Tawny Owl on Monday near midnight, a male with possibly another responding distantly, brought November’s tally up to 58 which is the average over the last 4 years.
Some strange and sad misses include Jay and Kestrel, both victims of the Cat population explosion, the latter not having any prey to hunt and the former not coming looking for the ever less frequent Tawny Owls. Jays were to be seen regularly marauding through the trees in search of Tawnies to harass.
herring Gull also missed, but that is more down to observer incompetence, not checking all big Gulls going over. Mea culpa.
December has started with a bang. I had a pretty busy day today, and so nearly didn’t bother having my normal early morning mooch about. Glad I did. Stopped to overlook the scrubby area behind the garden and was aware of a ‘zit’ call, quite loud and insistent. Couldn’t put my finger on it at first but then realised it was coming from the Buddliea I was standing next to. Then the penny dropped, surely a Firecrest. It flew out and into another bush. I checked on Xeno Canto that what I thought I heard was consistent with
Firecrest, at which point it flew back in and performed admirably. Not only new for the year
#105 but also new to the garden #130 and also #191 for my 10K circle.
My best year total is 106, with this cold snap and Easterlies due from tomorrow, that might be beatable. Could Waxwing be my next new garden bird?
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