Paul Matson's Birding Blog: Tuesday 17th May

Wednesday, 18 May 2011

Tuesday 17th May - Spring catch-up

A sluggish couple of weeks where birding has remained in the vicinity of the house and activities other than work have been a Spring show, and an organised walk through the new A3 tunnel at Hindhead which is due to open in a couple of months. Despite the fact that walking through a tunnel for just over a mile holds little appeal (and guaranteed zero wildlife) this actually felt reasonably momentus and enjoyable given that it will never be possible again and especially as the girls' school is virtually next door.

So on the bird front it's worth a round up of who is breeding in and around the garden. For the last couple of weeks the dawn chorus and song in general has been at it's peak, which is essential to find out which birds are present, because otherwise being busy nesting and feeding, renders them largely invisible as they keep hidden where possible and otherwise dash between cover.

Last Saturday (7th), a Nightingale was heard at around 5am and Cuckoo on the 13th - but both so far single experiences not repeated this year. All of the below are either in the garden, hedge boundary, orchard or pond field.

Robin - two pairs
Dunnock - a breeding threesome !
Wren - One songster
Song Thrush - At least one pair.
Mistle Thrush - one pair
Blackbird - At least one pair
Great Tit - Feeding young already.
Blue Tit - nestbox on shed.
Blackcap - One pair
Garden Warbler - One singing edge of paddock
Chaffinch - One pair
Goldfinch - One pair
Greenfinch - One Pair
Magpie - One Pair
Pheasant - one male holding territory in the orchard - not sure where the Mrs is.
Woodpigeon - At least one pair - including a short-tailed bird that was also present last year.
Goldcrest (2 singing birds not sure where exactly their territory is)
Bullfinch - A pair in the garden calling constantly but not sure where of if they're nesting.
House Sparrow - a pair in the front of the house

and the best of all the pair of Swallows, although they actually nest in next doors garage they spend all their time perched on the Electric cable from the pylon in the garden. There seems to be a third Swallow around that's tolerated by the pair, so maybe one of last year's young birds, as other intruders are voraciously sent packing. I love everything about Swallows, their call, the elegant flight and the reminder of Summer times in the country .. and they've got attitude.