After more than ten
years surveying birds on Hilly Fields, we have recorded our
49th and 50th species: a Redstart and a Linnet. The Redstart (a summer migrant) was a one-off sighting on the Cliffview Road edge of the
park. The Linnet (a member of the Finch family) was seen in
the same area and then heard singing for 2-3 weeks afterwards from
one of the long Veda Road gardens that back onto the park. It may
have nested and bred there. A revised list is at the end of this post. Thanks
to Rachel Mooney and her neighbour Eddy on Cliffview Road for
reporting these sightings. The images below are from the website of Bob Jones, aka Bob the Birder.
 |
| Redstart |
 |
| Linnet |
6 Blackbirds, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Blue Tit, 7 Crows, 1 Collared Dove, 6 Goldfinches, 1 Great Tit, 1 Greenfinch, 1 House Sparrow, 2 Magpies, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 3 Robins, 2 Song Thrushes, 1 Swift, 4 Woodpigeons, 8 Wrens and 2 Starlings.
A total of 18 species which is good considering that the main breeding season has come to an end and bird life in the park is calming down. It was particularly nice to see and hear the Song Thrushes and to hear the Nuthatch. Nuthatches have been seen on at least one local bird feeder, so presumably have nested somewhere in the neighbourhood.
 |
| Song Thrush |
BIRDS
OF HILLY FIELDS: 2007-2019
Everyday
1. Blackbird
2.
Black-headed Gull
3.
Blue Tit
4.
Carrion Crow
5.
Common Gull
6.
Goldfinch
7.
Great Tit
8.
House Sparrow
9.
Magpie
10.
Ring-necked Parakeet
11.
Robin
12. Woodpigeon
13. Wren
Regular
14. Blackcap
15. Chaffinch
16. Chiffchaff
17. Common
Swift
18. Dunnock
19. Feral
Pigeon
20. Great
Spotted Woodpecker
21. Greenfinch
22. Jay
23. Long-tailed
Tit
24. Mistle
Thrush
25. Pied
Wagtail
26. Starling
Occasional
27. Coal
Tit
28. Collared
Dove
29. Fieldfare
30. Goldcrest
31. Green
Woodpecker
32. Herring
Gull
33. House
Martin
34. Kestrel
35. Lesser
Black-backed Gull
36. Nuthatch
37. Redwing
38. Song
Thrush
39. Sparrowhawk
40. Stock
Dove
41. Tawny
Owl (heard, not seen)
42. Willow
Warbler
Rare*
43. Bullfinch
44. Cuckoo
(heard not seen)
45. Linnet
46. Little
Owl
47. Mallard
48. Redstart
49. Short-eared
Owl
50. Spotted
Flycatcher
* = rare on Hilly Fields, not nationwide
