Garden/Yard List 2019 (1 Viewer)

[Warixenjalka]

Ah, Yellow Bunting, you sweet old-fashioned thing
Still waiting for my first Hedge Sparrow of the year of course.....................

Yellow Bunting!? Like this: https://www.hbw.com/species/yellow-bunting-emberiza-sulphurata
Or is it old English word for Yellowhammer?

 

[Richard Prior]

Yellow Bunting!? Like this: https://www.hbw.com/species/yellow-bunting-emberiza-sulphurata
Or is it old English word for Yellowhammer?

Correct Wari, but even though I'm an old English birder I use Yellowhammer (unlike a certain garden lister8-P).

 

[KenM]

Correct Wari, but even though I'm an old English birder I use Yellowhammer (unlike a certain garden lister8-P).

According to my most treasured reference book... the “Observers book of Birds”, Yellow Bunting and Yellow Hammer were both equally acceptable as names.

 

[Richard Prior]

According to my most treasured reference book... the “Observers book of Birds”, Yellow Bunting and Yellow Hammer were both equally acceptable as names.

Quite right Ken, I'm also still hoping to see Richardson's Skua one day (Page 189)!

 

[KenM]

Quite right Ken, I'm also still hoping to see Richardson's Skua one day (Page 189)!

Richard is that one of three in the Sunday roast joint. :-O

 

[edenwatcher]

36. magpie. Only our 2nd record and signs of them filling in the blanks in their distribution locally.

Rob

 

[Jos Stratford]

Days after the bulk of the snow has disappeared, a good spring movement today, a couple of hundred or so Bean Geese over, about 20 Cranes, flocks of Whooper Swans and a lone Mute Swan, assorted ducks including Goosander and Goldeneye, a couple of Cormorants, flocks of Starlings, a few Chaffinch, et al.

Goosander and Cormorant welcome, as I failed to see either on my plot last year.

28. Cormorant
29. Mute Swan
30. Bean Goose
31. Goosander
32. Goldeneye
33. Lapwing
34. Starling
35. Chaffinch

Also first Common Toad lumbering towards still frozen water and, not on my land, my first butterfly of the year in Lithuania - a Small Tortoiseshell, my earliest ever.

 

[edenwatcher]

37. yellowhammer - a nice male. I guess we get them annually turning up at the feeders but eminently missable.

Rob

 

[Richard Prior]

Creeping towards the half century here, despite the almost horizontal snow and soft hail showers this morning, a very handsome

47 Black Kite

just drifted past the house and down the valley, hopefully to find somewhere more sheltered. It must be regretting its decision to cross the Med and wander up here so early, last year's first one here was 6 April and at our old place 17 March was the earliest in our ten years there.

 

[Jos Stratford]

Creeping towards the half century here, despite the almost horizontal snow and soft hail showers this morning.

Snow here again today, but definitely spring in the air, lots of swans over, more incoming migrants, including only my fourth ever Greylag Geese (a pair) on my land.

In hot persuit of you Mr Prior, 14 additions in last couple of days

36. Greylag Goose
37. Grey Heron.
38. Herring Gull.
39. Stock Dove.
40. Blackbird.
41. Siskin.

 

[birdmeister]

It feels like I am finally up and running after an enjoyable migration day today!

Three additions, and another Belted Kingfisher today!

42. Killdeer (f) (year bird for me)
43. Great Blue Heron (f)
44. Herring Gull (f)

Herring Gull seems to have proven tricky, but today's chocolate-brown hulk left little doubt.

Migration highlights included over 900 gulls in 49 minutes (18/minute!), a few hundred blackbirds, some crows (silent but likely Fish), and some Snow Geese.

 

[Richard Prior]

Snow here again today, but definitely spring in the air, lots of swans over, more incoming migrants, including only my fourth ever Greylag Geese (a pair) on my land.

In hot persuit of you Mr Prior, 14 additions in last couple of days

36. Greylag Goose
37. Grey Heron.
38. Herring Gull.
39. Stock Dove.
40. Blackbird.
41. Siskin.

Aargh, last year I stayed ahead of you until mid-April Jos, that looks unlikely this year:eek!:

 

[edenwatcher]

38. Peregrine
One flew over after breakfast this morning. I believe only our second ever.

Rob

 

[birdmeister]

A quick look out the window brought an undeniable sign of spring; a group of 6

45. Tree Swallow (f) (year bird for me)

flying north.

 

[KenM]

A real jaw dropper at 10.47am, a flyover garden life 1st....a European Shag (filmed) size and continuous wing beats said all! no.57.

 

[Richard Prior]

A real jaw dropper at 10.47am, a flyover garden life 1st....a European Shag (filmed) size and continuous wing beats said all! no.57.

Crikey, that'll be a description species there Ken I imagine?
Snowing steadily here again but the dawn chorus gradually adding more members, this morning I could hear the nearby song of a male


48 Blue-dykie

to give it its Scots diminutive.Answers on a post card please A good three weeks earlier than last year's first.

 

[KenM]

Crikey, that'll be a description species there Ken I imagine?
Snowing steadily here again but the dawn chorus gradually adding more members, this morning I could hear the nearby song of a male


48 Blue-dykie

to give it its Scots diminutive.Answers on a post card please A good three weeks earlier than last year's first.

Don't do descriptions anymore Richard....owing to a number of good solid birds being rejected, by a ''mind set'' that is diametrically opposite to mine!

Anyway have not been short of ''Blue-dykies'' at this end, however Spadgers or Sprows have been conspicuous (as ever) by their absence.

 

[Richard Prior]

Don't do descriptions anymore Richard....owing to a number of good solid birds being rejected, by a ''mind set'' that is diametrically opposite to mine!

Anyway have not been short of ''Blue-dykies'' at this end, however Spadgers or Sprows have been conspicuous (as ever) by their absence.

Well, as long as "you're not bitter", as the Guinness ad says (other stouts are of course available ahem)B . Yes, Dunnock it was, a cigar coming your way:t:

 

[halftwo]

A real jaw dropper at 10.47am, a flyover garden life 1st....a European Shag (filmed) size and continuous wing beats said all! no.57.

Wow!

Just hail and gales here last few days.

 

[halftwo]

Crikey, that'll be a description species there Ken I imagine?
Snowing steadily here again but the dawn chorus gradually adding more members, this morning I could hear the nearby song of a male


48 Blue-dykie

to give it its Scots diminutive.Answers on a post card please A good three weeks earlier than last year's first.

Blue Rock Thrush?