#COTF20 my garden birdwatch (2)

Another birdwatch, up to 0730 takes the list from 7 to 21 species. All of the species below are regulars except for the early watch’s garden lifer Gadwall and the sighting of a single Greylag Goose (3rd ever record). Blackbird Gadwall Robin Dunnock Wren Woodpigeon Jackdaw Collared Dove Greenfinch Goldfinch Starling Greylag Goose Rook House…

#COTF20 my garden birdwatch (1)

OK, so east Northants isn’t quite Eilat as a migration hotspot, and I’m restricted to my house and garden, but I’m supporting the Champion of the Flyways (cancelled) event by promoting their cause through the day (and I’ve donated). The cause is the conservation of Steppe Eagles in Kazakhstan and Uzbekhistan – a good, no…

Lockdown solidarity #cotf20

Four years ago I was participating in the Champions of the Flyway Bird Race in Israel with the three gentlemen above. It was fun and we raised a lot of money for bird conservation in Greece. But Israel is not the country in the world with the best moral credentials (nor is the UK!) and…

Bird song (13) – Greenfinch

I agree with regular commenter here, murray marr, that Greenfinches seem more numerous and obvious songsters this year than usual. But, there isn’t a lot to the song of the Greenfinch really; But I’m glad to hear them and see them more often – I find I’ve missed them. Greenfinches rather live under the shadow…

Guest blog – Heal, a new rewilding charity

Jan Stannard, @janstannard, is a Founder Trustee of Heal, @healrewilding, a new rewilding charity in the UK. She has a business background which comes in handy for wildlife campaigning. She is involved nationally in swift conservation, is co-founder of Wild Maidenhead, leading their Wild About Gardens Awards scheme, and she organised England’s largest amphibian ladder…