The Big Five-O

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

The results of our monthly survey in June are as follows:

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