Ducks deluxe

#BWKM0 ND&B garden challenge
DAY 15

It seems as if a great number of us spent some of the night standing in the garden, looking up into the heavens and straining to hear the calls of birds as they were passing overhead. For the second night running, a spectacular procession of wildfowl was there to be enjoyed. Many of us were able to record Common Scoter and Teal - a rarity and privilege for many inland birders - with a few other notable species also in the mix. It was a memorable event, and one that did not rely on the ownership of microphones and digital recorders to experience. Many bird were low enough so that calls could be clearly heard. Some observers were able to hear multiple flocks of Common Scoter pass through - this was aided by the relative silence that has fallen over our country with the reduction in traffic (both road and air). It was a rare chance to experience this type of migration in such unhindered circumstances. Some of us city and town dwellers might not get such a chance again.

There is now so much information being fed to me that it is increasingly difficult to collate the information into a meaningful post, so from tomorrow I will try to write an opening paragraph that will hopefully summarise the days efforts, but will still produce the sections that appear below. As much as this is a competition, it is first and foremost a celebration of our bird life, our gardens and the camaraderie that we are forging during these testing times. But please, still send me your sightings and totals, it is all valuable and will be used.

OUR COMBINED TOTAL IS 123 SPECIES   We still seem to be missing Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Kingfisher and Firecrest. 

Today's additions are : Red-throated Diver (Michael D), Great Northern and Black-throated Diver (Seth G), Golden Eagle (Seth G), Golden Plover (Steve G), Whimbrel (Matt P), Redshank (Arjun D), Black Guillemot (Seth G), Brambling (Pete B)

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New entries

Pete B (Shadoxhurst, Kent)
Garden list of 101 species.
Highlights: Osprey and Crane

Mark N (Stutton, Suffolk)
Garden list of 75 species.
Highlights: Crane, Turtle Dove and Crossbill.

Sy W (Aston Clinton, Bucks)
Highlights: Cormorant, Red Kite, Raven.

David S (West Raynham, Norfolk)
Garden list of 87 species

This brings our 'garden collective' up to 48.

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Garden firsts

Robin S (Cranleigh, Surrey) - Teal
Oscar D (Chiswick, London) - Teal, Wigeon and Common Scoter
Seamus E (Thornton Cleveleys, Lancs) - Common Scoter
Steve G (Banstead, Surrey) - Teal, Common Scoter
Wes A (Capel, Surrey) - Teal
Ed S (Farncombe, Surrey) - Teal, Common Scoter
Mark N (Stutton, Suffolk) - Great Black-backed Gull, Red Kite and Common Scoter
Arjun D (Wallington, Surrey) - Teal, Common Scoter
Reuben B (Tufnell Park, London) - Common Scoter
Sean M (Pinner, London) - Redpoll and Tawny Owl
Mathew B (Wrotham, Kent) - Tawny Owl
Dave P (Shoreham, West Sussex) - Teal
Richard P (Charmouth, Dorset) - Willow Warbler
Sam B (Enniskeane, Cork) - Collared Dove
Seth G (Uig, Skye) - Great Northern, Black-throated and Red-throated Diver, Merlin, Black-headed Gull, Black Guillemot

There have now been 72 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 far as I know). If xx appears it is either that I do not have the figure or it is a clerical error. Please do keep me updated and the new figure will appear as if by magic!

Arjun D (Wallington, Surrey) - 74/47; Bernard B (Ruckinge, Kent) 107/38;
Bob S (Worcester Park, Surrey) 86/21; Callum M (Hemel Hempstead) 64/xx;
Chris P (Romney Marsh, Kent) - 176/62; Dave B (Chatham Islands, Pacific Ocean) 30/18;
Dave P (Shoreham, West Sussex) - 55/26; David S (West Raynham, Norfolk) - 87/45;
Debbie S (Portland, Dorset) 155/33; Dylan W (Thanet, Kent) 111/35;
Ed S (Farncombe, Surrey) - 79/69; Gavin H (Bridport, Dorset) xx/33;
Geoff B (Chessington, Surrey) 69/xx; Gill H, Tenterden, Kent) 60/xx;
Gordon H (Redhill, Surrey) 80/34; Ian K (Leigh, Surrey) 62/29; Ian S (Sidcup, Kent) - 113/42;
Ian W (Merton Park, London) 86/31; Isaiah R (New Malden, London) 76/42;
John P (Banstead, Surrey) xx/xx; Josephine S (Leatherhead, Surrey) 40/25;
Justin T (Charmouth, Dorset) 59/xx; Mark D (Dorking, Surrey) 59/45;
Mark N (Stutton, Suffolk) - 75/45; Martin C (Lydd, Kent) 140/63;
Mathew B (Wrotham, Kent) - 33/38; Matt P (Pulborough, West Sussex) 126/71;
Michael D (Craster, Northumberland) 106/48; Mike R (Battle, East Sussex) 97/41;
Oscar D (Chiswick, London) - 67/48; Paul D (London) 84/35;
Pete B (Shadoxhurst, Kent) 101/40; Reuben B (Tufnell Park, London) - 45/38;
Richard F (Pinner, London) 63/35; Richard P (Charmouth, Dorset) - 101/52;
Robin S (Cranleigh, Surrey) - 101/42; Sam B (Enniskeane, Cork) - 67/51;
Seamus E (Thornton Cleveleys, Lancs) - 67/23; Sean M (Pinner, London) - 50/35;
Seth G (Uig, Skye) 64/35; Stephen R (Harrogate, Yorks) 66/29;
Steve C (Guildford, Surrey) 66/35; Steve G (Banstead, Surrey) - 92/59;
Steve T (Ewell, Surrey) 59/xx; Stewart S (Howick, Northumberland) 113/43;
Sy W (Aston Clinton, Bucks) - xx/22; Tony B (Woodford, Essex) 69/42;
Wes A (Capel, Surrey) - 94/66