Your own private bird observatory

#BWKM0 ND&B garden challenge
DAY 9 

Is it just me, or are other birder's under the fanciful notion that they are currently manning their own private bird observatory? I'm strutting around the house and garden, taking in the views from various windows; making sure to check neighbouring trees and hedges; getting up early to catch any overhead passage; studying the twitter feed for a head's-up as to what is on the move; doing the log in the evening and then posting a blog update. I could get used to this! I think it's fair to say that for many of us, we will never treat birding in the garden ever the same again.

As much as there is a competitive edge to this enterprise, it is, first and foremost, a coming together of like-minded souls as we endure social lockdown. It is also a celebration of our birdlife through the lens of our dwellings, however modest - or grand - they may be.

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New entries

Richard P (Charmouth, Dorset)
Garden list of 101 species.
Highlights include Storm Petrel, Great White Egret, Osprey, Little Gull and Nightjar.

Seth G (Uig, Skye)
Garden list of 64 species.
An hotel garden, so plenty to explore.

Sam B (Enniskeane, Cork, Eire)
Garden list of 67 species.
Highlights include a Great White Egret.

This brings our 'garden collective' up to 29.

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Garden firsts

Wes A (Capel, Surrey) - Mediterranean Gull
Steve G (Banstead, Surrey) - Merlin
Ed S (Farncombe, Surrey) - Mandarin
(we now have 13 garden firsts across the competition)

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Garden focus

Dylan W (Thanet, Kent) boasts a garden list that suggests the next few weeks will be profitable.
Stewart S (Howick, Northumberland) has a splendid garden that boasts breeding Tree Sparrows.
Ian S (Sidcup, Kent) with an outlook that is full of possibilities.
The view from the balcony of Plodland. Martin C (Lydd, Kent) looking NE towards ARC and the Water Tower Pits 
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News from around the gardens

Sam B (Enniskeane, Cork, Eire) has reached 34 species, including a re-trapped Chiffchaff that was ringed by him last August.

Seth G (Uig, Skye) has recorded an adult Iceland Gull and Red-breasted Merganser so far this week. Neither will probably bother anybody else's garden list...

Sean M (Pinner, London) has reached 32 species, with his first Song Thrush logged.

Wes A (Capel, Surrey) moves on up to 59 species, with today's highlight being a large flock of gulls moving purposefully northwards, which numbered 140 Black-headed and a minimum of six Mediterranean!

Steve G (Banstead, Surrey) had a 'six species of raptor' day, two of which - Merlin and Peregrine - took him onto 44 species. The Merlin flew over low, in a westerly direction, during the mid-afternoon.

Ed S (Farncombe, Surrey) has forged ahead with 63 species, with two 'commoner' birds being additions today - Skylark and Grey Heron - plus a total surprise - a flock of three Mandarin.

Mathew B (Wrotham, Kent)  - a Cormorant has increased his tally to 34 species.

Dave P (Shoreham, West Sussex) has now hit the giddy heights (his words) of 26 species.

Comments

Michael Drage said…
Steve

38 so far here in Craster, no surprises but 100s of gannets heading north today.
As I only use email could you please send me your email address so I can forward photo and updates? michaeldotdrageatbtconnectdotcom. Thanks and keep up the good work!

28 March 2020 at 19:56
Steve Gale said…
Thanks Michael. I’ve emailed you.
29 March 2020 at 09:40
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