Birds in Danger.

 My Bullfinch family  Photo: John M Elliott.

 

A pair of Bullfinches lived in my garden over the summer, regularly eating at my bird table, They disappeared for a few weeks, and have now returned, with one extra male. Checking the latest lists of Birds of Conservation Concern, I see that they are Amber listed, so great to feel that I am doing something valuable in feeding them. Somewhat alarming though in going through the Red and Amber lists is that half the birds that visit me are on either the Red or the Amber list.

Red listed are House Sparrow, Greenfinch and Starling, all constantly present, plus Herring Gull which has been recorded. Looking back 80 or more years I can’t help thinking of the farmyards of my youth which rang all day with the chirrups of 30 or 40 House Sparrows, then still regarded as a pest species.

Amber listed are Wood Pigeon, Rook, Wren, Dunnock, Bullfinch and Song Thrush, all once very common birds. Moor Hen and Grey Wagtail have occurred and on one never to be forgotten occasion a Nightjar sat on the ridge of my old cedar greenhouse for a whole day.

 

Tawnies return.

 A very welcome sound last night, after months of absence, were the calls of two Tawny Owls from somewhere just to the north of the church. The 'hoooooooh........ho, ho ho,ho, hoooooooh call' comming from both birds is commonly associated with male birds, but this is debatable, as is the idea that the sharp 'kewick' often heard as well comes from female birds. Young owls disperse at the latter end of the year looking for new territories to occupy, which is probably what these two were up to. For many years tawny owls lived in the Manor House coachhouse and could be heard nightly,but  conversion into a flat put a stop to that.Perhaps the Green Martinstown group could consider buying an owl nesting box and installing it on one of the farms to the north of the village.And how about a webcam to go with it!