Hotting up!

#BWKM0 ND&B garden challenge
DAY 8  - I've been one behind!!

Some of us are already a week into this laid-back competition. Over the past few days the country has largely been under blue skies with a cold east to north-east wind. Although the conditions are not ideal for much visible migration, those who have been able to spend a bit of time looking out from the garden have been rewarded all the same. There have been a few unexpected birds in a number of 'our' gardens, plus a chance for us all to appreciate what we have visiting us in our little kingdoms. Our birds are not dissimilar to the NHS - we are all guilty of taking them for granted until we are forced to evaluate the situation.

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New entries

Michael D (Craster, Northumberland)
Garden list of 106 species.
Highlights include Storm Petrel, Osprey and Velvet Scoter

and just to update yesterday...

Martin C (Lydd, Kent)
Garden list of 140 species.
Highlights include Montagu's Harrier, Black Kite, Common Crane, Spoonbill... nice.

This brings our garden collective up to 26.

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Garden firsts

Tony B (Woodford Green, London) - Marsh Harrier (and it's his birthday!)
Ed S (Farncombe, Surrey) - Goshawk, Marsh Tit, Reed Bunting and Egyptian Goose
(we now have 10 garden firsts across the competition)

Ed's haul is testament to the effort that he has been putting in, and shows that when an experienced birder (who normally doesn't bird from home) puts in a shift there, an awful lot is waiting to be discovered.

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Garden focus

Ed S (Farncombe, Surrey) has this panoramic view from his flat window
Dave B (Chatham Islands, Pacific Ocean) going all out for self-isolation
Reuben B (Tufnell Park, London) has Victorian buildings on three sides to contend with but that hasn't stopped him posting a competitive list
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News from around the gardens

Stewart S (Howick, Northumberland) has reached 41 species, with highlights being Grey Partridge, Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer, Curlew and Oystercatcher.

Reuben B (Tufnell Park, London) is up to 30, courtesy of a fly-by Grey Heron.

Dylan W (Thanet, Kent) added Fieldfare and Linnet to reach 31 species.

Steve G (Banstead, Surrey) has been ticking along to reach 42 species. Only a Sand Martin (seen on 20th) could be considered to be of note. Daily passage of Common Buzzards, a few Red Kites, and early morning eastward movements of Chaffinches have been delightful though.

Wes A (Capel, Surrey) who sat out in his garden after dark to try and add to his list, was rewarded with a calling Coot as it flew over. Dedication. At the end of today he has amassed 57 species.

Ed S (Farncombe, Surrey) recorded 50 species over the past 24 hours! A marvellous total, with his three garden ticks highlighted at the top of this post.

Tony B (Woodford Green, London) is now up to 29. He is still smiling from his ornithological birthday present (see above).

Ian S (Sidcup, London) has added two scarce species for his garden, Egyptian Goose and Jay. His total is now 42.

Mathew B (Wrotham, Kent) has Common Gull to thank for reaching 33.

Comments

Reuben Braddock said…
Great write up Steve, thanks!
Seaninpinner said…
Thanks for the update, Steve. Snuck up to 32 species today with a singing Song Thrush first thing.
Seaninpinner said…
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Gibster said…
Adult Iceland Gull from the window today, a nice "garden first" (though it was sat in the bay a good 500 metres away). I'm still working full-time but I live on the premises so it's six of one, half a dozen of the other. Where do I sign up, buddy?
Gibster said…
My overall 'hotel list' would seem to stand at 64 species, So far this year (ie this week) I've added RB Merg and Iceland Gull to the tally. Hoping for Woodpigeon and Magpie sometime soon, crazy fool that I am....
Steve Gale said…
Thank you all for your comments. Seth, I’ll add you today. Welcome aboard!

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