2 Greenfinch at the feeder & Woodpigeon on the grass.
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Garden / Yard List 2025 (11 Viewers)
- Thread starter halftwo
- Start date
Farnboro John
Well-known member
No 50 for the year and only the third record for the garden:
50 Bullfinch
A pair flying past mid-morning.
John
50 Bullfinch
A pair flying past mid-morning.
John
An Caislín Dearg
Active member
A quick scan of the bay this morning yielded a Great Northern Diver and 3 Red-Throated Diver, one of which looked very fine in full breeding plumage which is pretty uncommon to see around here. The Sandwich Terns are increasing in number. And best of all, feeding next to the RTDs was No. 76 a Razorbill. Willow Warblers have returned in the locality but none near the house as yet. Swallow numbers jumped by 100% (from one to two) - does that mean summer is here
?
?
A couple of days ago, a Cormorant was added to make 81 for the year, but now out of LT for a short while...
81. Cormorant
81. Cormorant
Frank van Drogen
Not so important
Me too, here in Zurich. Didn't quite give updates, since it was slow and boring, but now at XXXII for the year, with Alpine Swift (14 seen yesterday, 2 today), White Stork and 9 Great Cormorant nicely flying in formation south.
The good weather and summer time definitely help, sitting in the garden after work with either a coffee or beer added a couple of nice birds this week. Still, living in town definitely had disadvantages on the bird count
Farnboro John
Well-known member
NFY Swallow North over the garden this morning.
51 Swallow
John
51 Swallow
John
hookem2010
Well-known member
47. Black-throated green warbler
48. Chimney swift
48. Chimney swift
Farnboro John
Well-known member
A good morning in the garden (albeit that East wind is still chilly) with two NFY: at last a Blackcap singing and a surprising Meadow Pipit through North.
52 Blackcap
53 Meadow Pipit
A second Swallow and singing Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff were additional highlights of a 38 spp morning garden watch.
John
52 Blackcap
53 Meadow Pipit
A second Swallow and singing Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff were additional highlights of a 38 spp morning garden watch.
John
gerald762
Well-known member
It has been a lovely week here. Every morning a cuckoo calls, then there are more calls on and off all day. Several hoopoes are doing the same, Iberian grey shrike have been joining in, as well as the Iberian magpie. Quite a lot of swifts flying around, Bee eaters passing through and Corn buntings singing all the time. A great time to sit the garden with a glass of wine and just listen!!
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Bismarck Honeyeater
Barely known member
An early start this morning, and suitably rewarded - 2 #82 Swallows, looking very much a courting couple, chasing around. My earliest by 2 days. Also a couple of new Blackcaps. After the first singer last week they disappeared, so hopefully they are in for good.
This afternoon I checked the stables behind the garden, and sure enough, the Swallows were hanging out there.
This afternoon a call, up high, led me to spot my first #83 House Martin, also by 2 days, my earliest .
A little trickle of Buzzards SE was nice, maximum of 5 together. In other news, 2 Mistle Thrushes flew through, and then were seen on the Cricket Pitch’s behind the garden, just the second sighting this year.
This afternoon I checked the stables behind the garden, and sure enough, the Swallows were hanging out there.
This afternoon a call, up high, led me to spot my first #83 House Martin, also by 2 days, my earliest .
A little trickle of Buzzards SE was nice, maximum of 5 together. In other news, 2 Mistle Thrushes flew through, and then were seen on the Cricket Pitch’s behind the garden, just the second sighting this year.
Greenfinches earlier on the feeder followed by a Robin now Stock Dove.
Farnboro John
Well-known member
NFY House Martin the pick of a bunch of 30 spp this morning in the continuing bright sunshine.
54 House Martin
Interesting late morning flybys from 3 Greylags and 6 Canadas heading East: 3 of the Canadas went back West five minutes later.
John
54 House Martin
Interesting late morning flybys from 3 Greylags and 6 Canadas heading East: 3 of the Canadas went back West five minutes later.
John
Just been watching Greenfinches at the feeder followed by a Crow & Woodpigeon.
An Caislín Dearg
Active member
Lots of obvious migration underway now as the strong easterly winds of the last few weeks finally dropped off. Brent Geese left the night before last. Hundreds of them around Monday and all gone yesterday. Up to 30 Sandwich Terns in the bay. Greenfinch, Linnets, Goldfinch all singing in the garden with Skylarks and Meadow Pipits overhead. Pulled back the curtains this morning to be greeted by No. 77, a smart male Blackcap perched on bush a few meters away. He was followed very promptly by No. 78, a Willow Warbler. I'm pretty sure it's the first one I've ever heard singing in the garden, even if it was for all of 5 minutes before disappearing. Feeling quite lucky with both encounters as a few seconds either way and I'd have missed them. Blackcap do turn up in the garden occasionally in the winter but Willow Warbler is definitely not a certainty.
Bismarck Honeyeater
Barely known member
The (presumably) pair of Mistle Thrushes flew past the dining room window yesterday, they’ve become very sporadic recently, but they have bred just opposite us a few years ago, so may do so again.
This morning I heard Redwing calling a few times early on, I guess it/they roosted in the garden overnight. This is my latest record by 3 days, but it’s possible I haven’t got a record of later ones.
I felt sure I heard Willow Warbler, briefly and quietly, but it didn’t show up on Merlin™️, so I doubted myself. Later on I thought I heard it again. When I got in I realised I had let Merlin™️ run on, and guess what it showed? #84 Willow Warbler - not a given in Spring, though this is the 3rd year on the trot. This is my earliest by 4 days.
The House Sparrow pair are still with us, and acting furtively. It’s amazing to me that from just about one record per year, and some years none, they might actually breed!
This morning I heard Redwing calling a few times early on, I guess it/they roosted in the garden overnight. This is my latest record by 3 days, but it’s possible I haven’t got a record of later ones.
I felt sure I heard Willow Warbler, briefly and quietly, but it didn’t show up on Merlin™️, so I doubted myself. Later on I thought I heard it again. When I got in I realised I had let Merlin™️ run on, and guess what it showed? #84 Willow Warbler - not a given in Spring, though this is the 3rd year on the trot. This is my earliest by 4 days.
The House Sparrow pair are still with us, and acting furtively. It’s amazing to me that from just about one record per year, and some years none, they might actually breed!
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Oystercatcher flew over calling.
Richard Prior
Halfway up an Alp
Continuing today's Willow Warbler theme, this morning there was evidence of an overnight arrival of Chiffchaffs, up to half a dozen flitting and tail dipping around the shrubs, one caught my eye as 'cleaner' below and brown rather than black legged, but was impossible to see fully in the depths of the forsythia. I didn't manage a photo of the wing, just the attached photo. One of the joys of being at the more 'mature' end of life's journey is not being embarrassed to ask stupid questions, so your opinions please!
Last year was our first blank one here for 'Hedge Sparrow' (as Ken still likes to call them), apart from one solitary autumn observation all the records fall between 14 March and 13 April and are mostly heard only so it was a nice surprise to see one perched outside the kitchen window this morning. Unfortunately I had a kettle full of hot water in my hand instead of the camera so no photo of this one, still, two Linnets perched up later so I'm back up to 90% of 2025's garden birds photographed again.
63 Dunnock
Last year was our first blank one here for 'Hedge Sparrow' (as Ken still likes to call them
), apart from one solitary autumn observation all the records fall between 14 March and 13 April and are mostly heard only so it was a nice surprise to see one perched outside the kitchen window this morning. Unfortunately I had a kettle full of hot water in my hand instead of the camera so no photo of this one, still, two Linnets perched up later so I'm back up to 90% of 2025's garden birds photographed again. 63 Dunnock
