Saturday 20 July 2019

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