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Garden / Yard List 2025 (12 Viewers)
- Thread starter halftwo
- Start date
Bismarck Honeyeater
Barely known member
Willow Warbler looks Like a good call.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
Steve Lister
Senior Birder, ex County Recorder, Garden Moths.
April 8th
55. House Martin - one straight over north
A good two sessions today, 28 species plus a very distant possible Goshawk on the day that the local society released news of up to seven prospecting birds only a few miles from me, and an 'official' viewpoint for them.
55. House Martin - one straight over north
A good two sessions today, 28 species plus a very distant possible Goshawk on the day that the local society released news of up to seven prospecting birds only a few miles from me, and an 'official' viewpoint for them.
hookem2010
Well-known member
#49 Nashville warbler- Our most common warbler during migration, and usually a harbinger of more warbler action to come.
I've missed quite a few common warbler species in the yard my first couple years here, so hopefully the next month brings some yard lifers. I'm also still awaiting raptor migration. I haven't seen much anywhere thus far.
I've missed quite a few common warbler species in the yard my first couple years here, so hopefully the next month brings some yard lifers. I'm also still awaiting raptor migration. I haven't seen much anywhere thus far.
KenM
Well-known member
After a veritable drought of ticks of late…a retrospective YLG fly over on 7th April (thought it looked a bit of a beastie) was confirmed by Lou Salomon last night as a michahellis!
Garden Life tick 1. was followed up by a lone high flying NE/SW Common Scoter at 11.40 am a Garden life tick 2!…nos.55 and 56 respectively. 😊
Garden Life tick 1. was followed up by a lone high flying NE/SW Common Scoter at 11.40 am a Garden life tick 2!…nos.55 and 56 respectively. 😊
Attachments
Richard Prior
Halfway up an Alp
Two garden lifers in the same week Ken, that's plain greedy!
Although it's perhaps a bit early I've started regularly 'scoping the isolated conifer on the Sulens mountain opposite us that Rock Thrush has used as a display flight launchpad for the past two years, no sign yet but a welcome
65 Short-toed Eagle
lumbered into view as I was looking this morning.
Avian-Avalanche!
Ask me about scrub jays! Get a chair first though.
Notable birds:
Golden crowned Sparrow [singing its signature "no gold here!" song]
Yeah that's it for now, pretty much the same birds as before... I'll try and keep any new birds posted!
Golden crowned Sparrow [singing its signature "no gold here!" song]
Yeah that's it for now, pretty much the same birds as before... I'll try and keep any new birds posted!
KenM
Well-known member
…..greediness! often follows starvation Richard 🤩👍
An Caislín Dearg
Active member
Our unseasonably good weather continues producing an almost glass-like sea surface. This allowed me to see stuff on the water farther out into the bay than usual yesterday evening and produced No. 79, Common Guillemot. There were several large rafts of them and Razorbill out in the bay with lots of Great Northern Diver, Mergansers and a few Gannet for company. Weather due to break tomorrow.
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Richard Prior
Halfway up an Alp
Another expected arrival this morning (first ones in 2022 and 2024 were on 13 April but this one becomes the earliest ever here):
66 Tree Pipit
66 Tree Pipit
Bismarck Honeyeater
Barely known member
An hour, this morning, in the garden, delivered very little, though I did think I might have heard a Curlew early on.
Highlight was just getting onto a fast-disappearing Otter, porpoising up river. A Cetti’s Warbler sang just as I stepped off patch, and never sang again after I rushed back.
Just about to go in for breakfast, and I DO hear a #85 Curlew, coming from behind me. There it is, right above my head, fumble for my phone-camera, it will not open, curses!
Fortunately, Merlin™️ was running and even it heard it loud and clear.
Only my 6th individual in 7 years. All hither-to in 2x March and 2x July, once two birds. A real corker of a year-tick, and my first for 21 months.
Highlight was just getting onto a fast-disappearing Otter, porpoising up river. A Cetti’s Warbler sang just as I stepped off patch, and never sang again after I rushed back.
Just about to go in for breakfast, and I DO hear a #85 Curlew, coming from behind me. There it is, right above my head, fumble for my phone-camera, it will not open, curses!
Fortunately, Merlin™️ was running and even it heard it loud and clear.
Only my 6th individual in 7 years. All hither-to in 2x March and 2x July, once two birds. A real corker of a year-tick, and my first for 21 months.
KenM
Well-known member
First Winter I’ve not had one!😩👍
An Caislín Dearg
Active member
Made a fortuitous discovery on the weekend. I found a small Sand Martin colony on one of the headlands in the bay. I was pretty sure I could see it from the house so next morning I was up early before the heat haze and sure enough I could just about make them out as they flew in and out of their holes in the sandbank - No. 80, Sand Martin. Don't know how I never noticed them before. In my defense it's about 3.5 km as the crow (or Sand Martin ) flies so it is on the very limit for picking up small birds with my scope. Always nice to learn something new about an area I thought I knew well.
) flies so it is on the very limit for picking up small birds with my scope. Always nice to learn something new about an area I thought I knew well.
Richard Prior
Halfway up an Alp
Almost as distant as your Sand Martins, three seemingly migratingMade a fortuitous discovery on the weekend. I found a small Sand Martin colony on one of the headlands in the bay. I was pretty sure I could see it from the house so next morning I was up early before the heat haze and sure enough I could just about make them out as they flew in and out of their holes in the sandbank - No. 80, Sand Martin. Don't know how I never noticed them before. In my defense it's about 3.5 km as the crow (or Sand Martin
66 House Martin
heading high up the valley in an Easterly direction. Earliest ever were in 2023 (12 April), average first sighting is 25th April.
Ears on stalks now for Wryneck, a Song Thrush tried to fool me earlier but I'm wise to this individual, what with its Red-billed Chough, Black Woodpecker and Oystercatcher impersonations!
Just watched a Blackbird singing away.
Bismarck Honeyeater
Barely known member
A singing Willow Warbler early yesterday morning was on the same date and near enough the same spot as one last year, makes you wonder if it’s even the same bird.
This is my second this spring, and the first time I’ve had more than one at this season.
This is my second this spring, and the first time I’ve had more than one at this season.
Steve Lister
Senior Birder, ex County Recorder, Garden Moths.
April 15th
56. Blackcap - an unseen male sang a couple of times and was then gone.
No wintering birds this time as a result of my various neighbours clearing a heck of a lot of vegetation.
56. Blackcap - an unseen male sang a couple of times and was then gone.
No wintering birds this time as a result of my various neighbours clearing a heck of a lot of vegetation.
An Caislín Dearg
Active member
The long spell of good weather we've enjoyed finally broke over the weekend giving us our first westerly blow in what feels like ages. Did a hopeful scan of the bay in the evening and perfectly on cue No. 81, five Manx Shearwater putting on a show of aerial mastery in the strong winds. I always enjoy watching how seemingly effortlessly they speed around the bay.
