Ode To A Mighty Garden List

I'm going to miss the old house, and in particular the list of birds I've seen from it.

Situated directly under a migration flyway, the balcony of this place allowed me to spend spring and autumn days, comfortably lounging as the birds would come to me. 

There's many happy memories of weekends spent watching raptors, whilst Kuura snoozed off the midday heat. This was were we raised and trained her. For that reason alone I'll miss the place.

Kuura - post morning run. Dead Puppy.

 

Oh to sleep as comfortably as a puppy.

Grown ups sit in chairs.

With a list of over 140 species, including some excellent rarities, there was worse ways to spend time than sitting back with a cold beer and some good food, scope set up ready to go as birds came over the horizon.

White-Tailed Eagle - daily over the garden

Honey Buzzard - waves of these pass over in May and August/September. Stunners.

Nutcracker - Seen on migration in Autumn

It wasn't all viz-mig though. Both summer and winter months would produce their specialities.

In summer, the nighttime sounds of Corncrake, Blyth's Reed and Marsh Warbler and Thrush Nightengale were all added in turn.

Whilst winter produced goodies such as Hawfinch, Hawk Owl and Great Grey Shrike.

Waxwings - Typical Winter fare.

Hawfinches - Typical in Winter and Spring

Brambling - Spring, Autumn and Winter

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker breeds in the neighborhood

Breakfast was often enjoyed under the terrifying gaze of Goshawks

However I cannot deny that those migration periods in spring and autumn were a joy.

There's nothing quite like those waves of Honey Buzzards going over your garden, or the odd rare White Stork, or indeed flocks of them.

Megas came too. Principal among my favorites being Long Legged Buzzard and Short Toed Eagle, with good rarities/scarcities including Red Breasted Geese, Rustic Bunting, and both Montagu's and Pallid Harriers.

Pallid Harrier 

The omissions stick out prominently too. Easy birds that should have made an appearance on the list include Black Kite and Greater Spotted Eagle, both of which HAVE moved along the flyway, on multiple occasions... I just never managed them.

And we shall not discuss missed megas such as Booted Eagle and Black Stork, both occurring on weekends I was away from home.
The dangers of viz-miz locations.

Now we have a new garden to build a list for. The feeders are set up and the list is already growing. So it begins.