Buzzards

#BWKM0 ND&B garden challenge
DAY 19

Today here in Banstead I recorded a minimum of 18 Common Buzzards drifting through south to south-east, including one loose group of 11 birds. A few years ago this would have been scarcely believable. When I began birding in 1974 to see a Buzzard was a treat usually granted only when going on a long journey westwards or northwards. It took me another 20 years before I recorded the species in either Surrey or Kent, and it was not until 2000 that I saw one over the garden - after I had recorded Honey Buzzard here. And now? It is of daily occurrence, I can see at least two displaying pairs from the house and there is an appreciable spring passage in March and April. It is now the commonest species raptor over the garden. Red Kite is the second commonest. Bonkers.

OUR COMBINED TOTAL IS 144 SPECIES   We still seem to be missing Pochard, Tufted Duck, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Kingfisher.

Today's additions are : Hobby (Steve G and Wes A), Avocet (Matt P)

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ENTRIES

Our 'garden collective' stands at 55.

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Garden firsts

Dave P (Shoreham, West Sussex) - Eider
Ed S (Farncombe, Surrey) - Osprey
Sam B (Enniskeane, Cork) - Sand Martin
Rueben B (Tufnell Park, London) - Common Buzzard
Wes A (Capel, Surrey) - Common Scoter

There have now been 100 garden firsts across the competition.

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How are we getting on?
Alphabetical order by first name. The first figure is the garden score as on March 20th. The second is since then (as up to date as I am aware).

Arjun D (Wallington, Surrey) - 74/56; Benno W (Goodnestone, Kent) xx/29;
Bernard B (Ruckinge, Kent) 107/50; Bob S (Worcester Park, Surrey) 86/30; 
Callum M (Hemel Hempstead, Herts) 64/xx; Cheech A (Langley Vale, Surrey) xx/34;
Dave B (Chatham Islands, Pacific Ocean) 30/18; Dave P (Shoreham, West Sussex) - 55/39; 
David S (West Raynham, Norfolk) - 87/45; Debbie S (Portland, Dorset) 155/34;
Dylan W (Thanet, Kent) 111/43; Ed S (Farncombe, Surrey) - 79/74; 
Gavin H (Bridport, Dorset) xx/35; Geoff B (Chessington, Surrey) 69/27; 
Gill H (Tenterden, Kent) 60/25; Gordon H (Redhill, Surrey) 80/39; 
Ian K (Leigh, Surrey) 62/33; Ian S (Sidcup, Kent) - 113/44;
Ian W (Merton Park, London) 86/37; Isaiah R (New Malden, London) 76/46; 
John P (Banstead, Surrey) xx/xx; Jono L (Wanstead, London) 83/54;
Josephine S (Leatherhead, Surrey) 40/32; Justin T (Charmouth, Dorset) 59/29;
Mark D (Dorking, Surrey) 59/50; Mark H (Littlestone, Kent) 135/67:
Mark N (Stutton, Suffolk) - 77/60; Martin C (Lydd, Kent) 140/70;
Mathew B (Wrotham, Kent) - 33/42; Matt P (Pulborough, West Sussex) 126/82; 
Michael D (Craster, Northumberland) 106/51;  Mike P (Malling, Kent) 70/53;
Mike R (Battle, East Sussex) 97/41; Oscar D (Chiswick, London) - 67/51;
Paul D (London) 84/35; Pete B (Shadoxhurst, Kent) 101/43;
Phil B (Ramsgate, Kent) 54/27; Rebecca G (Balham, London) xx/8;
Reuben B (Tufnell Park, London) - 45/42; Richard F (Pinner, London) 63/35;
Richard P (Charmouth, Dorset) - 101/60; Robin S (Cranleigh, Surrey) - 101/49;
Sam B (Enniskeane, Cork) - 67/56; Seamus E (Thornton Cleveleys, Lancs) - 67/28;
Sean M (Pinner, London) - 50/36; Seth G (Uig, Skye) 64/44; 
Stephen R (Harrogate, Yorks) 66/35; Steve C (Guildford, Surrey) 66/36; 
Steve G (Banstead, Surrey) - 92/61; Steve T (Ewell, Surrey) 59/33;
Stewart S (Howick, Northumberland) 113/50; Sy W (Aston Clinton, Bucks) - xx/22;
Tony B (Woodford, London) 69/45; Wes A (Capel, Surrey) - 96/76

Comments

bob smith said…
Blackcap this morning early on so my list is now 30. I have set myself a target that I would be happy with -50% of my garden total of 86 species. Given that I've been watching on and of for 50 years and that 18 of those species would normally be autumn/winter birds think thats fair. I would be really happy to see /hear a Raven.

Best Wishes
7 April 2020 at 18:47
Simon Douglas Thompson said…
Saw a pair soaring over my very urban garden!
7 April 2020 at 20:37
Chris P said…
Hi Steve, I made a request to join, but stupidly on an older blog - can I still do so please? I'm on 35 for Claygate, cheers Chris P
8 April 2020 at 07:41
The Hairy Birder said…
Hello Steve,

I added Merlin and Coal Tit yesterday (7th), and Merlin was a first for my garden!

That takes me to 30 species for the lockdown period.

Cheers,

Seumus

Seumus E Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire
8 April 2020 at 09:36
BirdingCheech said…
Hiya Steve,

My number has increased to 35 by just one due to the first black cap being seen in the garden since the lockdown.

Cheech Albanese
Langley Vale
8 April 2020 at 09:58
Michael Drage said…
Buzzard and Garden first (at last) of Grey Partridge takes me to 107/53

8 April 2020 at 16:40
Steve Gale said…
Thank you all for your comments and updates. They are very much appreciated. Stay safe!
8 April 2020 at 17:49
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