Garden / Yard List 2024 (2 Viewers)

[birdmeister]

Spring migration is winding down, but surprises can turn up at almost any time. Back on the 16th, a cormorant flew very low overhead, going SE into the heart of the desert

I got a couple quick photos, but unfortunately they're not conclusive for IDing Double-crested vs Neotropic. Either species would have been a new yard addition.

Yesterday (26th), I woke up to what sounded like an American Robin singing outside. We simply don't have robins here in late May, so my mind quickly jumped to the alternative late migrant option.

84. Summer Tanager (new yard species #149)

I listened off and on for more than an hour, but could never lay eyes on it. However, Summer Tanager song is very different from the more expected Western. I will look to see one when the summer monsoon migration begins in July. A more expected year addition came from a heard-only

85. Black-tailed Gnatcatcher

Today, a pair came in very close for nice visual confirmation. I expect the yard will be pretty quiet for the next month-plus (I was so close to 150 species!), as we really begin to heat up. Every day is now forecast to be 100F (38C) or higher.

 

[Warixenjalka]

#51. Swift
#52. Swallow

Today it was almost chance for Cinereous Vulture. It came from East following the coast, but decide to go North just before my home town. Oh yes, indeed. I wouldn't have been at home anyway...

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

Four or more House Martins prospecting eaves on our estate all day today, I’m hoping they move in. Just one pair checked out a roof once last year.

I’m pretty sure they nest in a much newer estate across the river, so it’s a surprise they don’t nest here.

The pair of Swifts seem to be still lingering, so maybe they’ve found a hole to their liking.

View attachment IMG_2033.mov

 

[Richard Prior]

The rainiest May we’ve had up here is finally drawing to a soggy close, happily all three nestboxes on the house produced broods and the adjacent woodland has plenty of Tit families in it at present. This might be what drew one of the local residents down from the nearby forest yesterday afternoon, calling regularly as I was taking advantage of a brief non-rainy half hour to plant the leeks:

82 Pygmy Owl

The third for the Garden List, all heard only unfortunately, the neighbours still like to tease me with their story and photo of the Pygmy Owl they cuddled in front of the fire after it had stunned itself against one of their windows a few years back.
82 is our best ever YTD total at end May so on course for a good 2024 total I hope.

 

[KenM]

Probably my worst ever start to the year, slow would be an understatement, with the ongoing blanket grey, winds mostly out the North to the accompaniment of record precipitation for the month.
Perhaps not surprising that “regulars” just haven’t put in an appearance…yet?
However no complaints with a few gemstones recorded in the mix.
Living on a hill adjacent to woodland may explain a seemingly excessive no of BOPs recorded particularly on those few days when the sun shines!
On one day this week, I recorded double digit sightings of 5 species, multiple sightings of Red Kite, Hobby and Kestrel well supported by Buzby and Sprawk, no doubt due to excessive daily skywatching on my part 4 Kites (2pairs) yesterday.
Apparently we’re being promised high pressure for the SEast as from Sunday onwards (something the rest of the country has been enjoying for some time)…I live in hope.😮

 

[Paul Chapman]

Two additions from Friday morning:-

41. Swallow 26th April
42 House Martin 26th April

All the best

Paul

The entirety of May with one addition is beyond poor really:-

43 Canada Goose 9th May

It is not something that I target but nevertheless, it reflects a very quiet time locally.

All the best

Paul

 

[KenM]

The entirety of May with one addition is beyond poor really:-

43 Canada Goose 9th May

It is not something that I target but nevertheless, it reflects a very quiet time locally.

All the best

Paul

Never mind Paul!….at moments like this…just think back to the Varied Thrush.😢

 

[Warixenjalka]

At last day of May:

#53. Lesser Whitethroat

May Total: 28. 7 less than April. But I was less at home and also the tree leaves blocked badly my (so called) view. Weather has been unusually warm and dry in Finland, so at least it hasn't hindered bird watching

 

[pete wragg]

128 - Garganey, male on Kilnsea Wetlands

 

[Paul Chapman]

The entirety of May with one addition is beyond poor really:-

43 Canada Goose 9th May

It is not something that I target but nevertheless, it reflects a very quiet time locally.

All the best

Paul

Two additions today from 30 mins in the garden but somehow Red Kite still evades me......

44 Common Swift 1st June
45 Kestrel 1st June

All the best

Paul

 

[Southern Viking]

Two additions today from 30 mins in the garden but somehow Red Kite still evades me......

44 Common Swift 1st June
45 Kestrel 1st June

All the best

Paul

Has that Kestrel been shot?

 

[KenM]

Has that Kestrel been shot?

That would have been a sorry tail if it had been. 🤣

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

Still nothing new in the Arctic conditions in the garden, we even put the heating on today - June!

The weird Duck which has occasionally visited over the last couple of years, has been around for the last few days. Filmed it from the bathroom window.

View attachment IMG_2065.mov

I used to think it was Mallard x Yellow-billed Pintail, but I’m now thinking it’s just a ‘non-yellow-billed’ Yellow-billed Pintail.

We have had a pure adult male Y-b P before, I’ve seen it in a couple of spots up and down our valley, but not recently.

 

[Paul Chapman]

Has that Kestrel been shot?

That would have been a sorry tail if it had been. 🤣

It is a very odd pattern of damage. The suggestion on Twitter was that for it to cover both wing tips and tail, the damage would have been incurred whilst perched. I wondered about a trap. Difficult to anticipate looking at it that it was natural.

All the best

Paul

 

[KenM]

Literally a real ”stunner” from the kitchen window this afternoon.
I stood guard (Magpies around) for c30 mins, after which it came from behind over my shoulder and landed on our grdn.sallow…then later on our peanut feeder.
Alls well that ends well!

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

Literally a real ”stunner” from the kitchen window this afternoon.
I stood guard (Magpies around) for c30 mins, after which it came from behind over my shoulder and landed on our grdn.sallow…then later on our peanut feeder.
Alls well that ends well!

It must be a June thing. Two years ago, I found this by my front door. 🚪

 

[KenM]

It must be a June thing. Two years ago, I found this by my front door. 🚪

View attachment 1583243

Was surprised at mine being an adult, yours looks like a yung’un?

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

Was surprised at mine being an adult, yours looks like a yung’un?

🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[Southern Viking]

Whatever age it is, it doesn't look like it's getting any older

 

[Dave Ball]

Whatever age it is, it doesn't look like it's getting any older

Are you implying that it is an ex-Nuthatch, it has ceased to be?