NORTH DOWNS & BEYOND

#BWKM0   ND&B garden challenge DAY 34 There has been a lot of chat going on about noc-migging recently, mostly emanating from new adoptees of this dark art. As much as it is bringing a new dimension to their birding, it is also causing them to ask some fundamental questions. One of our competitors, Jono L, wrote a compelling post about it which you can read by clicking here.  As a naked noc-migger I hear all of my overhead calls as they happen, but must confess to wishing that I had recordings of some of the calls that I do hear, so that I have the ability to subsequently check them. Last night was a case in point. I was out in the garden as darkness fell when a single call - fairly distant - came out of the gloom. "Chew-it!" I froze, hoping that it would call again. Nothing. My mind was then in turmoil. It sounded like a Spotted Redshank. But then again, had I heard a distant female Tawny Owl? I normally wouldn't consider that you could confuse the two, but con...

#BWKM0   ND&B garden challenge DAY 33 Keeping abreast of what is going on across all 59 of our gardens is made all the easier by many of the participants kindly letting me know by direct contact. That is not always possible, so I keep a keen eye out for any updates across social media. My normal methods of communication and data gleaning have been through Twitter (both posts and dm's), Messages, What'sApp, Facebook, email, Blogger, Instagram and  - wait for it - old fashioned phone conversation. The frenzy of the first couple of weeks has subsided somewhat - back then there were days when it felt as if I were running around keeping all of the plates spinning. It is quite sedate now, just the odd addition being announced, a few garden ticks being celebrated and our combined list limping along, although there are still plenty of holes to fill, some of which are quite surprising (see below). ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ OUR ...

#BWKM0   ND&B garden challenge DAY 32 There are times when, as I put together each day's post, it is tempting to mention the weather, or a particular passage of birds, and am then reminded that this challenge involves gardens across the whole of our islands - plus a couple further afield. Such discussion would be of little relevance to those away from the 'south-east' bubble. Out of interest, our 'collective' comes from: Surrey (16), Kent (12), London (10), Dorset (four), Sussex (three), Yorkshire, Hertfordshire, Northumberland (all two) and Albania, New Zealand, Norfolk, Suffolk, Eire, Lancashire, Skye and Buckinghamshire (all one). It is heavily biased towards the south-east, but then again so is this blog, so no surprises there really. As the reports come in it is obvious on some days that movement over the gardens are happening on a broad front, be they of hirundines or, as on a couple of occasions, Mediterranean Gulls. The night time feast of nocturnal du...

#BWKM0   ND&B garden challenge DAY 31 New species for our combined list keep on coming - six over the past 24 hours, including an out-of-the-blue garden first for Dylan W in Thanet (Kent). Y ou can read all about that here.  And down in Portland (Dorset), Debbie S's garden is starting to provide plenty of migrants:  Special mention must go to Matt P at Pulborough in West Sussex, who recorded his 100th species of the lockdown! That means that he has recorded one more species in four weeks than I've managed in in 33 years in Banstead.  ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ OUR  COMBINED TOTAL (BRITISH ISLES GARDENS) IS 171 SPECIES     Still to be recorded are: Pochard, Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper, any skua, Arctic Tern,  Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Kingfisher, Whinchat, Lesser Whitethroat. Our oversea's gardens (New Zealand and Albania) add an additional  19 SPECIES  ...

#BWKM0   ND&B garden challenge DAY 30 Today I have mostly been dealing with a self-inflicted Twitter shit-storm. But now for a sit down, a cold beer and some time for reflection on the niceties of social media. See previous post for further enlightenment. Ommmmm... OUR  COMBINED TOTAL (BRITISH ISLES GARDENS) IS 165 SPECIES     Still to be recorded are: Pochard, Tufted Duck, Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper, any skua, Arctic Tern, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Kingfisher, Common  Redstart, Whinchat, Lesser Whitethroat. Our oversea's gardens (New Zealand and Albania) add an additional  19 SPECIES   with Dave B in New Zealand adding Sooty Shearwater, Northern Buller's Albatross, White-fronted Tern and Kelp Gull. Today’s additions are:  Common Tern and Swift (Richard P) You can find the combined #BWKM0 list by clicking on the right-hand tab above. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ EN...

Social distancing and the birder. Should be simple, shouldn't it? The government have asked us to not leave home unless undertaking one of a small number of permitted essential tasks, which includes daily exercise. The suggestion seems to be that we exercise for no more than an hour and take that exercise, from home, on foot or by bike. I decided from the off that I would not feel comfortable with walking to one of my patches and then birding. The walking bit would be fine, but could I really claim that the birding bit would count as essential? Of course not. So my daily exercise became a 45-60 minute walk around the streets, with the odd visit to Priest Hill SWT reserve, just a 12 minute walk from home, where I walk a circular track. I have seen Cattle Egret, Ring Ouzel, Black Redstart and Grasshopper Warbler here, so it has a birding pedigree. I decided not to take my binoculars with me, as to do so would mean that I would birdwatch. I would stand still. My visits would go bey...

Ring Ouzel digiscoped at 100m. Mike P's recent Malling, Kent garden bird #BWKM0   ND&B garden challenge DAY 29 My day has been spent staring vainly at oncoming weather fronts, rain-bearing cloud and empty skies. Tonight promises much listening of the world at night. Maximum effort, minimum reward so far. How about you? OUR  COMBINED TOTAL (BRITISH ISLES GARDENS) IS 163 SPECIES     Still to be recorded are: Pochard, Tufted Duck, Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper, any skua, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Swift,  Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Kingfisher, Common  Redstart, Whinchat, Lesser Whitethroat. Our oversea's gardens (New Zealand and Albania) add an additional  15 SPECIES Today’s additions are:  Stone Curlew (Stuart C), Razorbill (Michael D) and Sanderling (Richard P) You can find the combined #BWKM0 list by clicking on the right-hand tab above. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ...