Garden Bird News

After a year looking out of the window and trying to get the feeders balanced for our fussy local community here are some scores.

It has been great to live with a house martin nest on the side wall. They managed three broods, stayed late to fledge a lazy chick and entertained us greatly. At one point we counted 20 immediately above our property on 'encouraging out' duty.

House martin first seen 23/4/23
House martin last seen 28/9/23

Swift first seen 13/5/23
Swift last seen 26/7/23

Cuckoo first heard (not seen) 24/5/23

Nothing very surprising turned up. A red kite lurks overhead sometimes. Up to 20 starlings make short work of a suet block but don't like the suet balls. Goldfinch love sunflower hearts. Wood pigeon, collared doves, robins and dunnocks feed off the ground and tables. House sparrows like a bath, as do blackbirds and wood pigeon. In the autumn Canada geese fly over towards the lakes in the morning and back home to roost at dusk.

A couple of RSPB cat scarers have been useful. Nothing used our tit box so I may reposition it.