Local patch

Magpie, Barton Clough

It was a bit less frenetic, but still busy, in the garden today. First thing was a bit quieter as Network Rail workers were finishing their night work and that disturbed the spadgers from their ivy stronghold and put the starlings off flying in for a while. It was nice to see the long-tailed tits bounce in in a family group, I've only been seeing them in ones or two lately.

• Black-headed Gull 2 overhead
• Blackbird 1
• Blue Tit 4
• Collared Dove 2
• Dunnock 2
• Feral Pigeon 2
• Great Tit 2
• House Sparrow 20
• Jackdaw 1
• Long-tailed Tit 6
• Magpie 2
• Robin 1
• Starling 17
• Woodpigeon 2

I had an afternoon walk round the local patch, an hour later than usual of late to see how much difference that makes to what's about. The answer seems to be quite a lot: it was very quiet, even with me armed with a big back of bird food to try and make up for not bringing any at all last time.

• Black-headed Gull 2 overhead
• Blackbird 7
• Blue Tit 4
• Carrion Crow 4
• Common Gull 7
• Dunnock 2
• Feral Pigeon 2 overhead
• Goldfinch 5
• Great Tit 4
• Greenfinch 1
• House Sparrow 5
• Lesser Black-backed Gull 3 overhead
• Magpie 18
• Redwing 1
• Robin 2
• Starling 2
• Woodpigeon 15
• Wren 1