Last year I kept an eye open for Red Kites – and saw them very often through the year – over 200 days in 2018.
I enjoyed keeping that eye open and wondered what to do this year. So, I’ve decided that I will keep a monthly list of species I see from my home or garden and report back each month.
According to my Birdtrack records I’ve recorded (seen or heard) 56 species since 2007, although I can immediately see that there are a few missing species. For example, I’ve seen hundreds of Herring Gulls fly over, over the years, but it’s never made it onto the list.
| Greylag Goose |
| Grey Heron |
| Red Kite |
| Goshawk |
| Sparrowhawk |
| Buzzard |
| Golden Plover |
| Common Tern |
| Black-headed Gull |
| Common Gull |
| Lesser Black-backed Gull |
| Stock Dove |
| Woodpigeon |
| Collared Dove |
| Cuckoo |
| Tawny Owl |
| Swift |
| Green Woodpecker |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker |
| Kestrel |
| Merlin |
| Hobby |
| Peregrine |
| Magpie |
| Jackdaw |
| Rook |
| Carrion Crow |
| Raven |
| Blue Tit |
| Great Tit |
| Coal Tit |
| Skylark |
| Sand Martin |
| Swallow |
| House Martin |
| Long-tailed Tit |
| Chiffchaff |
| Blackcap |
| Wren |
| Starling |
| Blackbird |
| Fieldfare |
| Song Thrush |
| Redwing |
| Mistle Thrush |
| Robin |
| Dunnock |
| House Sparrow |
| Grey Wagtail |
| Pied Wagtail |
| Brambling |
| Chaffinch |
| Bullfinch |
| Greenfinch |
| Goldfinch |
| Siskin |
| Reed Bunting |
My friendly challenge to you, just for fun, is to predict how many species will be on my garden list by the end of 31 December 2019. Just leave a comment here and, if you like, you can tell me which species I might add to the list. To be completely clear – tell me how many species I will have seen between 2007 and the end of 2019 from my house and garden (not how many I will see in 2019 – although since this is just for fun then you can tell me anything you like!).
The first monthly update will be on or shortly after 31 January.
38
62. You have done very well for raptors so maybe you’ll be lucky enough to see an osprey migrating over.
Owen – I’d like that very much. But there must be some ducks available too.
65
60 including Herring Gull, Pink-footed Goose, Little Egret.
60
A Goldcrest; a Lesser Redpoll; a Cormorant; another duck and another calling night migrant should shift your total of 57 to 62 by year’s end.
Not being a gambling man, I would say 57 + any new migrant sightings for birds moving north due to climate change. Anyway, happy birding!
That’s an interesting back yard, was the privy once behind the door ?
Yes, little egret and cormorant were on my list before I read other comments. There must be a few others like that, so I’m in the same place as Murray Marr. But then, given the challenge, I think your observations might not continue in a straight line. Thus 64.
Surprised lapwing and Canada goose aren’t already on your list Mark…..and given that you will undoubtedly be making even more of an effort this year I’ll say 64: so lapwing, Canada goose, herring gull, goldcrest, cormorant, pink footed goose, lesser redpoll and jay OR little egret.