RSPB GARDEN BIRD SURVEY

Had an hour spare this morning and thought I would have a crack at the RSPB garden survey !

Before I started and like most I guess I spent some time filling the bird feeders with nuts,seeds and fat balls as well as throwing some extra across the lawn as if I was feeding a stream ready to fish !

Then latte,pad and feet up in the extension for an hour.

4 Collared Doves

5 Wood Pigeon

2 Male Blackbirds

2 Female Blackbirds

2 Dunnock

1 Female Great Tit

1 Male Great Tit

2 Blue Tits

1 Robin

2 Female Rose Ringed Parakeet

2 Male Rose Ringed Parakeet

2 Female House Sparrows

1 Male House Sparrow

2 Herring Gulls

1 Black Headed Gull

1 Carrion Crow

1 Feral Pigeon

1 Male Great Spotted Woodpecker

WELLIES WALKING AND WADERS !

Short walk along the beach at Pegwell Bay this morning with the children.

They spent their time lifting rocks and looking at the dead things washed up in the caves while I took a few shots of the Fulmars on the cliff as well as watching the few birds that were on the mud flats.

Redshank,Oystercatcher,Rock Pipit,Fulmar,Herring and Common Gull,Dunlin and Little Egret.

Walking back along the top of the cliff Long-Tailed,Blue & Great Tits,Robin,Blackbird,Black Headed Gull,Carrion Crow and Rook.

FULMAR

FULMAR

FULMAR

REDSHANK

THROWING STONES

ARMCHAIR BIRDING !

With the lack of opportunities for a walk to the local reserves this past week I spent 30 minutes between life's duties with a hot drink looking at my back garden & I must say it was a pleasure to see a plethora of birds.

The stage was set and first on were 9 Redwings followed by blackbirds,solitary Robin strutting it stuff around the Bird Feeders,Jay,Magpie,Great Spotted Woodpecker on the feeder,Collared Dove,Wood Pigeon,Dunnock,House Sparrows,Carrion Crow,Herring Gull,Blue & Great Tit,3 Rose-Ringed Parakeets (Still looking for the odd feathers for Hazel Jackson's research for analyzing DNA) and finally a Starling.

A total of 16 birds which on some walks is a task in itself !

REDWING

NORFOLK & NO SIGN OF A TURKEY !

Over the Christmas & New Year period I spent some time  in Norfolk,the first week was a whiteout but very pretty and spent most of the time checking out local walks although one reserve in the snow looks like any other !

Home for over two weeks !

One of the many reserves

Catkins

Canada Geese

Canada Goose

Tree Creeper

Egyptian Goose

Ivy

Boat Norfolk Coast

Highlight of the reserves from a birding point of view was when we arrived at Strumpshaw Fen to catch up with an Warden friend who now works for the RSPB and within the first few minutes the resident Bittern decided to put on a very good display by taking a walk across the ice for over ten minutes as well as 3 Rough-Legged Buzzards on the Norfolk coast.

Bittern RSPB Strumpshaw

Bittern RSPB Strumpshaw

Bittern RSPB Strumpshaw