We were actually in last Monday as planned, but the week vanished amidst a pile of boxes and as BT forgot to connect us all comms have been down - and will be until tomorrow.
Given this blog is primarily a bird and wildlife blog it's therefore important that I give an early view as what the new home might provide, given I'd previously finished life at Greyhound with a summary of total species seen. Despite being on a larger plot, instinctively I would have thought that over a period of time I would not manage the number of birds I recorded at Greyhound not least as the site is slightly less rural being in a village and there are no bits of water like the trout farm lakes or Petworth Park which may provide for the odd flyover duck.
It would be easier to describe with the aid of photos but until we get broadband back that's not possible so I will have to describe what the place is like.
The house and a couple of old barns sit just inside a boundary hedge which lie to the North and East (the hedge is 20ft high, 500ft long Lleylandii monstrosity - What were we thinking !!!!). The back gardens of local houses sit just behind the hedge. The house is surrounded by mainly lawn with the odd ornamental tree (and some are very odd) and the drive/parking goes right up to the house and is a large expanse of tarmac..
To the south there are 3 grass fields (about 1 acre each) and to the north is a narrow strip of Woodland with several big Oaks and Beech trees, some of which are within the boundary, which fall away into a steep wooded gully, which is beyond the boundary, that has a stream/trickle. Beyond these trees are more fields which are not really visible from the property and look mainly like horse paddocks but we haven't done any exploring yet so don't know exactly what's in this direction.
I did put up some bird feeders on Friday and the birds were a bit slow in turning up but familiar species eventually arrived with Blue Tit and Great Tit first on the scene, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and finally a Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Marsh Tit, Nuthatch and a couple of Pheasants. On Thursday evening a commotion by at least 5 Blackbirds at dusk had me staring into the largest Oak near the house to find a Tawny Owl perched fairly high - photo to follow.
Other birds noted have included Sparrowhawk, Swift, Swallow, House Martin, Goldfinch, Siskin, Green Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Starling, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Woodpigeon and Collared Dove. So 29 species so far. The boundary is not Deer or Rabbit proofed and a Roe Deer has been seen munching on flowers in the garden.
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