 Robin.
4 Wren.
5 Wood pigeon.
6 Blackbird

The feeders are up, there's more stuff lurking in the hedges, I've cracked open a bottle of wine..... cheers!

[palval147]

You've seen some then, Quercus. I like the cottage.

[Quercus]

Aye, there's things here, they all seem to be hiding from me so far.......

....but...... I woke up in the middle of the night to hear a Tawny owl hooting, and unless we have giant hedgehogs, the big rounded lump shuffling across the field must have been a Badger.

As dawn breaks, I'm off to roll naked in the morming dew!

[Clive A]

Originally Posted by Quercus

As dawn breaks, I'm off to roll naked in the morming dew!

Good job your cottage looks very isolated then
Seriously though, it looks a really great area sure you are going to get some great birds.

[Quercus]

After drying off, a quick scoot around produced a bunny Rabbit

7. Great tit
8. Blue tit
9. Goldfinch
10. Chaffinch
11. Treecreeper

and bizarrely and randomly a
12. Goosander
flew over!... maybe a first and last

Oh and I forgot... saw a shooting star last night.

[Quercus]

13. Long-tailed Tit

[palval147]

Bit chilly to roll naked in the morning dew, but whatever takes your fancy, Quercus
You are doing very well with the wildlife too.

[Quercus]

After a brief trip Up North to get my furniture, back..... for good.

Something's been at me nuts!

And the bunnies have had my wallflowers!

[Quercus]

14. Coal tit
15. Great-spotted Woodpecker

[Quercus]

16. Kestrel

[palval147]

List is going well, Quercus.

[Quercus]

Aye, and I haven't really had time to have a good look yet!.. I've Heard Pheasant, Green woodpecker and Greenfinch but not seen them yet

Been too busy sorting out broadband... they sent my password to the account I needed the password to access and their (BT) system isn't compatable with Vista! Grrrrrrrrr!

[Quercus]

17. Pheasant.
18. Pied Wagtail.
19. Jackdaw.


I had a bit of a throatle around in the fields behind the Cottage, it's a shooting estate with mature brambley hedges and lots of 10 to 15 year old plantations and shelterbelts of deciduous trees...... I'm thinking Warbler heaven!....... The dog flushed a deer of some sort, but I missed it, so not sure what type it was.

[Quercus]

Spent the day pottering in my garden, saw the first two butterflies, a Peacock and a Brimstone. I never saw a brimstone in Scotland, I'd forgotten just how yellow they were!

To add to the list

20. Song Thrush.
21. Starling.

There was a Buzzard mewing somewhere all day, but I didn't go looking for it. the kestrel was around again, another rarity in my part of Scotland.

The nut feeders are now buzzing, they didn't take long to find them, the Long-tailed tits and the Coal Tits seem to be in charge so far!

There's lots of owl hooting going on tonight, some of which I don't recognise, either they have a West Country accent, or they could be Little owls!

[Quercus]

I'd forgotten how this work Malarky tires you out... I'm so out of practice.. anyway

22. House sparrow.
23. Rook.
24. Dunnock.
25. Buzzard.

[DaveN]

Your list is building up nicely, Quercus.

[Quercus]

There's still a few obviously missing!... like green things (finches and woodpeckers!)

[Quercus]

26.Nuthatch.

...on me nuts!

[JWN Andrewes]

Nice one Quercus. As a keen garden watcher myself I shall follow this with interest. (And for what it's worth I count heard records on the list proper. Go on, you know you want to! )

James

[Quercus]

hmmmm... In the early days it's just sight records... I know they are there..... it's just a matter of time til I see them! ( and I'm a wee bit busy doing other stuff to spend too much time birding)..... I don't want to fill up the list too fast!

Stuff like Grasshopper warblers will certainly go on the list on sound only!

I'll let you know when I get to 87!

Just now I'm up to:-

27. Jay