Garden / Yard List 2021 (1 Viewer)

[KenM]

My first ever garden Spring Spotted Flycatcher!!....dropped the bins...raised the camera...empty viewfinder...A-a-a-a-g-h! no.80

 

[Richard Prior]

Apparently no flies on you then Ken

I don’t think I’ve had a Spring one here either, they must be in a hurry to get to their breeding sites so after a refuel on the coast most presumably do a non-stop final leg?

 

[KenM]

Apparently no flies on you then Ken

I don’t think I’ve had a Spring one here either, they must be in a hurry to get to their breeding sites so after a refuel on the coast most presumably do a non-stop final leg?

It could have been a great shot Richard, 20’ away at eye level in my revered Sallow...I should have been a “little swifter” on the uptake.😮

 

[Richard Prior]

Yes, cameras are a blessing and a curse at the same time! I would have needed mine attached to the Hubble telescope earlier this afternoon to achieve just a record shot of No. 80 as it was about 2.5kms away, at least it was a 'big one'

80 Short-toed Eagle

hovering over the Sulens mountain across the valley, five days later than the first one in 2020. Fortunately I was stationed with the 'scope behind the house in the un-forecast sunshine (it's supposed to be raining again!) and just 20 minutes after the eagle two 'Bunny Hazards' flew north just in front of some nasty looking cloud, three days later than last year's first ones.

81 Honey Buzzard

So my prediction in my post (No 594) is rapidly coming true, a Griffon Vulture isn't far off as we saw one yesterday while planting spuds at Mum in law's veg garden 8kms away....
The Whinchat are taking the Michel now, none for five years then sightings each day on the past three days 😮 , a pair staying in the same spot instead of going on up to their territory it seems.
(Photos of the two HB attached, pity about those nasty clouds.)

 

[KenM]

They’re just the shots that I like to look at Richard, Instructive and challenging at the same time...you lucky old sod!
HB is certainly one I’ll be Skyscaping for over the next couple of weeks at least.👍

 

[Richard Prior]

Yes, a challenge once the juv Common Buzzard take to the wing in a couple of months

 

[Steve Lister]

Falling behind the leaders somewhat recently but...

May 29th
68. Oystercatcher - heard five distant calls clearly but could not see it.

Steve

 

[KenM]

Never thought I’d be adding “flying fish” to the garden list!!😂

 

[halftwo]

Well, I'm going to leave this to the committee:
This morning, bringing the milk in, a bird flew past, fairly close, rooftop height & calling.
It sounded like a SERIN. It looked like a Serin, though just a silhouette.
Obviously a mega rare - so not sure whether to put it on the garden list.

 

[Richard Prior]

Wow, that’s certainly extra mega inland H, but the flight call is unmistakable once you know it (unless there was a Pied Wag further away, but the call was being made by the bird you were observing so that’s not the case here !). With your experience of the species it seems OK to me

 

[KenM]

On the list H!!!!!...that’s your’s not mine.👍

 

[Steve Lister]

Lots of possible escaped cage birds look like Serin in silhouette, Canary for a start. And maybe sound similar. Personally I wouldn't count it unless I could convince the county records committee.