Of Doves and Dunnocks

 Our January 2021 survey was covered in the previous post as it doubled for the RSPB Big Birdwatch count. The highlights were 150 gulls and 60 redwings in the north field. In our next survey on 22nd Feb, the redwings were still there but the number had dropped to 30. The gull count was down to only 10 black-headed gulls and 2 common gulls. Also of note were 24 starlings, 20 house sparrows, 11 robins and 5 dunnocks which is a record count for that species. Also recorded: 3 blackbirds, 3 blue tits, 6 carrion crows, 1 collared dove, 7 goldfinches, 4 great tits, 5 magpies, 5 ring-necked parakeets, 1 song thrush, 1 stock dove, 5 woodpigeons and 7 wrens. I think this is the first time we've seen collared dove and stock dove on the same survey. There's a photo of collared doves in our wonderful new Birds of Hilly Fields booklet (see below). The stock dove has a green patch on its neck and a buff breast.

Stock Dove (stock photo)

On the 22nd March survey, it was nice to see a chaffinch near the stone circle, a female great spotted woodpecker drumming on the Lane, a pair of long-tailed tits in the Shade Garden, a pair of very active nuthatches which looked as if scouting for a nest site again and a pied wagtail on the bowling green. Redwings were down to 5 and they've probably flown back to Scandinavia by now. Also recorded: 3 blackbirds, 1 blackcap, 3 blue tits, 4 crows, 1 collared dove (heard only), 2 dunnock, 2 goldfinches, 2 great tits, 4 house sparrows, 2 magpies, 2 ring-necked parakeets, 10 robins, 8 starlings, 1 stock dove (again!), 8 woodpigeons and 8 wrens. 

Dunnock on HF (doesn't always look this pretty)

Can't finish without mentioning our new booklet, Birds of Hilly Fields, produced by the Friends of Hilly Fields. It's been selling well, despite lockdown, and the feedback has been good, but we still have plenty of copies in stock. At present, it's available online (see link below) and can be purchased either by itself at £3.50 or with a tote cotton bag and postcards for £10. The link is https://supportmylocal.org/store/rachel-mooney/ We deliver to your door within a radius of 2 miles and all profits go to the Friends of Hilly Fields. 

'Birds of Hilly Fields'

'Birds of Hilly Fields' is a new 32 page booklet produced by the Friends of Hilly Fields. Based on the surveys we've conducted since 2007, it includes our bird list and 'pen portraits' of all 51 species recorded during that time, as well as selected photographs, habitat description and advice on how to  learn more about birds and how you can help them. Copies are only £3.50 and all profits go to the Friends of Hilly Fields. For the time being, please buy it from here...although you can also buy copies directly from the Friends if you're friendly with us. 

We managed to keep the bird surveys going during 2020 despite the pandemic. The list of species recorded shows winter and spring as the peak months for activity (finding food, nest-building, mating, feeding chicks, arrival of spring migrants), the low point between July- Sept ('the quiet quarter') and then the gradual increase in numbers as gulls and starlings return for the winter and the cycle begins again.

 Jan    Feb    March    Apr    May    June    July    Aug    Sept    Oct    Nov    Dec

24        24        16        21        16        17        13        11        12        17        22        22        

 March was a low count as we had only one observer and he didn't stick around for long (I can tell you)  as other people threatened his 2 metre space. 'Social distancing' was still a new concept. 

Nuthatches about to...you know.

The highlight of the year was a pair of nuthatches who bred successfully for the first time in the park as far as we know, using a nest box near the tennis courts. Blackcaps and chiffchaffs returned in the spring and this time chiffchaffs stayed for the summer. It was nice to see greenfinches again in October, a pair of pied wagtails in November and a coal tit in December. Our friend Conrad saw a peregrine high overhead in December as well, though we don't count flyovers. Anyway, here's to 2021, more birds in Hilly Fields and hopefully a happier year.