Walkern bird survey – Paul and Ann Collis, 16 Stevenage Road

Birds seen in or over our garden since 1975

SPECIESCOMMENTS
GREY HERONOccasional fly-over. Has landed by our pond.
CANADA GOOSEOccasional fly-over.
MALLARD DUCKOccasional fly-over Pair in garden pond. Not frequent.
RED KITERegular fly over. Common, but only in last 10 years.
COMMON BUZZARDFrequent fly-over, Often with Kites. Only in last 10 years.
SPARROWHAWKFrequent in garden. More common now than 20 years ago.
KESTRELOccasional fly-over. More common now than 20 years ago.
RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGEPair in garden, (only once).
PHEASANTVery infrequent in garden.
BLACK-HEADED GULL.Frequent fly-over.
HERRING GULLOccasional fly-over
FERAL PIGEONDaily, (in large numbers!)
WOOD PIGEONRegular.
COLLARED DOVEFrequent in garden.
TAWNEY OWLOccasionally heard at night.
SWIFTRegular summer fly-over. Recently in reasonable numbers, although vulnerable to loss of nesting sites.
KINGFISHERVery occasional visitor to garden, usually during severe winter weather.
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKEROccasional visitor to peanut feeders.
BARN SWALLOWRegular fly-over, but numbers have declined in recent years.
HOUSE MARTINRegular summer fly-over, in reasonable numbers.
PIED WAGTAILOccasional garden visitor.
GREY WAGTAILInfrequent garden visitor.
DUNNOCKVery common garden breeder.
ROBINVery common garden breeder.
SONG THRUSHWas very uncommon, but this winter it has become a fairly regular visitor.
MISTLE THRUSHVery occasional visitor.
REDWINGRegular winter visitor, feeding on Cotoneaster and Pyracantha berries
FIELDFARERegular winter visitor, although there seemed to be fewer this winter.
BLACKBIRDRegular garden breeder.
BLACKCAPUsed to be just a summer visitor, but in recent years some overwinter and visit seed feeders.
CHIFFCHAFFAs Blackcap, but not quite as frequently seen in garden.
GOLDCRESTRegular visitor to garden.
GREAT TITVery regular in garden. Sometimes breeds in nest box. Numbers stable.
BLUE TITVery regular in garden. Nearly always breeds in nest box. Numbers stable or increasing.
COAL TITOccasional visitor to garden. Has bred in nest box. More frequently seen than 20 years ago.
LONG-TAILED TITFrequent in garden, often passing through with other tits. Numbers appear stable.
MAGPIEVery common. A pair regularly in garden. Has bred in nearby hedge. Almost unknown 40 years ago.
JAYVery occasional in garden.
JACKDAWCommon in and around garden.
ROOKCommon over garden. Sometimes tries to feed on fat balls.
CARRION CROWSame as ROOK.
RAVENVery infrequent fly-over. Although becoming a little more common in recent years.
STARLINGCommon in garden, but not in the numbers of 3 or 4 years ago.
HOUSE SPARROWVery common. Breeds in garden hedge. Numbers stable or increasing.
CHAFFINCHOnce common, now very occasional. Trichomonosis has greatly reduced numbers.
BRAMBLINGNot seen in garden for many years. Probably because of milder winters.
GOLDFINCHVery common on seed feeders. Numbers greatly increased in recent years.
SISKINNot seen in garden for a few years. Probably due to milder winters.
GREENFINCHRegular in garden but not numbers of 10 years ago. Disease same as Chaffinch, but Greenfinches seem to be making a comeback.