2008 so far...

In order seen, from garden to Blackburn and back to patch.

I had a look for the Long eared owl reported 2 days ago at the edge of my patch. However, being NY day, there were many loud annoying walkers out on the paths in large groups. I dont know why they bother walking, they are so loud that they must not see anything interesting.

1. Robin
2. Blackbird
3. Great tit
4. Dunnock
5. Coal tit
6. Blue tit
7. Black headed gull
8. Collared dove
9. Carrion crow
10.Starling
11.Magpie
12.Jackdaw
13.Feral pigeon
14.Wood pigeon
15.Kestrel
16.Rook
17.Mallard
18.Coot
19.Grey heron
20.Chaffinch
21.Grey wagtail
22.Wren
23.Goldfinch
24.Greenfinch
25.Nuthatch
26.House sparrow
27.Little owl














28.Dipper















29.Meadow pipit
30.Sparrowhawk
31.Pheasant
32.Redwing
33.Mistle thrush
34.Great spotted woodpecker


Notable patch absentees for first day were -

long tailed tit
bullfinch
song thrush
lapwing
siskin
redpoll
jay
treecreeper
goldcrest

I see these birds most days in the winter, I'm sure they'll be on the list in the next few days.

I've been maintaining my nestboxes too. Cleared branches from front of Kestrel box, fixed roof proofing on little owl box, put up this new robin box (a modified recycled 3 litre soft drink bottle)



















and evicted a grey squirrel from the tawny owl box.