Corona Wildlife Diary: Day Thirty-two
Hey folks. Well, we've made it through another week - hope you've all stayed safe / sane. We're holding this week's Back Garden Bird Race tomorrow - Sunday 19 April (as the weather is better than today).
If you haven't played before here are the rules.
- Stand / sit in your garden or look out of your window between 10-11am.
- Note down all the species of birds you see / hear / smell from your garden or window. (British birds please, chickens and cockatoos don't count).
- Post your results in the comments section below this blog, on our Sussex Wildlife Trust nature Table Facebook page or submit them via the phone app.
Try and get your list in soon after 11am, then I can tot them up and I'll put out the results in the diary on Sunday afternoon.
Downloadable identification guides and our very own Bird Race phone app (where you can upload your list and listen to bird calls) can be found on the Back Garden Bird Race website (here)
You can read last week's race write-up here. Cliff won the race with a great score of 40 from his garden overlooking Pett Levels (so he had Marsh Harrier on his list). We also had some Back Garden Birdwatchers joining us from Italy, Thailand and New Zealand (which explains the Serin, Chinese Pond Heron and Morepork owl on their lists).
This week I've challenged Cliff, Barry and Dave to undertake the first half of this week's bird race blindfolded - that should make it more interesting. If you want to join in the challenge blindfold yourself until 10:30 so you'll just be using your ears for the first half. Let me know if you're blindfolded.
The main point of the race is to get people taking part in a group activity (remember those?) and enjoying their local birds. Hopefully you'll learn a bit about them too. Last week it was really great to see so many people taking part - and many people beating their previous scores. Was this because there were more birds around? .Or perhaps some people's bird identification skills are improving?
I've been asked by a few people to help them tell the difference between Swallows, Swifts and House Martins.
These summer visitors are familiar birds in the sunny skies of Sussex from late April until the autumn. They're all variations on a similar theme; long-winged, forked tailed birds...but they're usually high up in the sky. So here's a quick guide (and a quiz) to help you tell them apart.
Swift
These incredible birds tend to arrive in Sussex at the very end of April / very beginning of May so you may not see them just yet. Yesterday I read a report from Tarifa in Spain (the most southerly point in Continental Europe looking out across the Strait of Gibraltar to Africa)
"This morning, there is a wonderful passage of swifts. Thousands of birds are passing over at the moment".
So they're on their way!
The Common Swift is basically a pair of wings and a mouth. Their wings are narrow, long and sickled shaped and their whole bodies are almost entirely dark except for a pale throat. They spend almost all of their life up there in the sky and just come down to nest in buildings (so you wont see them perching on wires).
(Common Swift. Photo by Kentish Plumber)
If you have Common Swifts in your village, town or city you'll know them from the wonderful racket they make on summer evenings when they get into flocks and scream through the streets.
You can listen to them screaming here.
Swallow
The swallow (or Barn Swallow to give it its full name) doesn't have the long thin wings of the swift - but it does have a very long tail which is deeply forked and has long, thin streamers. The Barn Swallow is white underneath but with a dark head and throat. You'll often see these birds perched on wires (as well as trees and reeds).
(Barn Swallow. Photo by Takashi Hososhima)
When their forked tails spread out the streamers aren't always so obvious but you can see white panels in their tail feather.
Barn Swallow from above. Photo by Katsura Miyamoto
You can listen to them chattering here.
House Martin
The House Martin is a bit dumpier than a swallow, its tail is still forked but is a bit stubby and lacks any streamers. The are very white underneath and, unlike the swallow, have a white throat.
(House Martin. Photo by Pete Beard)
If you see them from above they have a white rump that really contrasts with their dark upperparts.
(House Martin. Photo by Tom Lee)
You can hear their bubbly twittering here
Sand Martin
Here's a bonus one for you. Sand Martins nest in colonies in sandpits at around 20 sites in Sussex so you wont see them too often in towns and cities although they'll certainly be migrating through overhead. These martins are brown compared to the dark blue/black House Martin and they lack the white rump. You can identify them from the distinctive brown breast band which separates their white throat from their white belly.
(Sand Martin. Photo by Animal Diversity Web)
If you live next to a colony you'd hear them buzzing like this
There you go. You're an expert now. Here's a quick quiz to test your skills ahead of tomorrow's race.
Identify the birds in these photos. Answers at the bottom.
Mystery Bird One
(Photo by Bramblejungle)
Mystery Bird Two
(Photo by Stefan Berndtsson)
Mystery Bird Three
(Photo by mark Kilner)
Mystery Birds Four
Mystery Bird Five
(Photo by Stefan Berndtsson)
Mystery Bird Six
(Photo by Pete Beard)
Scroll down for answers
Keep going
Hahaha. Sorry. Couldn't resist.
Answers
Mystery Bird One Barn Swallow. Long tail streamers, pale underneath but with a dark head and throat. Classic swallow.
Mystery Bird Two Sand Martin: Small, brownish but the key I.D. feature is that band across the chest separating throat and belly.
Mystery Bird Three Common Swift: Just look at those thin, long wings. And it's black all over (you can probably make out a bit of paleness 'round the throat but you won't when it's 800 metres above you.)
Mystery Birds Four Barn Swallows: White below with dark throat and head. As swallows fly their forked tails sometimes spread out and you can see white panels in their tail feathers.
Mystery Bird Five House Martin: Dark wings contrast with white underparts including a white throat. Stubby forked tail. This individual does seem to have a slight Sand Martin like smudge across its chest doesn't it? But that may just be a shadow. Or perhaps it needs a shave.
Mystery Bird Six. House Martin. Clean white underneath including white throat and a stubby forked tail
How did you do? Hopefully you may see some swallows and martins tomorrow for some bonus points - so keep watching the skies.
Comments
Maybe The-Giant-Spider-Invasion-rolling can be the new rick-rolling, if only someone would come up with a catchier name for it.
18 Apr 2020 09:25:00
I nearly dropped my iPad when that spider turned up again! Eeeek! It’s a great quiz but I need to read it all again!
18 Apr 2020 11:29:00
In the film “Never Let Me Go” you can hear Swifts in a winter scene.
18 Apr 2020 13:22:00
Haha, love the spider (and the swallows, swifts and martins, of course) !
18 Apr 2020 20:13:00
Robin
Blue tits x 2
Seagulls overhead
19 Apr 2020 10:03:00
Sunny, southfacing garden in Amberley:
Legion of sparrows
Scruffy jackdaw (piebald and a bit wonky)
Starlings
Woodpigeon
Collared dove
Pied wagtail
Great tits
Dunnocks
Robin
Goldfinches
Woodpecker (heard drumming)
Bluetit
Wren (deafening song)
Usual suspects.
19 Apr 2020 10:04:00
Birds spotted this morning (busy but several regulars must be having lie in)
Starlings
Blackbirds
Wood pigeon
Crow
Great Tit
Sparrow
Robin
Collared Dove
Chaffinch
19 Apr 2020 10:05:00
I managed 21 from my Plumpton garden: Wren, Chaffinch, Blue tit, Robin, Green Woodpecker, Jackdaw, Magpie, Pheasant, Blackbird, Common Gull, Canada Goose, Collared Dove, Coat tit, Goldfinch, Wood Pigeon, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Great tit, Nuthatch, Swallow, Dunnock (plus Red Admiral & Speckled Wood butterflies!)
19 Apr 2020 10:05:00
19 from Martin in Cuckfield unless I can count an extra point for crane at the building site in HH.
Usual cast of characters: wood pigeon, house sparrow, blackbird, herring gull, collared dove, feral pigeon, jackdaw, carrion crow, blue tit, dunnock, goldfinch, greenfinch, Robin, great tit, magpie, coal tit, song thrush, nuthatch, wren.
19 Apr 2020 10:06:00
Greetings from Crawley, Sussex. 13 species seen.
1. Blackbird
2. Common Gull
3. Crow
4. Ferrel Pigeon
5. House Sparrow
6. Blue-tit
7. Starling
8. Wood Pigeon
9. Canada Goose
10. Buzzard
11. Swift
12. Magpie
13. Great-tit
Slightly down on last week, but saw the first Swift of the year.
19 Apr 2020 10:08:00
My 2nd gardenwatch on Fairlight Cliffs-resolutely facing inland-produced the same number of species as last week-23: House Sparrow, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Wren, Linnet, Blackbird, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Chiffchaff, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Robin, Magpie, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Swallow, Feral Pigeon, Collared Dove, Swift, Blackcap, Yellowhammer, GS Woodpecker.
An enjoyable hour, apart from the cold-and my first Swift of 2020 !
19 Apr 2020 10:09:00
okay, so the birds from my garden… are… as follows…
sparrow, skylark, buzzard, blackbird, jackdaw, goldfinch, blue tit, robin, magpie, carrion crow, meadow pippit (heard not seen), dunnock, collared dove, great tit, (heard) wood pidgeon, rook, greenfinch (heard), thrush, wren, herring gull, starling, coal tit, and kestrel. Only 23 I make that.
19 Apr 2020 10:10:00
15 birds seen:
1. Goldfinch
2. Herring gull
3. Jackdaw
4. Magpie
5. Chiffchaff
6. Dunnock
7. Blue tit
8. Woodpigeon
9. Starling
10. House sparrow
11. Great tit
12. Robin
13. Collared dove
14. Songthrush
15. Carrion crow
Plus Red Admiral, Speckled wood and damselfly
19 Apr 2020 10:11:00
Back garden bird race 19.04.20
Blackbird (male), dunnock, wood pigeon, collard dove, robin, jackdaw, magpie, black-headed gull, starling, gold finch, coal tit and maybe a garden warbler
19 Apr 2020 10:14:00
Back garden Bird Race: Great tit, Blue Tit, Dunnock, Great Spotted Woodpecker (F), Jackdaw, Magpie, Robin, Woodpigeon, Buzzard. From back window in Haywards Heath.
19 Apr 2020 10:15:00
Birds seen in our garden in Seaford, 19-04-2020 10-11 AM: Carrion crow, woodpigeon, herring gull, common gull, sparrow, magpie, starling, robin, feral pigeon, wren, blackbird. Looking forward to seeing the results!
19 Apr 2020 10:16:00
Morning Michael,
Much quieter than last week.
Jackdaw, Crow, Robin, Great Tit, Buzzard, Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Wood Pigeon, Rook, Herring Gull, Starling, Kestrel, House Sparrow, Magpie, & heard only Chaffinch, Dunnock, Wren = 18sp. 5 down from last week.
Literally less than a minute after 11:00h 3 Swallows flew over singing. C’est la vie!
19 Apr 2020 10:17:00
Only 8 birds to list today: Crow; Pidgeon; Blackbird; Buzzard; Songthrush; Magpie; Robin and Greenfinch. Trouble is….the trees are now producing their leaves so I can hear a lot, but not see a lot! Keep the roof spider in the picture!
19 Apr 2020 10:18:15
Hi Michael,
Here in Barcombe, a total of 25 species this morning: 19 seen and 6 others heard. No extra records through smell, touch or taste.
In order recorded: Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Robin, Collared Dove, Blackbird, Great Tit, Pheasant, Starling, Song Thrush, Greenfinch, Buzzard (5), Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Rook, Wren, Goldfinch, Crow, Canada Goose, Blue Tit, Chiffchaff, Green Woodpecker, Swallow, Kestrel and Linnet.
Where is a Dunnock when you most urgently need one? And they’re actually nesting in our Pyracantha and were parading around earlier as were six other species not seen in the hour.
19 Apr 2020 10:18:55
A couple of bonus birds today, but a few normal ones that thought the race was yesterday and didn’t turn up today!!
17 in total.
Kestrel, Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Starling, Herring Gull, Magpie,
Carrion Crow, Buzzard, Jackdaw, Great Tit, Blackbird, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Blackcap, Robin.
19 Apr 2020 10:19:05
17 species. Sparrowhawk & Heron were no-shows from last week but replaced by Starling, Buzzard & Blackcap this week.
19 Apr 2020 10:19:15
seen today 10.00-11.00
robin
starling
jackdaw
blue tit
house sparrow
crow
wood pigeons
common gull
great tit
mallard
mute swan
buzzard (3)
pied wagtail
dunnock
greenfinch
housemartin
white dove
long tailed tit
lapwing
heard but not seen
green woodpecker
pheasant
coot
wren
frequent visitors to the bird feeding station not seen today include goldfinch, chaffinch and occasional great spotted woodpecker
19 Apr 2020 10:19:38
Yellowhammer
Dunnock
Blackbird
House Sparrow
Wood pigeon
Carrion Crow
Robin
Magpie
Goldfinch
19 Apr 2020 10:20:02
Encouraged to join in by brother-in-law Eddy, a regular follower of yours. Great column – except the giant spider!
We are in SW Wales (SA38) – count of 19
Sidkin
Chaffinch
Collared dove
Sparrow
nuthatch
Great Spotted woodpecker
goldfinch
blackbird
gull (over the hills)
great tit
blue tit
woodpigeon
starling
robin
magpie
wren
bullfinch (hurray! )
coal tit
crow
(Usually see raven, jay and kite but not today)
19 Apr 2020 10:20:42
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Dunnock
Robin
Great Tit
Blue tit
Wood Pidgeon
Feral Pidgeon
Herring Gull
Magpie
Jackdaw
Rook
Starling
Blackbird
Carrion Crow
Wren
House Sparrow
17 Birds in total from Offington , Worthing
19 Apr 2020 10:23:02
From Walberton and right on cue my first swallow of the year. The other highlights were a buzzard and a kestrel, but for the second week running no chaffinches.
Greenfinch
House sparrow
Crow
Robin
Blackbird
Starling
Blue tit
Goldfinch
Jackdaw
Woodpigeon
Magpie
Herring gull
Great spotted woodpecker (heard)
Dunnock
Rook
Buzzard
Swallow
wren (heard)
great tit (heard)
kestrel
collared dove
19 Apr 2020 10:23:39
I left results on the app yesterday but today’s count was better, 19.
Blackbird, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Chiff Chaff, Cuckoo (excellent timing to hear first one of the year), Carrion Crow, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Jackdaw, Magpie, Nuthatch, Robin, Rook, Song Thrush, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Thanks Michael for your daily blog and this weekend excitement!
19 Apr 2020 10:24:00
Birds this morning between 10 and 11am in West Chiltington
Thrush, blackbird. Wood pigeon, house sparrow, robin, starling, carrion crow, wren
19 Apr 2020 10:24:48
Nine species seen/heard from my Bexhill town centre balcony: feral pigeon, herring gull, common gull, sparrow, coal tit, blackbird, robin, greenfinch, and a carrion crow in a nest opposite my window!
19 Apr 2020 10:28:33
25 today. 3 Swallows,ChiffChaff, Chaffinch,Greenfinch,Goldfinch,Great Tit, Blue Tit,Sparrow,Dunnock,Robin, Blackbird,Songthrush, Goldcrest,Wren,Woodpigeon,Feral Pigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, Rook,Jackdaw,Starling, Skylark, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk Herring Gull,
19 Apr 2020 10:28:40
Lovely sunny morning in Mannings Heath. Most exciting was to hear a blackcap, but unfortunately couldn’t see it. Full list (17):
blue tit, great tit, robin, nuthatch, wood pigeon, great spotted woodpecker, blackcap (heard), pheasant (heard), carrion crow, blackbird, song thrush (heard), magpie, jay, dunnock, buzzard, jackdaw, goldfinch
19 Apr 2020 10:29:07
16 Species – East Dean – TV562984
Herring Gull – House Sparrow – Wren – Robin – Wood Pigeon – Chaffinch – Magpie – Jackdaw – Carrion Crow – Great Tit – Blackbird – Dunnock – Collared Dove – Green Woodpecker – Raven – Buzzard.
No blindfolds were used!
19 Apr 2020 10:29:23
Bird race Sunday 19th April.
Wood pigeon
Dunnock
Robin
Great tit
Blue tit
Crow
Buzzard
Nuthatch
Blackbird
Magpie
Coal tit
Chaffinch
Thrush
19 Apr 2020 10:30:09
Swallow
Herring gulls
Starlings
Goldfinches
House sparrows
Robin
Crow
Great tit
Magpie
Crows
Pigeons
Plus Holly Blue
19 Apr 2020 10:30:50
Seen at wepham nr arundel….. goldfinch mute swan,wood pidgeon,wren ,carion crow, jackdaw,blackbird,pheasantt,house sparrow,song thrush,collard dove,blackheaded gull ,dunnock, blue tit swallow,housemartin chaffinch, great tit mallard rook robin chiffchaff blackcap greenfinch moorhen herring gull,starling,,buzzard raven, canada geese red kite kestral coot lapwing heron
19 Apr 2020 10:31:12
Sunday 19th April 2020 10:00-1100am Hastings garden quite near to a small wooded area and a 20 minutes walk from the sea. Sunny day.
Sparrows
Feral pigeons
Blue tits
Great tits
Blackbirds
Robin
Crow
Herring gulls
Magpies
Jays
Dunnock.
Also grey squirrels. At other times we have long-tailed tits, greater spotted woodpeckers, wood pigeons, collared doves, black caps, wren and a pair of sparrowhawks have turned up a few times! They are lovely to see, but preferably not too often! We also get regular visits from foxes, badgers and bats and occasional mice, rats and owls.
19 Apr 2020 10:31:36
19th Apr 2020
Hi Michael, only 15
Blue tit
Chaffinch
Wren- many
Carrion Crow
Blackbird
Goldfinch- masses!
Great Spotted Woodpecker- heard
Woodpigeon
Dunnock
Buzzard
Jay-heard
Jackdaw
Pheasant-heard
Rook
Song Thrush
Must do better next time!
19 Apr 2020 10:32:05
Burgess Hill,
Woodpigeon, blue tit, sparrow, starling, feral pigeon, herring gull, blackbird,
19 Apr 2020 10:38:31
22 again from Ovingdean. I discounted the call of a ‘Tawny Owl’ helpfully played by my partner through the bedroom window…
Herring gull, Jackdaw, Wren, Magpie, Goldfinch, Buzzards (lots), Skylark, House Sparrow, Wood pigeon, Starling, Rook, Collared Dove, Robin, Carrion Crow, Pheasant, Great tit, Greenfinch, Blackbird, Dunnock, Green woodpecker, Blue tit.19 Apr 2020 10:38:34
Rural garden near Crowborough. Slightly fewer species this week (17). Regular fly past by Magpie probably wasn’t helpful!
Robin, Pheasant, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wren, Jackdaw, Wood Pigeon, Marsh Tit, Chaffinch, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Dunnock, Crow, Goldfinch, Buzzard and the Magpie.
Thank you – it’s a v enjoyable hour.
19 Apr 2020 10:38:58
Garden Bird Race 19 Apr 2020
Thrush
Blackbird
House sparrow
Starling
Dunnock
Robin
Wren
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Wood Pigeon
Common Crow
Jackdaw
Magpie
Jay
Gold Crest
Grey Heron
Pheasant
Willow Warbler
Bolney RH17 5PR
19 Apr 2020 10:40:39
Bird Race Sunday 19-04-20
Total 17 species (depending on if you allow 2*?)
Woodpigeon
Feral Pigeon*
White Dove*
Blue Tit
Crow
Wren
Nuthatch
Herring Gull
Blackbird
Magpie
Blackcap
Coal Tit
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great Tit
Dunnock
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Thanks to all the team for this fun event; lovely sunny spring morning.
19 Apr 2020 10:47:33
Hi Michael, Exact same list as last Saturday morning too many – rooks, gulls and jackdaws keeping the smaller birds away from these gardens in Lewes. I posted the list on the app but here it is again. Herring Gull, Buzzard, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Rook, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Blackbird, Jackdaw, House Sparrow (10).
Although I did manage follow the Buzzard down Malling Down and to it’s nest in the tree tops on the edge of the Coombe. Close enough to us to see two Buzzards going in and out of the nest – I need better binoculars now to keep an eye on the comings and goings in the canopy above us! Been a good morning!
19 Apr 2020 10:48:22
Birds recorded 10/11 in Walberton
Pigeon
Blackbird
Crow
Blue tit
Starling
Magpie
Great tit
Dunnock
House sparrow
Heard not seen
Robin
19 Apr 2020 11:22:48
Here’s my list from North Salts, Rye, 21 species:
Buzzard, Oystercatcher, Mediterranean Gull
Herring Gull, Lesser Black-back, Black-headed Gull
Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, House Martin, Robin, Blackbird
Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit
Carrion Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Magpie
House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Chaffinch
19 Apr 2020 11:33:02
East-facing garden overlooking clifftop at E end of Peacehaven – Friars Bay. Sunny, no cloud, warm with gently cold NE breeze. Seed and mealworms in feeders and wate in birdbaths. Washing on line.
10.25 – 11.15
House sparrow
Herring gull
Blackbird (hen seen cock heard)
Jackdaw
Carrion crow
Whitethoat
Starling
Dunnock
Woodpigeon
Kestrel
Did not see Magpie which is unusual..
Also saw:
White butterfly
Mayfly
Numerous dogs and people :-)
PS Tried posting this on facebook but as ever couldn’t get it to do what I wanted…
19 Apr 2020 11:36:34
From sunny Selmeston:
Swallow (first one!), Goldfinch, wood pigeon, song thrush, house sparrow, wren, Robin, Jackdaw, greenfinch, blue tit, goldcrest, blackbird, kestrel, chaffinch, great spotted woodpecker, pheasant, long tailed tit (nest building!), Coal tit, starling, great tit, green woodpecker, dunnock, crow, buzzard, herring gull, took. Can we count a chicken too!?
19 Apr 2020 12:02:00
Sunday 19th April – Worthing, West Sussex
Spotted the following this morning
Robin, blue tits, great tits, wood pigeons, herring gulls, rook, magpie and house sparrows
19 Apr 2020 12:02:56
Sunday 19th April – Littlehampton West Sussex:
Great Tits
Wood Pigeon
Herring Gulls
Robin
Magpie
Crow
20 Apr 2020 11:26:00
April 26 : A very quiet hour on Fairlight Cliffs, with just 18 species [looking inland] : Robin, Blackbird, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Blue Tit, Dunnock, Whitethroat, Linnet, Meadow Pipit, Wren, Swallow, Collared Dove, Stonechat, Jackdaw
26 Apr 2020 10:08:00