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Page updated
29.04.2008

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Date	Sighting
Year 2002	Three pairs raised 8 broods of four. All 38 departed early September.
Year 2003	Two pairs nested and each pair raised two broods of four. Twenty departed at the end of August (rather earlier than usual).
18.04.2004	First pair arrived.
02.06.2004	Half of an egg shell found close to the nest. And much more frequent flying visits by the parents to the nest suggests we have a brood. A second pair are nesting in a nearby shed.
10.06.2004	Five open mouths seen at nest edge.
25.06.2004	Five youngsters on the wing.
11.07.2004	Five more eggs in the nest.
06.08.2004	Five gaping mouths at nest edge.
13.08.2004	Second brood of five on the wing.
05.09.2004	A big gathering of about 80 - and then they were gone.
09.09.2004	One late family still around the sheds.
16.04.2005	First solitary arrival seen. Inspected last years nest site.
02.05.2005	We now have three pairs prospecting for nest sites.
10.06.2005	Two birds found dead on the ground underneath last years nest. This nest was not re-used.
08.07.2005	New nest only 50cm from the vacated one with five young clamouring for food.
17.07.2005	18 birds, adults and young on the telephone wires trying to encourage the brood of five to leave their nest.
10.09.2005	The second brood of four successfully took to the air.
18.09.2005	..... and then they had gone.
12.04.2006	The first 2006 arrival wheeling over the meadow.
17.06.2006	The first brood of five fledged and on the wing.
July 2006	A second clutch of eggs did not survive the heat under the eaves.
31.08.2006	But the third clutch survived and four fledglings are on the wing.
14.04.2007	First arrivals on the telephone wires.

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Tree Sparrow

Passer montanus

The question is often asked, "What is the difference between a Tree Sparrow and a House Sparrow?" - and here in one lucky photograph is the answer. The Tree Sparrow, in the foreground, has a brown head and black cheek patches (both sexes are quite similar). The male House Sparrow at the back has a grey head and no cheek patches. And the female House Sparrow in the middle is rather plainer with a light flash above the eye.

In the mid 1990's, in this rural location, Tree Sparrows out numbered House Sparrows 2 : 1. But, as in most of the UK, House Sparrow numbers were seen to fall and by autumn 2006 we had a resident flock of 40 Tree Sparrows and only 4 House Sparrows. So to accidentally get two of the latter in the same picture was somewhat fortunate.

As far as I have observed, the Tree Sparrow shows no preference for trees at all. They seem to favour dense hedges for shelter from predators (Sparrow Hawks, etc.) and quite happily nest in old buildings, open sheds and - hedges. When nesting in buildings they will settle for more open nesting sites than the House Sparrows which tend to choose enclosed nooks and crannies, under eaves, etc.

The thick chunky beak indicates that they are mainly seed eaters but they do feed their young on insects and caterpillars. They raise two or three broods of 4 - 6 young each year.

Date	Sighting
August 2006	Busy, noisy flock of 40 in adjacent paddock.
05.12.2006	Having dispersed in the Autumn, 24 are now back to the seed feeders.

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Reed Bunting

Emberiza schoeniclus

This was a first time visitor to the garden in April 2008. Whether it was an immigrant from Europe just passing through or, a neighbourly visit from a nearby pond that is maturing nicely, only time will tell.

Reed Buntings were originally named after their preferred habitats of wetland and marshy areas throughout all of western Europe, wherever reed beds were to be found. More recently they appear to be adapting to a drier farmland hedgerow environment. They feed on seeds and insects so, they can afford to be opportunistic about where they settle.

The male in the image is well marked and easily recogisable with his black head and breast and distinct white moustache. The female has much more subdued plumage and could be confused with several other species. She lacks the black head and bib and white moustache but sports pale eyebrow flashes.

They nest low down in reeds and hedges in a nest of grass and moss and can raise two or three broods of four or five chicks a year.

Date	Sighting
06.04.2008	First time visitor to the garden, under the seed feeder.

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Yellowhammer

Embiriza citrinella

The Yellowhammer is reckoned to be common in rural areas but, until 2008, had been scarce in my locality. In the past we have only had the odd winter bird under our bird feeder but 2008 saw as many as 16 in the garden at one time.

The image is of an open mouthed male (cracking a seed), in spring courting plumage. The winter plumage is more subdued but retains the same markings. Females and juveniles are duller.

They feed on seeds, berries, fruit and insects. Breeding commences in April. The female constructs a well hidden nest of grass and moss at ground level or low in a bush and lays a clutch of 3 to 5 eggs.

Date	Sighting
25.02.2008	Four pairs feeding under bird table in garden.
20.03.2008	16 in garden.

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Fieldfare

Turdis pilaris

A gregarious migratory species which overwinters in the UK before returning to its normal nesting territories in Scandinavia and central Europe.

Date	Sighting
14.03.2004	250 in Hay Meadow. Stayed for an hour.
18.03.2004	300 in Hay Meadow. Stayed for an hour.
25.03.2005	500 in rough pasture TF303 663. Stayed for 90mins.
30.03.2006	300 in fields south of Protected Roadside Verge.

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Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

The Starling population which had nationally been in decline for several years appears, in spring 2007, to be staging a minor local comeback. Whereas a wandering flock of about 20 to 40 had become the expected norm, some 200+ staged a noisy reunion in February 2007. That still falls short of the thousands that used to congregate but it is a heartening sign.

Juveniles are normally grey/brown in colour getting progressively blacker as autumn and winter passes. The winter plumage tends to be heavily speckled and in spring the male's mating plumage takes on a lustrous blue/mauve/green sheen.

Their diet is mainly insectivorous, taking flies on the wing and industriously spiking the ground for leatherjackets and grubs but, especially during winter months , they will also take seed and grain.

Date	Sighting
20.02.2007	Flock of approx 200 (biggest for years) foraging in adjacent field.
21.02.2007	50 in paddock next to house.

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Cuckoo

Cuculus canorus

Date	Sighting
25.04.2004	First of the season heard passing through.
30.04.2005	First of the season heard passing through.
28.04.2006	First of the season heard passing through.
24.04.2007	First of the season heard - and seen (!) passing through.

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Gt Spotted Woodpecker

Dendrocopos major

We have regular Greater Spotted Woodpeckers visiting the nut feeder. They don't keep regular hours but they are seen on many occasions. During the nesting season they will be taking nuts for their own benefit as their young will be fed with caterpillars and grubs.

During the 2003/04 winter months, it was a male with his distinctive red nape on the back of its neck (which the female lacks) which graced us with its presence.

The 2004 summer has only seen a female attend for snacks.

But, 2006 has seen lots of activity. Not only have the male and female been seen - a brood of young visitors have also graced the nut feeder.

Date	Sighting
08.08.2004	Female at the squirrel ravaged nut feeder.
November 2005	A male is a frequent visitor at the nut feeder.
10.02.2006	A male and a female take turns to visit the nut feeder.
August 2006	A female continues to make frequent visits the nut feeder.

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Lapwing

Vanellus vanellus

A species in decline. I can remember in my youth seeing huge flocks of Lapwings wheeling over farm fields and no walk in the country was free of their distinctive 'peee-wit' call.

Also known as the peewit and Crested Plover.

Now-a-days I count myself fortunate to have four in the neighbouring field.

The nest tends to be just a depression in a bare field and the parents go to great lengths to fool predators by creeping a considerable distance away from the nest before taking to the air.

Date	Sighting
13.05.2004	2 pairs in neghbouring field. 1 pair raised four chicks.
14.03.2005	2 pairs have returned to the nextdoor field - but, presumably due to crop rotation, did not stay.
21.03.2007	Have heard them calling for some time but 2 pairs have now returned to the next door field

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Pheasant

Phasianus colchius

Pheasants are not a 'UK native' species, having been introduced from Asia some 600 years ago. Apart from some specific ornamental species which have bred 'true', the commonly seen game bird is a product of cross breeding and consequently comes in a variety of colours and markings.

The male plumage can range from pale silver through the mid range of rich russet browns to glossy, metallic, blue, green and black and at up to 90cm in length can be very eye catching, some sporting smart white collars. The upper image is of an immature male - his tail is short and the spurs on the back of his legs are small. The females, although less spectacular, vary from pale creamy brown to quite dark brown. And all the adults are attractively marked. If you can't aspire to peacocks in your garden, pheasants are definitely the next best thing.

Big attractive males will often 'acquire' a harem of hens. The hens are ground nesting birds and often share nest sites so, clutches of up to 15 eggs are not uncommon. However, these ground level nests are very vulnerable to egg predators such as foxes, rats, stoats and hedgehogs and the largest 'family' of chicks which I have seen grow through to adolescence was eight. They then split up and it was not possible to further monitor their progress.

Once fully fledged and capable of flight all will take to the safety of trees, hedges and bushes to roost over night, returning to ground to feed on seed and grain.

Pheasant's wings always seem to me to be on the small side for birds of their size, and the effort required to keep themselves airborne is reflected in the short time that they manage to stay aloft, even allowing for their graceful gliding abilities.

Date	Sighting
July 2004	Family of eight adolescents fending for themselves.
November 2005	Seven females and two males feeding in the garden - not necessarily related.
November 2006	Just when I thought the females seemed to be more elusive this year, one large pair and one small pair arrived in the garden within minutes of each other.

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Red-legged Partridge

Alectoris rufa

Red-legged Partridge are colourful and frequent visitors to the garden but, they are nervous birds and easily disturbed. They are usually seen in bonded pairs with the male leading the way and standing tall and proud, guarding the female while she calmly feeds. At the first hint of disturbance, they hastily depart, in silence if in cover but, once in the open or in flight they have a loud 'churring' alarm call.

The Red-legged Partridge is not a native UK bird. It was introduced from France in the 17th and 18th century and consequently is often referred to as the 'French' Partridge. In some parts of SE UK it now outnumbers the native Grey Partridge.

It is a ground nesting bird and needs a well concealed nest as protection from predators such as rats, weasels, hedgehogs, foxes and crows. Young chicks are obviously vulnerable and large clutches of eggs, up to 20, are laid to compensate for predation.

Date	Sighting
29.04.2008	Frequent visitor to the garden, homing in on the seed feeder.

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Collared dove

Streptopelia decaocto

The collared dove is such a common visitor to our garden that I find it difficult to accept that it has only colonised the UK from about 1955. It originated in the Balkans but from the 1930s has since spread throughout Europe to as far afield as the Faroe Islands and Iceland.

Despite its smaller size, it frequents and merges very successfully with the feral pigeons for the same habitats, being commonly found in rural areas around grain stores and sites where agricultural feedstuffs might be spilled. Whereas the pigeons can appear to be a bit assertive and territorial, the Collared dove is of a much gentler disposition and mingles quietly with all our other rural garden visitors.

Its plumage is universally a soft pale grey and the adults sport a narrow black collar edged with white around the back of the neck.

Although it only lays two eggs at a time, it is capable of five broods each year - which might explain its successful colonisation.

Date	Sighting
2005	All year round visitors to the garden.
November 2006	We normally get one or two pairs in the garden but quite suddenly we had 24 sitting on the telegraph wires.

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Sparrow Hawk

Accipiter nisus

At 11 to 15 inches in length, the Sparrow Hawk is classed as one of the UK's smaller hawks along with the Kestrel and the Merlin and although they are all roughly the same size, the Sparrow Hawk always strikes me as being a larger bird. Maybe it is their long legs and long tail that fool me.

We have a male and female pair which include our garden in their territory. They regularly swoop through to check out what activity there is around our seed feeder. On this occasion a Chaffinch was caught off guard and the male hawk stayed to pluck his meal before flying off with it to the seclusion of a big Chestnut tree nearby.

The female is larger than the male and has a brown back. Both sexes have characteristically long yellow legs.

Although they give the impression of being dominant in the garden, that situation only extends until the swallows start breeding. I have seen the hawks being very agressively chased out of the garden by half a dozen squealing swallows swooping after them. And, what's more, the hawks do not return until the swallows leave for warmer climes at the beginning of September!

Date	Sighting
07.05.2006	A regular but, rarely successful, visitor to the garden.
September 2006	The female, which I saw chased off by swallows in May, has returned - now that the swallows have gone.

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Kestrel

Falco tinnunculus

Normally pictures of kestrels show them in a poised serene stance or hovering on the wing. Not so, this one.

This young female had just chanced upon a fallen wood pigeon and was very 'puffed up' and excited about it. That may have been a ruse to imply to other predators that she was a much bigger adversary than she actually was.

At maybe 340mm in length, she was much smaller than her 400mm lunch.

Normal prey for a kestrel would be small mice and voles or even beetles, so this was a banquet in prospect. She methodically took her time over it and did not leave much for others to fight over.

Kestrel chicks hatch in May so, because of the yellow beak, I presume that this one seen in November, might be a six month old youngster. As they mature the beak darkens to grey and can have a black tip. One of the classic identification features is the dark 'tear stain' under the eye.

Date	Sighting
23.11.2006	An opportunist visitor in the garden.

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