Garden/Yard List 2022 (5 Viewers)

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

BH, you're @birdingprof ?

Guilty as charged.

In fact it used to say that at the bottom of my Birdforum posts. Seems to have disappeared.

 

[Farnboro John]

Black Woodpeckers are present most days, only one winter did they actually use the feeders however

That explains it, thank you Jos! Great pic (grinds teeth)

Cheers

John

 

[Farnboro John]

You'll have to do a stake out at Dungeness or North Foreland John.
A few more from last night, at first I thought the later visitor (the last two photos) was a different individual as it looks heavier built, they are exclusively nocturnal (unlike the neighbours' two (a ginger one and a black one) which try to catch the birds during the day.
I read a report recently about how much money is spent in France on food for pets each year, there are an estimated 7.5million dogs and 15 million cats so the incidence of hybrids must be very high.

That does look better than the other one, though I've never seen a picture of a Wildcat with a pale tail tip before?

My guess is you have a population around with some cross-breeding but uneasy relations between wild and domestic cats: maybe the ginger and black cats stick to daylight because they get beaten up at night?

John

 

[Richard Prior]

That does look better than the other one, though I've never seen a picture of a Wildcat with a pale tail tip before?

My guess is you have a population around with some cross-breeding but uneasy relations between wild and domestic cats: maybe the ginger and black cats stick to daylight because they get beaten up at night?

John

The pale tip, arr, that'll be the snow then ...................or not.....
Yes, their black moggie was injured at night a few years back and to be fair is no longer a menace to all but the dopiest of bird, unlike their other one -they named it Pussy.. - which I only have to look in the eyes for it to scarper (it must remember the rock I 'accidentally' threw at it once!).
Approaching Jos' Yellowhammer numbers now after more snow but the Lesser Spotted Woodie hasn't shown today....

 

[halftwo]

Another addition this pm:

54: Greylag Goose

Four over.

 

[KenM]

Another addition this pm:

54: Greylag Goose

Four over.

Just one more H and Richard writes a cheque out.🤣

 

[Richard Prior]

Just one more H and Richard writes a cheque out.🤣

Eek, I’m afraid with my reputation in financial affairs it’ll be more a check out Ken.

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

Third day for the Water Rail, getting more obliging, though I didn’t see it till this afternoon. Again filmed from the bathroom window.

View attachment FullSizeRender.MOV

Five Snipe seen at any one time, but no doubt more present as they move around a lot. They are their own worst enemies and won’t tolerate another individual anywhere near.

View attachment IMG_6144.MOV

No sign of the Jack Snipe today, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it’s still around somewhere.

A male Blackcap on the feeders may be the one from November, but could easily be another, given the 3 females a few days ago.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello BH,
wow! I would like to have such views from my bathroom window! Tfs!

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

Hello BH,
wow! I would like to have such views from my bathroom window! Tfs!

It works like a hide. 😄

I am using a 50x Leica scope and 3x zoom iPhone. So the birds are further away than they look.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello Richard and Jos,
is it possible to see pictures of the Yellowhammers? I would be very interested. Thanks!

 

[halftwo]

A garden mega this morning, just as I returned from my walk...

55: Redshank

Flew over rapidly, calling.
Also had the Raven go past again today.

 

[Richard Prior]

Hello Richard and Jos,
is it possible to see pictures of the Yellowhammers? I would be very interested. Thanks!

Hi Alexander, I have put a few recent photos on your Yellowhammer thread this morning

 

[Jos Stratford]

Crisp blue skies and sparkling snow, snow now 60-70 cm deep

Two records for my land today:

- highest ever count of Mute Swans, a grand total of 27. Generally rare or absent in winter in my area as inland waters freeze over, this flock was clearly a cold weather movement.

- first ever House Sparrow on my land. Occasionals breed in neighbouring stork nests, and have seen from my land before, but never had any venture actually on my plot. Usually migrate out for winter, but this female tagged onto the Yellowhammer/Tree Sparrow flock that is at my grain feeder.

House Sparrow also the only one this year ...

140. House Sparrow

 

[Jos Stratford]

View from new house. Fancy a Hawk Owl on one of those trees (but I have been fancying a Hawk Owl on one of those trees for near two decades 😅)

 

[KenM]

A garden mega this morning, just as I returned from my walk...

55: Redshank

Flew over rapidly, calling.
Also had the Raven go past again today.

Let’s hope for your sake Richard that H gets another tick, that would cancel out your debt!🤣
My time is running out for Passer domesticus and probably anything else that might give you sleepless nights!
However, today was a reminder of my youth the Winter of ‘62/‘63, snow on the ground Jan- March and my seven days a week paper round!
In those days Common Buzzard was a description species….how things have changed.😮

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

‘Bob’ the Jack Snipe reappeared this afternoon, if he ever left. It’s fairly shy and keeps away from the Common Snipes, who like chasing each other off.

View attachment FullSizeRender.MOV

Five Snipe in view at any one time was the biggest count, but I would guess there may be nearly twice that many.

The Water Rail is still present but wanders the length of the garden and parts of the river edge are impossible to see from my side.

3 Lapwing over, 2 Greylag Geese, the first for 2 months, as was the brief Jay. Also a female Blackcap by the feeders. All in about 40 species throughout the day, which started bright and sunny but finished quite murky.

I’m hoping for an ‘on the deck’ Green Sandpiper or Woodcock before the cold weather goes. Golden Plover over, or some different Wildfowl, but perhaps I am getting greedy. 😚

 

[KenM]

It works like a hide. 😄

I am using a 50x Leica scope and 3x zoom iPhone. So the birds are further away than they look.

I thought your “bathroom” window was a bush in the garden BH.🤣

My “Hide” is the bedroom window, using a 16x Bridge camera 👍

 

[halftwo]

Absolutely over the moon - just went out to see if owt about, only found a

BARN OWL

asleep in the sun!!

 

[KenM]

Incredible, what a month this is turning into!
Just had a Kingfisher flying South through the gardens.😮def. hard weather movement, as the stream behind is the only water moving at present, with both lakes and ponds solid, no.85 on your tail Richard! 😊