Garden Birdwatch

I've never taken part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, a personal view because I don't think the results are scientifically valid, but it does encourage an interest in wildlife, which is far more important. If only government ministers were forced to take part. However, I do keep a garden list for interest. We moved in to a new property in 2007, and overlook farmland, which at that time was used for daffodils. The first week we had a Little Owl on the fence, and Curlews always used to winter in the fields. Obviously such sights are long gone, as are Grey Partridges which have wandered off the fields and down the tarmac in front of the bungalow! 

 Nothing much has changed in terms of our small cul-de-sac or the surrounding fields, but wildlife has been much affected by other developments in the area which have resulted in much more disturbance, traffic and light pollution, like almost everywhere else in the country. We have always put out feeders, and have a pond, so we still get birds in the garden, but numbers of species and actual numbers has varied greatly. Many birds are secretive, particularly as shrubs have grown, and we have had several nests, mainly Blackbirds, but have seen newly fledged young Robins, Wrens, Tree Sparrows, House Sparrows, Goldfinches and others whose nests we haven't located, although for several years now a pair of Whitethroats has nested in the scrub behind the fence. Sparrowhawks breed locally and are frequent visitors to the garden, as are piles of feathers on the lawn. However, I suspect that their hunting strategy is to cover a wide area in order to sustain their food supply, so birds will disappear for a day or so following a "visit", and then return. The biggest effect has been a cat which has been brought in to the neighbourhood, whilst I don't think it kills many birds, they are certainly more wary and secretive over the last few years. There are feral and farm cats around but they never visit the garden, and help to keep the rats down.

 Perhaps the biggest thing our garden has going for it is the area behind the fence, a strip about three metres in which grows brambles, nettles and other weeds. The farmer cuts it down every winter, but it soon regrows, and I am sure many of the insects we see in our garden result from this (and an uncultivated area nearby which would be difficult to plough). Suffice to say I have recorded over 320 macro moths in the garden, and we see several species of bee and butterfly, not to mention large numbers of spiders. We don't particularly plant for insects, although two large buddleas are obviously "popular".  I once counted 24 Peacock butterflies at one time, and we usually record one or two Painted Ladies and Hummingbird Hawk moths. Many species of moth are actively colonising new areas due to climate change, in the last few years we've had two Clifden Nonpareils, and seem to have Star-wort and Large Thorns nearby. I am not really in to other insects, but like to photograph anything of interest.

 There are few wooded areas in our immediate vicinity, I rarely see warblers (other than the Whitethroat) in the garden, although there was a one-day Siberian Chiffchaff just before the new year, and we once had a migrant warbler which I suspect was a Yellow-browed, but it didn't linger. I also "record" flyovers and species seen in the field behind us. This is very varied but few species are frequent, we do see flocks of geese some years, occasionally migrant swans. Buzzards are not uncommon, and Red Kites are getting closer (just outside the village). We used to see Marsh Harriers fairly regularly, and have recorded both Hen and Montague's on single occasions, but none now for several years. Little Egrets are not uncommon now, and we have had a single Great. The pond has attracted both Grey and Yellow Wagtails on occasion, whilst Pied are usually around but rarely visit the garden. At one time we had fish until the pond attracted a Heron, even though it is only about three metres across and right outside our lounge. Frogs, Toads and Newts are all seen at various times.

 The reason I have had this bought to mind is that I am finally attempting to pull all my photos of species taken in the UK together, partly because I have a new website page, of every species on category A of the British list. It's an ongoing project and will be updated regularly. Not all the species are photographed as yet, but it will give me a focus for the rest of my life, and hopefully some birders will be interested. I have seen all but five, but there are a few others I haven't photographed. Obviously not all shots are taken in the UK, but all my old rarities will eventually be on there from 1986 onwards, if not on the front page. https://www.aabirdpix.com/BRITISH LIST/british-list.htm