Whilst we are still allowed out Ann & I have been making the most of the weather and doing a 2 mile circular walk out of our estate and over the deserted Hazel Grove Golf Course.
I decided to start a patch lockdown list (anything to keep me amused) and saw/heard a total of 23 common species. It will get harder to add to from now on. 50 might be an over ambitious target.
1. Magpie. 2. Carrion Crow 3. Wood Pigeon 4. Blackbird 5. Robin 6. Nuthatch H 7. Chiffchaff H 8. Mallard 9. House Sparrow 10. Blue Tit 11. Great Tit 12. Greenfinch 13. Starling 14. Jackdaw 15. Stock Dove 16. Little Grebe 17. Coot 18. Moorhen 19. Wren 20. Buzzard 21. Mistle Thrush 22. LBB Gull 23. Sparrowhawk
Cheers, John
-- Edited by John Rayner on Wednesday 25th of March 2020 04:58:10 PM
Unconfirmed report of a Swift Spp over Hazel Grove on estate NW of Fiveways yesterday afternoon. The report was via a non birder, hence unconfirmed report status.
Swifts were present in a good numbers this evening over the Brinkburn estate, which I think is their best stronghold locally. Hard to get a number from a moving car, but somewhere between 14 - 18. On the way to work this morning through there, one flew directly at my car, passing over it by just a few feet.
Absolutely correct Roger. I did it 3 more times using iPhone App and got a different result each time. But pen and paper agrees with your total. Duly edited below.
Counted the spectacular Jackdaw flocks flying from roost over my house. All moving purposefully northeast to their upland feeding grounds. In case you wonder about the pseudo-accuracy, I count large flocks in blocks of 50 and then the stragglers individually.
A Peregrine flew overhead as I left my dentist on the junction of Cavendish Road and Chester Road at 09:45. It was accompanied by a small falcon, presumably a Kestrel.
Got all the jackdaws today and it was quite a sight (and a new record). Two super flocks of c1600 (06.55) and c1650 (07.03) calling noisily, then a succession of small groups of 13 to 250, then the last single straggler at 07.19. The big flocks form long snakes of fast-flying birds so blocking them off in groups of 100 makes counting do-able. I am lucky that they pass directly over my house twice a day so easy birding with a cup of tea .
Today's grand total was 3865, all heading NE to the feeding grounds.