Great Spotted Garden List

Great Spotted Woodpecker

The bird species at my new gaff are still throwing up a few surprises. How about Kingfisher flying through the garden yesterday, on it's way to poach a few Sticklebacks from my neighbours pond.

The Greenshank flyover was probably less of a surprise!

The garden list keeps growing:

Black-headed Gull
Blackbird
Bluetit
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Chiffchaff
Collard Dove
Dunnock
Feral Pigeon
Goldfinch
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great Tit
Greenfinch
Greenshank
Grey Heron
Grey Partridge
Grey Wagtail
Greylag Goose
Herring Gull
House Martin
House Sparrow
Jackdaw
Kestrel
Kingfisher
Lapwing
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Linnet
Little Owl
Magpie
Mistle Thrush
Moorhen
Nuthatch
Pheasant
Pied Wagtail
Robin
Snipe
Sparrowhawk
Starling
Swallow
Swift
Tree Sparrow
Willow Warbler
Woodpigeon
Wren

Peeping Tom

Little Owl

On entering the bathroom this morning, this wee chap was staring back at me from the window of the disused barn opposite.

Cheeky Mare!

Put the bird feeder out in the garden of our new home yesterday and this morning the first visitors arrived. First off Tree Sparrows, then a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch....then this afternoon.........................

Hard to say goodbye

How many Sparrows?

When we moved home 11 years ago, our garden was of little interest to wildlife; no pond, nowhere to nest, no wild flowers, no nest boxes, no bird table, and few birds.

Some strategically planted Ivy (Hedera Helix) and Clematis (Montana Rubens), was the big step in creating nesting habitat, cover and food.

For those who worry about Ivy damaging their homes, think again - it protects! Read this article.

As we box our possessions for moving to our new home, it's not without a worry for the garden inhabitants. The new owners have small children (goodbye pond), a fear of nature (splat), and commented negatively about the climbers (evictions inevitable).

The only consolation is that our new home is crying out for a nature makeover. And with Barn Owls, Little Owls, and Tree Sparrows as garden visitors, I think a few nest boxes, climbers, and a pond will make some interesting species quite at home.