Garden / Yard List 2025 (6 Viewers)

[gerald762]

Sorry Frank, I heard a Cuckoo this morning, the first of the year.

 

[KenM]

Trying not to get to envious of some of the recent sightings by thread participants, here I suppose it was inevitable that I would have a mini-drought of new additions after the various 'early birds' in the first half of the month - 9 days since my last new one but I'm only one short of the 60 achieved by end of March last year so no need for panic! I saw my earliest ever Barn Swallow on 22nd as I was walking back from the village but it headed down the valley and none have arrived at the farm nesting site nearby either (edit ,so it’s not on the 2025 Garden List yet).Some cold sleety conditions upped the Chaffinch count today and brought in two Brambling and THREE Serin to feed. A few of the winter garden regulars have slipped away into the forest in the past two weeks (Crested Tit, Willow Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Middle Spotted Woodpecker and Hawfinch for example) so it was a nice surprise this afternoon to see a cracking male Hawfinch perched in one of the apple trees we planted 6 years ago.

As always envy the seedeaters Richard esp.Hawfinch, to think they probably bred in the grdn. some 40 years ago! 😩👍

 

[CPP Gardener]

First I heard, then I saw 2 Cedar Waxwings in the backyard Ash tree. Their high-pitched wheezing whistles are so distinctive and exciting to hear, for a short time, but repeated for days can become really annoying.

 

[Euan Buchan]

Just watching a Robin sing in the garden.

 

[Richard Prior]

Just watching a Robin sing in the garden.

Robins doing well up here too Euan, at dawn I could hear three different males singing. Another very welcome song early afternoon, the sweet twittering of

60 Swallow
After a few minutes I managed to see it, the first one always gives me a boost, as if to reassure me that all's still well in the world (even though it isn't in reality unfortunately).
A Willow Tit pair visited the garden this morning so I switched on Merlin™️ to have a recording to play to people. While it was running it suggested a Firecrest was calling, not impossible here in late March (mean arrival date in our 9 springs here is 27th) but I couldn't see one (or hear one for that matter). I only use the application rarely and don't fully trust it as it's blotted its copybook a few times so I'm not going to count the regulus yet!

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

Thursday looked like a good Raptor day, though I probably missed the more productive hours, I did see Sparrowhawk and a few Buzzards. Merlin™️ was up to its old tricks and misidentified Herring Gull for Peregrine, which I’ve never heard from the garden.

Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel, all seen displaying over the garden this week.

Further to Merlin™️ mis-identifications I also got given Sand Martin (actually squabbling Goldfinches) and Yellowhammer (actually Robin) this week.

Saturday saw 3 Redwings in the tops of the tallest trees, they have been moving through all week. Also a distant Oystercatcher heard.

Then more disbelief! A large Finch with a broad pale panel in the underwing flew around, in a sort of exaggerated way, not quite Greenfinch-like but more than just flying from A-B, then dropped into trees across the road. I knew it was a Hawfinch, but tried to talk myself out of it, on the basis that I shouldn’t be seeing them so much. When I looked back in my notes, I’ve had them in 5 of the last 6 months.

Sunday (today) I had set my alarm for 06:30, which would have been 05:30 yesterday! Needless to say I rolled over and slept on.

I did get up and out reasonably early, which was just as well, as 2 #80 Ravens flew low East along the river, at 07:50, calling all the while. In fact I heard them before seeing them. Merlin heard them, as I could hear them on playback, despite their not producing a sonogram, nor offering a suggestion as to what they were.

3 Fieldfare passed overhead, a much scarcer bird than Redwing, and curiously rare in February. March sightings are clearly evidence of North-bound migrating birds.

I checked opposite the house for anything in the river, but didn’t notice the Kingfisher sat on the wall 3m from me. Needless to say it quickly flew off, though a second one quickly took its place. Its amazing to me that I’ve only seen Kingfisher twice this year – anywhere.

As I stood by the front door typing up a Bluesky message, (what do we call them?) I looked up as 2 noisy Geese flew towards me, one sounded a bit different, indeed it proved to be a Canada Goose and a Canada x Greylag Goose. I saw this bird a couple of weeks ago over the garden, but probably forgot to mention it. There are 2 that get in with the local Geese that are fed by well-wishers, but I’ve only the 2 sightings here.

Fortunately I was still looking up as going in the opposite direction, at tree height, was a #81 Mandarin. A drake, it was a much anticipated garden tick. I have seen one along the river about 1.5km away, so knew eventually I would get one. It is #142 for the garden list.

March is now the best cumulative month with 91 species recorded across the last 7 years. Needless to say I have never been on 81 for the year by the end of March, surely 💯 must be within reach, after missing it last year?

 

[Frank van Drogen]

We had about 90 minutes between sunrise and scheduled leaving time at our French place yesterday. I knew from previous year that the most likely time of the year I'd pick up a Willow Warbler would be either the last week of March, or the first week of April. Since we'll only be back for Easter, it was now or never.

When I came outside, I heard some Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, as well as distant barking dogs and some gunshots -- apparently there is still some hunting going on....? I also heard a thrilling song that was a first for the garden this year, #46 Skylark, though none in sight. Through the fog on the ponds I saw no less than 5 male Mallards, I was kinda hoping they were escapees from those distant hunters

Then I finally also heard the nice and familiar song of #47 Willow Warbler; that goal accomplished. When I came back to the house, my wife asked if I had heard the Cuckoo, of course not ... some goals remaining for next time then! To add insult to injury, while driving off, about a 100 meters from our place I saw a Barn Swallow flying in the direction of our property, I guess another one that I am likely to get in three weeks when we'll be back.


(We stopped at the RNN Val d'Allier for a bit on our way back to Zurich, I got some spectacular Black Kite pics, and some decent Little Ringed Plover and Stone Curlew ones. Awesome place to visit, less than fives minute away from the RCEA highway!!)

 

[halftwo]

Robins doing well up here too Euan, at dawn I could hear three different males singing. Another very welcome song early afternoon, the sweet twittering of

60 Swallow
After a few minutes I managed to see it, the first one always gives me a boost, as if to reassure me that all's still well in the world (even though it isn't in reality unfortunately).
A Willow Tit pair visited the garden this morning so I switched on Merlin™️ to have a recording to play to people. While it was running it suggested a Firecrest was calling, not impossible here in late March (mean arrival date in our 9 springs here is 27th) but I couldn't see one (or hear one for that matter). I only use the application rarely and don't fully trust it as it's blotted its copybook a few times so I'm not going to count the regulus yet!

Merlin app had Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Water Pipit for me on patch this morning, while failing to hear/identify several birds that were present. The other day an "Alpine Swift" was calling, apparently. Very hit & miss.

 

[hookem2010]

#45 Great crested flycatcher- a common enough spring migrant and breeder nearby, but only my 4th record in 2+ years for the yard
I'm thrilled to be at 45 species by the end of March. Spring migration in my current yard has not held a candle to my previous residence thus far, but hopefully with more designated time, and being on top of cleaning my water feature and hummingbird feeders, I have more success this season. I would love to top 76 species for the year, my previous high for any yearly yard list.

 

[Richard Prior]

End of the month and I’m on 60 for the year, exactly as last year in fact. However, having seen 57 different species this month and knowing I’m bound to see two of the three ‘March absentee’ species again during the year (Common Treecreeper and Peregrine) I’m seriously considering the hibernation option next winter, it works for our Marmot neighbours so why not me?

 

[Warixenjalka]

Last one for March was yesterdays:

#29. Black-headed Gull

March total was 27 - 2 more than 2024.

 

[Farnboro John]

Woke up this morning to the manic laughter of a Green Woodpecker somewhere outside. An annual garden listen if not always seen but quite late this year.

48 Green Woodpecker

John

 

[Steve Lister]

April 1st
54. Grey Heron - one over low
At last.

 

[Farnboro John]

An afternoon sit in the back garden eventually yielded a Peregrine hassling a couple of soaring Red Kites.

49 Peregrine

Annual here now but always nice to see.

John

 

[Warixenjalka]

Today total (so far) 20 species, also 4 new:

#30. Robin
#31. Whooper Swan - 2 migrating
#32. Chaffinch
#33. Common Buzzard - 2 migrating

 

[edenwatcher]

37. chiffchaff (heard only), 38. rook (overdue).
All slow going.

Rob

 

[hookem2010]

First migrant warbler of the spring
#46 Black-and-white warbler
One of the most common to pass through, but any spring migrant seen in the yard is a good bird.