The two Robin youngsters are still spending most of their time in my garden and seem to be doing well despite the constant threat from the neighbours cats.
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| Juvenile Robin |
Great Tits and Blue Tits are thriving too and are almost ever present in numbers as the youngsters don't seem to want to leave the garden at all.
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| Blue Tit |
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| Great Tit |
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| Great Tit |
House Sparrows are now on their third brood and the Magpies continue to defend the territory too.
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| House Sparrow |
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| House Sparrow |
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| Magpie |
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| House Sparrow |
Sitting minding my own business this afternoon when news breaks of a Franklin's Gull at Crossness in south London. The first report was vague just saying one at Crossness this afternoon but it wasn't clear if it was still about or had flown off so I decided to wait for a second report which came through about an hour later. A quick call to Jim and we were off making our way through the Blackwall Tunnel. Traffic was bad and it took just over an hour to get there arriving to news that the bird had just flown off west. We decided to stick it out at the outfall believing that the bird would return to feed at some point and two hours later it did and showed really well for the small crowd gathered.
I managed a few shots but with dark clouds moving in we left around 7pm to head home satisfied with the year tick (222) and the London tick (240) I picked out a single Med Gull amongst the gathering of Black-headed Gulls but little else of note whilst we waited.
Great to see Mick S. there for a catch up, it's been a long time coming and with Mick's experience of seeing these birds abroad it was of course he who called the bird when it first returned. And good to see Nev there getting his 400th tick.
I had a spare hour yesterday before picking up my grandson from school so used it to walk out to Butts hide at Rainham where a remarkable count of eleven Wood Sandpipers had been reported earlier in the day. I counted ten during my brief visit. A Great White Egret was seen along with a couple of Marsh Harriers and several Bearded Tit although the general feel was one of a very quiet reserve in blustery cool conditions for mid July.
year list now 221
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| Wood Sandpipers at Rainham |
Every year I see Great spotted Woodpeckers in the garden, they breed close by and every year the young birds drop in for a feed. This year is no different with the first young bird appearing over the last couple of days to feast on the peanuts I provide.
I really do value the diversity in the garden and when it's difficult getting out birding at least I this fix at home. Yesterday alone in the pouring rain I had the following birds in the garden. (Highest counts actually in the garden at any one time together)
1 Greater spotted Woodpecker, 5 Greenfinch, 9 Goldfinch, a Dunnock, 3 Blackbirds, 3 Collared Dove, 6 Woodpigeon, 5 Feral Pigeon, 34 House Sparrow, 42 Starling, 3 Robin, 4 Magpie, 2 Jackdaw, 3 Parakeet. 6 Blue Tit and 5 Great Tits.
Add the fly overs .... 1 Cormorant, 3 Swift, Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls, a Kestrel and a Red Kite.
