What's the rarest bird you've had in your garden? (1 Viewer)

[daniel o]

Hi, what's the rarest bird you've ever had in/over your garden?

For me:
2 sedge warblers at the back of the garden during autumn migration.

1 turtle dove which was sighted on the first few days of living in this house but sadly I haven't saw one since.

bohemian waxwings which use my cotoneaster tree in influx winters.
and finally

I heard common cranes 2 years ago and then the day after I saw them at 'Risley Moss NR' which is only 10 minutes away! :t:

 

[Andy1979]

In my old house it was a Sedge Warbler on migration (backed onto farmland on the edge of London) and now in Medway (in the middle of town), I've had both Hobby, Peregrine and Med Gull fly over.

The guy in Shetland who found the Sibe Stonechat and the Cretzschmar's Bunting in his garden might not think much of our rarities though!!!

 

[Allen S. Moore]

Rosy starling in autumn 1999, the first record for the Isle of Man.

 

[Mike Crawley]

I live in the suburbs of Stockport, so Grey Partridge (although not "rare") was a massive shock and becoming increasingly hard to connect with even in the countryside.
After that, I guess Bullfinch would be my rarest.

 

[Bananafishbones]

Mealy Redpoll for 100+ consecutive days between December 21st 2010 - April 4th 2011. (second image)

Had 3 Mealy Redpolls for a single day last year. (First image shows 2 of the 3), also had 2 together for a day this year

Also had a Woodcock land under the trees in the garden for about 20 seconds, didn't get the camera out in time for that one.

Dave

 

[Bananafishbones]

I live in the suburbs of Stockport, so Grey Partridge (although not "rare") was a massive shock and becoming increasingly hard to connect with even in the countryside.
After that, I guess Bullfinch would be my rarest.

Very impressive :t:

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Red Kite, Peregrine or Spotted Flycatcher here.

Rich

 

[scary-canary]

Med gull or hobby flying over.
Chris

 

[timsg80]

Sibe Chiff, Honey-buzzard, Waxwing, a Redstart in March and Whimbrel (bit odd!). I've had a Nightjar, Osprey and Hen Harrier while able to see my garden, but not while in it!

 

[Monahawk]

Stonechat one snowy day in 2010. Was observed on top of a birch tree. They are rare outside their normal haunts of moors and coastal areas over here. Have had a snipe in the garden too during that freezing winter 3 years back. A declining species locally though a few haunt a local bog near my house.

Rarest flyover, hen harrier.

Si.

 

[KenM]

In my old house it was a Sedge Warbler on migration (backed onto farmland on the edge of London) and now in Medway (in the middle of town), I've had both Hobby, Peregrine and Med Gull fly over.

The guy in Shetland who found the Sibe Stonechat and the Cretzschmar's Bunting in his garden might not think much of our rarities though!!!

Everything being relative...I've only ever had one Sedge Warbler in 30yrs at the same abode, which backs on to woodland!

 

[JWN Andrewes]

Alpine Swift over, Firecrest from the back door in a nearby willow. Most unusual garden regular probably Dipper.

James

 

[eddy the eagle]

For me a male sub alpine warbler that visited my patio last spring and I live near the centre of town.It fed on some aphids and then left.About an hour later it was back and fed again and disappeared.My wife thought it nwas a robin.....Eddy

 

[Debbie1905]

When I lived in Spain ten years ago, I went to investigate what our Labrador was making a fuss about in the garden, and found a peacock! It stayed for about an hour then flew off. Never did find out who it belonged to or where it went.

 

[Capercaillie71]

Osprey and Hen Harrier while able to see my garden, but not while in it!

I've twice seen hen harrier while able to see my garden (300m down the road) but not while in it, but I have seen osprey twice from the comfort of my garden. Red Kite is reasonably regular from the garden and even over the garden below treetop height on a couple of occasions. Other than that, waxwing and woodcock are probably the most unusual species that I have had in the garden.

The slightly sad thing is that 10-20 years ago I used to get lapwings regularly displaying over the garden and grey partridge occasionally wandering up the drive. Both have now disappeared, and instead I get the occasional covey of released red-legged partridges in the garden.

 

[Mayo Corncrake]

In garden rarest is brambling. On the farm rarest would be corncrake, chough, barnacle geese. there was an upland sandpiper on the farm 3 years ago, but I didn't own the farm then.

 

[Boro Birder]

I live in a town centre estate so only get a few different garden birds but never a Wren, however winter 2012 I was surprised to see a Siskin on my feeders, although not rare, for my yard a mega. Also had Common Buzzard flyover been attacked by 2 crows.

Damian

 

[stonechat1]

Little Bittern on the walnut tree.

 

[robinm]

Little Bittern on the walnut tree.

I'd be happy with that :t:

My best are Kingfisher, Black Redstart and Woodcock.

 

[stonechat1]

I must admit it was the neighbours tree, but the brench the bird sat on reached in our garden towards our little goldfish pond.