2018 ended with the patch total on
107. A pretty average year but that's the challenge of patch watching.
Back to this year and my walk out on the first began with a
Blue Tit (1) as I walked out of the house and proceeded as follows:-
Robin,Collared Dove,House Sparrow,Dunnock,Blackbird,Starling,Fieldfare,Song Thrush,Carrion Crow,Redwing,Stock Dove,Buzzard,Goldfinch,Wood Pidgeon,Magpie,Great Tit,Great Spotted Woodpecker,Wren,Woodcock,Cormorant,Grey Heron,Coal Tit,Nuthatch,Jay,Pied Wagtail,Mistle Thrush,Chaffinch,Black Headed Gull,Jackdaw,Coot,Moorhen,Siskin,Canada Goose,Bullfinch,Herring Gull,Treecreeeper,Marsh Tit,Goldcrest and Rook
(41).
The following day Great crested Grebe
(42),Mallard
(43),Long-tailed Tit
(44) and Water Rail
(45).
As I left for work on 02/01/19 a Tawny Owl
(46) called from trees in the school.
After work the following day Pheasant
(47) and Grey Wagtail
(48) were added.
Today a Kestrel
(49),Greylag Goose
(50) and Linnet
(51) made it onto the year list. It seems a bit of a struggle at the moment but checking my log books the list was only two ahead last year.
Marsh Tits on the feeders.
News of a SNOW BUNTING on private land near Horsmonden Church reached me on 31/12/18 but sadly I was in Wales attending a funeral and unfortunately it had disappeared on 01/01/19 after being there for three days.
Snow Bunting on private land
Thanks to Robert for the call and the lovely photos of a cracking bird.(Shame I missed it)!
It never ceases to amaze me where good birds can turn up and is probably what keeps me patch watching.