Liskeard: Now made it to a total of 20 with the additions of a Great Tit and Wren. It’s slow going! (Deena Sharp)

Constantine: New birds for the year have been rolling in over the past three weeks since I last wrote. The local farmer ploughing has produced fifteen plus Buzzards and for the list Common and Lesser black backed Gulls.

Also added Mallard, Linnet, House Sparrow, Collared Dove, Stock Dove and Chiffchaff.

Total now 53.

The female Raven has been on the nest in the Monterey pine for three weeks now and I expect signs of young any day. Last year they failed. I hope with another year’s experience they will succeed this time. (Tim Pinfield)

Feock: Lucky enough to be taking the washing in when a Red Kite flew over! Please add Chiffchaff to my total, making 27. (Bec Penny)

Feock: Good to hear Chiffchaff in the garden this morning. Please add to my list to make 26. (Bec Penny)

Summercourt: Sparrowhawk for 21. It was doing its thing with a dunnock – such mixed feelings about these beautiful killers. (Nick Wilkins)

St Germans: I’ve only been able to add Great Spotted Woodpecker and Song Thrush in the last month, to get to 52. (Andy Blonden)

Garden Listing 12th March 2022

Summercourt: A new entry from a rural mature garden enclosed by farmland. List currently stands at 20: Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Jackdaw, Rook, Pied Wagtail, Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Collared Dove, Wren, Starling, Robin, Blackbird, Wood Pigeon. (N Wilkins)

Garden Listing 9th March 2022

Helston: I took part last year and would like to participate again. My garden is in the centre of Helston, is of average size and overlooks a play park and school surrounded by tall trees.
Seen so far this year:
Herring Gull, Feral Pigeon, Wood Pigeon, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Robin, Rook, Jackdaw, Grey Wagtail, Blackcap and Starling. (Steve Ford)

Trethurgy: Please add to my list Mallard, Chiffchaff, Black-headed Gull and a very colourful Brambling. Brings the total up to 45. (Geoff White)

Garden Listing 7th March 2022

Grampound Road: Here are my new recent sightings to add: 37. Grey Wagtail & 38. Canada Goose. (Rob Nicholls)

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A busy week, with plenty of decent birds seen. Firecrest, Brambling, Treecreeper, Shag and Common Gull amongst the highlights. It won’t too long now until the first spring migrant gets onto a Cornish garden list!

Feock: Please can you add pheasant to my garden list bringing my total to 27. Many thanks. (Rosalind Smith)

Crowlas: Canada Goose this morning takes my list to 32. (Gary Healey)

Garden Listing 3rd March 2022

Constantine: Here is a list of birds seen so far. I have added a couple since I last wrote so now have a total of 45.

Little Egret, Grey Heron, Canada Goose, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Pheasant, Golden Plover, Woodcock, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Raven, Starling, Chaffinch, Brambling, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Bullfinch.

Female Brambling is still here. Ravens have fortified last year’s nest and look like breeding and there was a Firecrest singing in the garden last week. Lots of common regular sightings in the garden simply not seen yet and could on the list at any time eg Linnet, Skylark, Tawny Owl, Collared Dove, Kestrel, Cormorant etc. (Tim Pinfield)

Mabe Burnthouse, nr Falmouth: Small garden (untidy but lots of cats in vicinity) on edge of village/housing estate.

January: Herring Gull, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Collared Dove, Blue Tit, Cormorant over, Pied Wagtail, Woodpigeon, Song Thrush 1 singing in the distance on 3rd Jan, Robin, Black-headed Gull, Greenfinch 1 in the back hedge. Almost a rarity here. Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Wren, Starling, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Buzzard, Coal Tit, Feral Pigeon, Shag, Goldcrest.

The Feral Pigeon and Shag were scoped out of the new rooflight windows on the Penryn River 2.5 – 3 miles away, the pigeons in flight and a couple of Shags – one on a buoy and another doing its distinctive jump and dive.

25 for the month, although the total list now up to 31.

13th Jan – first Red Admiral butterfly of the year too in next door’s back garden in the sunshine. 17th Jan – Small Tortoiseshell butterfly in front garden. (Dan Chaney)

Garden Listing 2nd March 2022

Callestick: Very quiet – only additions were Lesser Black-backed Gull and Common Gull taking me to 42. Firecrest today was nice but not first for the year. (Tony Wilson)

Liskeard: As I’m back working in the office, garden bird observation is now restricted to weekends, however a visiting Greenfinch has increased my running total now to 18. (Deena Sharp)

Garden Listing 1st March 2022

Lanlivery: Update for February, just four species added: Goldcrest, a singing male in the garden from the 8th; Skylark, singing over nearby fields from the 27th; Treecreeper, singing in the garden on several occasions and two present on the 25th; and Linnet, two over on the 25th. Brings the total to 44 species. (Phil McVey)

Tresillian: One more to add to my list, a Firecrest. (Andrew Le Masurier)

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Constantine: I am happy to be in the list again. I always keep an annual record anyway
Last year’s total was 68 and so far this year I am up to 43 including this Brambling which appeared yesterday. Highlights so far are Firecrest, Woodcock and Fieldfare. We have a pair of Blackcaps which come to the feeder most days. (Tim Pinfield)

Another week with a good number of decent sightings, such as Raven, as well as a number of species notable for individual gardens. Congratulations to Andy Blonden for being the first lister to reach a half-century this year.

Crowlas: Blackcap takes my list to 31. (Gary Healey)

St Germans: I’m now at 50: on 11th, 14th & 17th resp., we had Bullfinch, Collared Dove – the first around here for several, even many years – & Greenfinch in the garden. (Andy Blonden)

Garden Listing 17th February 2022

Tresillian: Three more to add from Tresillian including Raven and Green Woodpecker. (A Le Masurier)

Garden Listing 15th February 2022

Trethurgy: Setting up a garden list for 2022 for Jacky and Geoff White in Trethurgy (Rural Village – large garden).

List so far (in garden): Robin, Wren, Dunnock, Sparrowhawk, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Feral Pigeon, Collared Dove, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tawny Owl, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Blackbird, Redwing, Song Thrush, Blackcap, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Willow Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Jay, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Starling, House Sparrow, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, Siskin, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting.

The pair of Reed Buntings is the first for several years, when they were regular visitors. Also, flying over:

Grey Heron, Rook, Raven, Buzzard, Canada Goose.

Heard only: Goldcrest.

That makes a total of 41 species. (Geoff and Jacky White)

Feock: Please can you add Grey Heron to my list. It flew over early this morning. Brings my total to 26. (Rosalind Smith)

Garden Listing 8th February 2022

Grampound Road: Here are my new recent sightings to add: Blackcap, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff. (Rob Nicholls)

A busy week, with several new or re-joining gardens. A nice variety of highlights, including Brambling, Yellowhammer, Black Redstart, Marsh Tit and Wigeon.

Tresillian: 7 more for my list, taking it to 43: Long-tailed Tit, Stock Dove, Rook, Mistle Thush, Linnet, Grey Wagtail and Canada Goose. (Andrew le Masurier)

Feock: Please can you add three more to my list? Buzzard, Wren and Collared Dove, bringing my total to 25. (Rosalind Smith)

Crowlas: l would like to take part in the garden listing again. My total so far is 30. (Gary Healey)

Garden Listing 2nd February 2022

Grampound Road: Here are my sightings since 1st January 2022. Medium smallish sized garden with large mature Hawthorne tree and pond, in a rural village, central Cornwall. January: Magpie, Blackbird, House Sparrow, Robin, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Jackdaw, Siskin, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Rook, Collared Dove, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Tawny Owl, Coal Tit, Song Thrush, Bullfinch, Nuthatch, Great Tit, Redwing, Raven, Starling, Jay, Wren, Fieldfare, Pied Wagtail and Greenfinch. February: Sparrowhawk, Pheasant and Brambling. (Rob Nicholls)

Feock: Lucky enough to spot two Goldcrests foraging in our yew hedge, shortly followed by a Sparrowhawk swooping on the bird feeder. Brings my total to 25. (Bec Penny)

Garden Listing 1st February 2022

Callestick: By the end of January my total had increased to 40 with the addition of Canada Goose, Greenfinch and Chiffchaff. (Tony Wilson)

Garden Listing 31st January 2022

Lanlivery: Here’s my list for January 2022. The usual suspects, although I usually struggle for good views of Woodcock so one flying straight at me on the 16th as I leant on the garden gate was a bonus. Canada Goose, Mallard, Pheasant, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Woodcock, Snipe, Herring Gull, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Raven, Coal Tit, Marsh Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Wren, Nuthatch, Starling, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Robin, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Yellowhammer. 40 species for the month. (Phil McVey)

Swanpool: My garden is in the Swanpool area of Falmouth, bordering on a local small nature reserve, and near to the pool and the beach. There are tall trees nearby which are a corvid roosting area. Here’s the list so far: Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Wren, Blackbird, Redwing, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Bullfinch (4-5 regulars), Greenfinch, Pied Wagtail, Blackcap (4 regulars), Chiffchaff, Starling, Black Redstart, Goldcrest, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Jay, Rook, Buzzard, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Tawny Owl, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker – 33. (Dave Peers)

Garden Listing 30th January 2022

St Germans: I’ve only managed another four in the last fortnight: Chiffchaff, single male Teal and Wigeon, and Coal Tit. That’s 47. (Andy Blonden)

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It’s Friday night, which means another Garden Listing League update. Highlights this week include Marsh Tit and Raven. There are a few photos included in this week’s update – feel free to send in your own garden bird pics.

Garden Listing 27th January 2022

Feock: Thanks again for doing this and encouraging me to do a bit more watching. List so far for 2022 = 23

Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Herring Gull, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Raven, Robin, Rook, Siskin, Song Thrush, Tawny Owl, Woodpigeon, Wren. (Bec Penny)

Tresillian: Thanks for launching the 2022 Garden Listing League. Here is my list (36) from Tresillian up to now:

Blue Tit, Marsh Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Nuthatch, Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Blackbird, Herring Gull, Starling, Robin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Mute Swan, Mallard, Moorhen, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Pheasant, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Goldcrest, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Redwing, Song Thrush, Chiffchaff, Wren, Jay, Goldfinch, Magpie, Bullfinch, Cormorant. (Andrew le Masurier)

Coverack: Total now 41, with the return of the Water Rail a highlight of the last week. Having returned to uni, progress on the garden list will now slow considerably! (Dan Beadle)

Garden Listing 23rd January 2022

Liskeard: A Song Thrush singing across in the valley and a Common Buzzard have increased my total to 17. (Deena Sharp)

Garden Listing 22nd January 2022

Feock: Please can you add Pied Wagtail and Raven to my list to make 22. (Rosalind Smith)

Callestick: Teal photographed from landing window. (Tony Wilson)

The first update for the year, and there has been some quality garden birding to be had, with Hen Harrier, Black Redstart, Firecrest and Red-breasted Merganser amongst the highlights so far!

Liskeard: Hoping to try and better last year’s total! Here are my totals so far from the 1st Jan from my garden on the edge of Liskeard, with rural views: Woodpigeon, Goldfinch, Blue Tit, House Sparrow, Siskin, Herring Gull, Blackbird, Magpie, Collared Dove, Jackdaw, Starling, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Robin (15 species). (Deena Sharp)

Feock: I thought if I got my starting list in early it was the only chance I would have of being near the top of the table! So here it is so far in 2022. My starter at 20: Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Robin, Carrion Crow, Goldfinch, Wood Pigeon, Herring Gull, Tawny Owl, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tit, Jay, Sparrowhawk, Bullfinch, Magpie, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Blackcap (20 species). (Rosalind Smith)

St Germans: It’s great that you are continuing the Garden List for another year; it has been most enjoyable, particularly with the restrictions due to covid. We are more fortunate than many, as our main window looks out over the creek and the woods beyond and all our meal settings include: knife, fork, spoon and binoculars.

It was a slow start this year, with just 26 on 1st Jan. (in order): Mute Swan, Mallard, Tawny Owl, Canada Goose, Dunnock, Wood pigeon, Greenshank, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Cormorant, Rook, Robin, Blue Tit, Pheasant, Goldfinch, Little Egret, Jackdaw, Chaffinch, Buzzard, Black-headed Gull, Pied Wagtail, Jay, Herring Gull, Magpie, Redshank, Curlew.
By 7th: Little Grebe, Great Tit, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Sparrowhawk, Great Black-backed Gull, Raven, Grey Heron, Shelduck, Green Woodpecker – making 36.
And by 14th: Snipe, Siskin, Long-tailed Tit, Red-breasted Merganser, Kingfisher, Wren, Black Redstart – ie. 43 so far. (Andy & Trish Blonden)

Callestick: Here’s my garden list for  this year so far, up to 20th Jan when I added Little Egret: Tawny Owl, Jackdaw, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Goldfinch, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Wren, Dunnock, Rook, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Robin, Pied Wagtail, Carrion Crow, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Magpie, Chaffinch, Little Egret, Pheasant, Mallard, Firecrest, Song Thrush, Long-tailed Tit, Redwing, Moorhen, Grey Wagtail, Green Woodpecker, Jay, Fieldfare, Nuthatch, Sparrowhawk, Great Tit, Buzzard, Bullfinch, Teal (37 species). (Tony Wilson)

Coverack: A fast start this year, with 3 species recorded this year that I didn’t manage last year. The highlight so far has to be the male Hen Harrier that gave brief flypasts on 17th and 18th January. I thought I’d missed my opportunity when I glimpsed what I thought was a harrier sp. on the 15th. Although I hadn’t seen one from the house for many years, Hen Harrier wasn’t a garden tick – but today’s surprise visit from a Water Rail was! That takes my all-time total for the garden to 97 species. The other species of note so far was Snipe. One I flushed from the field behind the house by climbing onto the roof to scope distant Gannets was followed by several records of one or two birds flying about in foul weather, surprising given I hadn’t seen one from the house for a few years. The list so far: Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Dunnock, Gannet, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Wagtail, Hen Harrier, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Mediterranean Gull, Pied Wagtail, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Snipe, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Tawny Owl, Water Rail, Woodpigeon, Wren (40 species). (Dan Beadle)

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Polbathic: A big surprise this morning: for the first time in very many years a Shoveler (m.) was in the creek, albeit looking quite scruffy. That brings up 72 . . .and still no Starling, Redwing or Collared Dove. (Andy Blonden)

Bodmin Moor: My species count from January to the end of October 28th [I am now in Portugal] was 43 species in or over my garden. Close to Bodmin Moor. Rural garden surrounded by hedges and fields. (Lynda Small

Mabe Burnthouse: Have had a few issues this year, but to bring my garden year list up to date for the end of the year, the following additions – Peregrine over a couple of times, Linnet, Greenfinch, Chiffchaff, Mediterranean Gull (adult and 1st year) and Lesser Black-backed Gull – these were both on an exciting day when the farmer ploughed the field behind the house in readiness for planting the potato crop, in addition to several hundred Herring Gulls.
With spring also came Swallow, House Martin, Willow Warbler, Swift,, and as the year progressed, Nuthatch (one calling from the back hedge), Skylark, Golden Plover a distant flock flying west, Fieldfare in the back hedge, Brambling – one on a misty, low cloud day, and a garden tick to boot (any garden!) (Dan Chaney)

Garden Listing 5th December 2021

Polbathic: Four Fieldfare flew past, this morning, making 71. (Andy Blonden)

2021 Final Table

Thanks to all who took part – it was great fun! Well done to Matt Southam in particular, who managed an impressive 78 species.

Feock: Jackdaw in garden today. First for a couple of years. They used to be daily visitors. Good to see them, if only one, back again. Makes my total 42. (Rosalind Smith)

Garden Listing 29th November 2021

Liskeard: Running total now 41. This morning’s Grey Heron standing on a neighbours roof was a long awaited addition to the garden list. (Deena Sharp)

Grampound Road: Grey Heron on 10th October for 55. (Rob Nicholls)

Garden Listing 28th November 2021

Mount Village Garden: Winter has arrived along with the Starlings who first appeared on the 30th October. The Jay is a daily visitor now waiting for peanuts. Please add Mistle Thrush to my list taking me to 35 species. (Jasmina Goodair)

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Feock: One Kestrel flew through the garden today and then up into a tree. We have never had one here before, a real surprise. Brings my total to 41. (Rosalind Smith)

Garden Listing 26th November 2021

Tresillian: A flock of around 30 Golden Plover low over the garden this afternoon takes my total to 68. (Andrew le Masurier)

Garden Listing 19th November 2021

Dobwalls: Male and female Bullfinch eating honeysuckle berries, then heard and saw a Tawny Owl fly from a tree a few yards from our house that night (Chris and Janet Duffy)

Garden Listing 13th November 2021

Tresillian: One more for my list – Marsh Tit on feeders. First time I have seen one there. (Andrew le Masurier)

Garden Listing 11th November 2021

Dobwalls: 1m Blackcap (Chris and Janet Duffy)

Garden Listing 7th November 2021

Polbathic: The top of this morning’s high spring tide allowed me to ‘scope a lovely Green Sandpiper, preening on the bank up-river, in the glorious early sunshine. A great way to start the day . . .and number 70. (Andy Blonden)

Garden Listing 6th November 2021

Dobwalls: 1 Chiffchaff in the garden (Chris and Janet Duffy)

Garden Listing 4th November 2021

Dobwalls: At long last, number 50 was a Grey Heron that flew low over our garden to our neighbour’s goldfish pond!

Also in the garden: 1 Peacock butterfly on the verbena (3rd Nov), 1m Blackcap, 2 Jay (1st Nov), with 1 Nuthatch, 3 Jay, 1 Red Admiral (30th Oct) and then 3 Redwing in our neighbour’s trees (21st Oct). (Chris and Janet Duffy)

Crowlas: Another two for my list, Jay and Skylark. (Gary Healey)

Liskeard: Very slow now, but a Sparrowhawk through the garden makes a very welcome number 41. (Deena Sharp)

Praa Sands: Been away for a while, with the following birds seen from late Aug/early Sept:

76 – Wheatear on the Green, 77 – Yellow wagtail calling as it flew over and 78 – single Jay going through tree to tree. (Matt Southam)

Garden Listing 5th October 2021

Crowlas: Meadow Pipit takes my total to 53. (Gary Healey)

Dobwalls: 2 Swallow flying low over the garden, heading west (Chris and Janet Duffy)

Garden Listing 4th October 2021

Mount Village, Bodmin Moor: Jay feeding off peanuts on the bird table in late August – making my list now 34. (Jasmina Goodair)

Garden Listing 30th September 2021

Tresillian: Another one for my list, Little Egret. (Andrew le Masurier)

Garden Listing 26th September 2021

Feock: This afternoon with wind in right direction from the creek, I heard amongst various unidentifiable calls, a Curlew bringing my total to 40. (Rosalind Smith)

Garden Listing 25th September 2021

Crowlas: Two more for my list: Grey Wagtail and Peregrine take my total to 52. (Gary Healey)

Garden Listing 24th September 2021

Polbathic: A Kestrel: the first over the garden for ages, even though there is frequently one about ½ mile away, but in an area I can’t see from the garden. So that’s 69. (A Blonden)

Garden Listing 19th September 2021

Dobwalls: 5 Swallow, 1 f Southern Hawker ovipositing on a mossy stone in our pond. (Chris and Janet Duffy)

Tresillian: One more for my list: Collared dove singing yesterday. (By which I mean it was singing on Thursday, not that it was going through its repertoire of Lennon and McCartney Songs). (Andrew le Masurier)

Garden Listing Tuesday 14th September

Polbathic: A Spotted Reshank – best bird of the year, so far – made this morning’s breakfast that much more enjoyable and the total up to 67. Then, sitting in the garden, in the glorious pre-lunch sunshine and a Hobby flew over – 68. (Andy Blonden)

Feock: Please add Grey Heron to my list. I heard it coming long before I saw it fly overhead! (Bec Penny)

Garden Listing 5th September 2021

Liskeard: Boy! It’s slow now, but a male Sparrowhawk is a welcome #40 for the total.
Flew through the garden and landed on the bungalow roof, sending the young Goldfinch which was feeding on the sunflower seeds into the hedge! (Deena Sharp)

Garden Listing 30th August 2021

Lanlivery: A Kingfisher briefly visited our garden pond on 30th August, bringing the total to 61 species. (Phil McVey)

Garden Listing 29th August 2021

Helston: Grey Heron being mobbed by a number of Herring Gulls directly over our garden this afternoon for 34. (Steve Ford)

Garden Listing 28th August 2021

Polbathic Creek: At last, 2 Greenshank turned up for the first time, this year, taking us to 66. Andy Blonden.

Garden Listing 25th August 2021

Dobwalls: No new birds, but on 14th August – 1 Swift over the garden, the last one of the year we’ve seen here, 23rd August – Chiffchaff looking for insects on the easels, 1 young House Sparrow being fed, 24th August – 27 House Sparrows, 25th August – male Blackcap (Chris and Janet Duffy)

Garden Listing 24th August 2021

Helston: Great Spotted Woodpecker seen perched on telephone pole overlooking the garden. (Steve Ford)

Coverack: c3 Sand Martin over, bringing up 70. Still missing a few, including Sandwich Tern and Barn Owl, with the return to uni rapidly approaching. (Dan Beadle)

Garden Listing 20th August 2021

Wadebridge: Finally made it to 50, the seven since my last report are: Sparrowhawk, Swallow, Treecreeper, Shelduck, Swift, Barn Owl and just the other day a Green Woodpecker. (Simon Marquis)

Garden Listing 15th August 2021

Mount Village: I can add 3 to my list in Mount Village making 32; House Martins, Swifts and a Bullfinch. (Jasmina Goodair)

Garden Listing 8th August 2021

Crowlas: Green Woodpecker takes me to 50. (Gary Healey)

Dobwalls: At last another addition to the list. 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, in fields opposite our garden, bringing our total to 49. They were with a large group of Herring Gulls. (Chris and Janet Duffy)

Polbathic: One more: a Willow Warbler has visited on the last two mornings, to do his annual chasing of Blue Tits – but there are few around, this year. So with the Feral Pigeon and Green Woodpecker of 14th and 29th of last month, this puts me now at 65. (Andy Blonden)

Garden Listing 3rd August 2021

Coverack: Usually Whitethroat is a regular species, but this year I hadn’t had one until 3/8, when like buses two turned up at once!

Garden Listing 1st August 2021

Lanlivery: Very late this year, first recorded House Martin over the garden. Nearest breeders are a mile away, and they don’t often drift this way. Total 60 species. (Phil McVey)

Garden Listing 29th July 2021

Polbathic: On 14th, a humble Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon spent some hours at the pond and this afternoon’s 2 young Green Woodpeckers drags our total to 64. (In former years, Whitethoat, Willow Warbler, Reed Bunting, Barn Owl etc. would all have been regulars, but, sadly, no longer). (Andy Blonden)

Garden Listing 24th July 2021

Tresillian: One more for my list – a Spotted Flycatcher feeding robin-like on the ground before flying up to a tree and behaving more appropriately. (Andrew le Masurier)

Praa Sands: This week number 75 turned up, a Green Woodpecker, heard calling but not seen, otherwise very quiet. (Matt Southam)

Garden Listing 14th July 2021

Feock: After a long gap a pair of Ravens flew over the garden today bringing my total to 39. (Rosalind Smith)

Garden Listing 7th July 2021

Polbathic: Two Garden Warblers spent a short while around our pond, this morning, taking our total to 62. (Andy Blonden)

Garden Listing 4th July 2021

Constantine: It’s most of a month since I added anything to the garden list (seems longer!), but a Curlew calling over the house this afternoon is the first sign of autumn here, and brings the total to 61. (David Collins)

Creegbrawse, Chacewater: Siskin, Swift and Linnet for 46. (Brian Toms)

Penryn: At last, Great Spotted Woodpecker- a juv on telegraph wires. Total now 64 species. (John Holmes)

Constantine: Flyover Cormorant and a Whitethroat that has moved into hedgerow close by adds two – now 63. (Tim Pinfield)

Garden Listing 27th June 2021

Lanlivery: Total now 58. (Phil McVey)

Garden Listing 26th June 2021

Praa Sands: To my surprise no 74 flew over today, Great Spotted Woodpecker. Calling loudly, it appeared to be heading for the sea before making a sharp U turn and flying back inland to a stand of pine trees. (Matt Southam)

Praa Sands: After all this time suddenly a Curlew (no.73) arrives, two calling as they flew over. (Matt Southam)

Garden Listing 22nd June 2021

Praa Sands: Sitting out very early on Tuesday morning I heard a wader calling, it took me a moment of looking before the bird appeared flying down the coast towards Marazion – Black-winged Stilt (no.72). I’ve not found one before, let alone from the garden. (Matt Southam)

Garden Listing 19th June 2021

Trethurgy: Turtle Dove coming into garden – first for the garden and Trethurgy ! Feeding on Sunflower hearts from feeders above. A female Sparrowhawk came in and put up every bird that it was feeding with but we don’t think the Sparrowhawk caught anything and the Turtle Dove later returned to our garden. (Geoff White)

Praa Sands: Strange how birds are coming in twos. No 70 was a Whitethroat singing from scrub on the Green. They’ve been there a while but at the far end since arriving. Next day, a Willow Warbler (no.71) feeding in the garden, a first for me as a garden bird. (Matt Southam)

Coverack: Total now 68. (Dan Beadle)

Crowlas: Mallard takes me to 49. (Gary Healey)

Garden Listing 13th June 2021

Liskeard: At last! Numbers 38 and 39! Swallows and House Martins out hunting for food over the bungalow! (Deena Sharp).

Liskeard: Male Bullfinch feeding on leftover sunflower seeds amongst the flower border this evening. A stunning number 37. (Deena Sharp)

Constantine: Saw this Barn Owl last night bringing my total to 61. First sighting of this species here for some years. (Tim Pinfield)

Garden Listing 9th June 2021

Tresillian: One more for my list – Tufted Duck. (Andrew le Masurier)

Lanlivery: First new species for over a month. Two Swifts overhead, brings the total to 57 species (I seem to have lucked out on the Red Kites this year!). (Phil McVey)

Liskeard: Number 36 is a Song Thrush, singing from across the valley today. (Deena Sharp)

Garden Listing 6th June 2021

Constantine: When out for a walk a couple of days ago I noticed a Whitethroat singing in a hedge on the opposite side of the valley to our house, about 800m away. Today, I was able to see it in song flight from the house through my telescope! So the list moves to 60. (David Collins)

Coverack: A very distant singing Willow Warbler for 67. (Dan Beadle)

It’s time for another Cornwall Garden Listing League roundup, and this one is a double roundup for April and May. The last few months have seen a few changes at the top of the leader board, with the top 11 gardens separated by only 9 species at the end of May. Matt Southam at Praa Sands now leads the way, ahead of Dave Parker at Marazion and Dan Beadle at Coverack in joint second. Reuben Veal at Crowlas is still the top inland garden, now tied with John Holmes at Penryn on 63 species, whilst Andrew le Masurier now rounds out the top 6 with 62 species from his Tresillian garden.

Bird of the month for April was probably the Osprey seen by Stu Bearhop on the 12^th, whilst May’s top bird could be one of several – Rosalind Smith’s Black-tailed Godwit at Feock, Dan Beadle’s brief early-morning Spotted Flycatcher, Tony Wilson’s drake Mandarin that turned up at Callestick on 17^th May, or Andrew le Masurier’s garden-tick Hobby on the 28^th.

The Cornwall Garden Listing League combined list now stands at 128 species, and many of the recent additions to the list were spring migrants: Helen Norton had both the first House Martin on 3^rd April and the first Swallow at the end of March, Rob Nicholls at Grampound Road had the first Swift on 24^th April and Tony Wilson garden-ticked the first Sedge Warbler of the year the following day. Phil McVey had a Grasshopper Warbler, an impressive bird to record from a garden, on the 26^th, and four days later the first Cuckoo was heard by David Collins at Constantine. What may well have been the same bird was noted by Tim Pinfield at Constantine on 2^nd May, with Cuckoos also being recorded from gardens at Lanlivery (3^rd), Penryn (24^th; only the second from John Holmes’s garden in 9 years) and Coverack (30^th).

Red Kite was a popular addition during the period, with 8 gardens adding this impressive raptor. 19 gardens have now added Swallow, 16 have added Swift and 15 have added House Martin. Gary Healey at Crowlas became the third lister to record Sand Martin this year, and Whimbrels turned up for Matt Southam at Praa Sands and Andy Blonden at Polbathic on 18^th and 20^th April respectively. Manx Shearwater was one of 7 additions to the combined list in May, with the first seen by Matt Southam on 5^th.

Moving away from migrants, David Collins got the eighth garden tick bird of prey species in four years in the form of a Kestrel on 29^th May, as well as adding Shelduck on the 9^th. Andrew le Masurier also added Shelduck, on 15^th May, and on the same day became the second lister to record Little Grebe this year. Another highlight from Tresillian was a Firecrest on 1^st April, whilst Phil McVey added a Yellowhammer on 23^rd March.

Looking forwards, it’s perhaps surprising that no garden has yet recorded Whitethroat, whilst only 5 gardens have recorded Willow Warbler, so these are species to keep an eye out for. Whilst spring migration fades out into June, there are a number of potential scarcities or rarities that might turn up, such as flyover Bee-eater or Crossbill, or perhaps even the Black Stork that’s been roaming parts of the county in recent days. Rosy Starling is another potential garden addition with the currrent influx… Good luck!

Polbathic: Linnet this morning makes 61. (Andy Blonden)

Garden Listing 1st June 2021

Liskeard: A long awaited addition, a Swift over the bungalow this evening, takes my total number to 36 (this slightly makes up for the Red Kite not able to be seen from the garden and missing the Bullfinch that Mr Sharp saw, but didn’t tell me until it had gone)! (Deena Sharp)

Praa Sands: After a long quiet period, I now get two new birds within a day of each other, today early morning there’s a cock Pheasant (No. 69) calling away somewhere on Hoe Head. (Matt Southam)

Constantine: Red Kite directly over the house this afternoon takes the list to 59. (David Collins)

Praa Sands: Crept up to 68 with two Swifts going over today, longer and longer gaps between sightings. (Matt Southam)

Polbathic: He’s been a long time coming, this year, but today’s Bullfinch makes 60. (Andy Blonden)

St Keverne: House Martin on 3rd April, Greenfinch on 17th April, Curlew on 24th April (8 over), Siskin on 25th April, Cuckoo on 8th May (heard), Willow Warbler on 14th May (heard), Red Kite (4 over) and Swift (1 over) on 29th May, Bullfinch on 30th May and Blackcap on 31st May for 45. We also have two House Sparrow nests and one Blue Tit nest busy in the garden. (Helen Norton)

Coverack: Total now 66, including an early-morning Spotted Flycatcher that was my 99th garden tick. (Dan Beadle)

Garden Listing 30th May 2021

Penryn: Plus two for the second day in a row: Bullfinch and House Martin. (John Holmes)

Callestick: No Black Storks or Black Kites for me today but I did add Lesser Black-backed Gull and Feral Pigeon to take the garden list to 60!

Coverack: I got the ‘scope on the roof for the first time in a while, and added Swift, Red Kite (total of 21 throughout the afternoon) and Manx Shearwater, followed by a very distant Cuckoo in the evening, which takes my total to 64. At this point last year I was on 68 and I had a 3 month headstart this year, so I’ve got catching up to do! (Dan Beadle)

Garden Listing 29th May 2021

Helston: Buzzard and 3 Swift over the garden today. (Steve Ford)

Crowlas: Swift and Red Kite takes me to 48 (Gary Healey)

Penryn: I had a minor role in the first Red Kite reintroduction project, bringing back 20 chicks from Spain 29 years ago this May. So when I saw yesterday’s reports showing the annual influx was starting I knew this would probably be the perfect 60th species from my garden this year. Then a Jay turned up first thing (60). Four Red kites came over through the day though. (John Holmes)

Dobwalls: 1 Red Kite being mobbed by Herring Gulls. It had some feathers missing from one wing. Number 48 on our list.

Our House Sparrow colony is doing well, with 5 nest boxes occupied and feeding broods by the second week of April, now some of them are on to their second brood. (Chris and Janet Duffy)

Tresillian: Two more to add to my list, with Red Kite and first ever Hobby seen from the garden. (Andrew le Masurier)

Callestick: 5 Red Kites over the garden late afternoon but the one I’ve been waiting for was Swift which takes my total to 58. (Tony Wilson)

Garden Listing 25th May 2021

Coverack: Having returned from exile at uni in Norfolk, my list now totals 60 with species added including Sedge Warbler. Still no definite Cuckoo however – apparently there were plenty around while I was away! (Dan Beadle)

Trethurgy: Swallow and Swift seen, plus have heard Cuckoo and Willow Warbler. (Geoff White)

Garden Listing 24th May 2021

Penryn: Green Woodpecker was added at the start of May with Swift about ten days ago. Rough weather last week but good visibility meant I could finally scope a Gannet in the Carrick Roads from here in Penryn. Less expected was the Cuckoo that flew by in a squall on Thursday –only my second from here in nine years.  Total comes to 59 now, though there are some pretty glaring omissions. (John Holmes)

Polbathic Creek: A very welcome Nuthatch visiting the feeders today, makes 59. (Andy Blonden)

Garden Listing 23rd May 2021

Feock: We had a jay fly past today for 38. Last year we saw them regularly, but not so this year. (Rosalind Smith)

Callestick: I added Linnet today to take my total to 57. (Tony Wilson)

Dobwalls: For number 46 on our list; a brief visit from 2 Mistle Thrush in the neighbours tall trees (Chris and Janet Duffy)

Polbathic: A Swift, at long last, dragging me up to 58. (Andy Blonden)

Crowlas: Swift also new, for 63. (Reuben Veal)

Feock: The first eagerly awaited Swift arrived today bringing my total to 37. (Rosalind Smith)

Feock: The beautiful sound and sight of Swifts today, bringing my total to 41. (Bec Penny)

Feock: Please add Black-tailed Godwit flying over to my list, making 36. A very unexpected sighting, presumably taking a short cut between creeks. (Rosalind Smith)

Garden Listing 18th May 2021

Praa Sands: After a long wait, one of the regulars on this stretch of coast, Kestrel (No. 67), put in an appearance – hunting over the Green this morning. (Matt Southam)

Garden Listing 17th May 2021

Tresillian: Three more to add to my list: House Martin, Magpie and Swift. (Andrew le Masurier)

Callestick: Here’s a catch up on my list here at Callestick:

11 April – Swallow

21 April – Red Kite

25 April – Sedge Warbler

29 Apr – House Martin

17 May – Mandarin

A male Mandarin today and the Sedge Warbler were both new species for the garden. This takes me to 56. (Tony Wilson)

Garden Listing 16th May 2021

Feock: Lovely to see a male House Sparrow on the bird feeder today, rare around here. I think this brings me up to 40! (Bec Penny)

Garden Listing 15th May 2021

Grampound Road: 54. House Martin. (Rob Nicholls)

Feock: Summer really has come. After yesterday’s sighting of a Swallow, today we had a pair of House Martins over the garden bringing my total to 35. Out of interest our garden is still terrorised by a killer Crow whom we have seen take pigeons and a blackbird in flight. He also brings everything he finds to eat, whether it be live, carrion or bits of food (including lettuce the other day!) to tear to bits and wash in our bird bath before eating it. (Rosalind Smith)

Garden Listing 13th May 2021

Feock: Saw our first Swallow of the year over the garden today to take my total to 34. (Rosalind Smith)

Constantine: House Martin and Swift bring me up to 60. Unusually, a Mistle Thrush was singing from the top of our Cupressus tree this morning. This is not new for the garden – just beautiful to behold. (Tim Pinfield)

Feock: House Martins and Swallows seen today. Here comes summer! (Bec Penny)

Garden Listing 10th May 2021

Dobwalls: Our first House Martin of the year, flying over the garden with 5 Swifts. Our total is now 45. (Chris and Janet Duffy)

Creegbrawse, Chacewater: Swallow for 42 and Willow Warbler for 43. (Brian Toms)

Dobwalls: Another addition to the list, making 44. Two Cormorant flew over heading the towards the coast. (Chris and Janet Duffy)

Constantine: Two new for the list today. A flock of 6 Swifts hanging around over the valley all afternoon, and at last a Kestrel hunting on the far side of the valley – the first from the house since we moved here 4 years ago, and taking the total number of species of bird of prey seen from here to eight! Who would ever have thought that a Kestrel would be the eighth bird of prey seen from any house in England.  Why are they so scarce here? Total for the year now 58. (David Collins)

Garden Listing 6th May 2021

Dobwalls: Our first report since the end of March, 2 Swift over the garden today for number 43. (Chris and Janet Duffy)

Praa Sands: First Manx Shearwaters, no. 66, moving through with gannets and the odd auks yesterday. (Matt Southam)

Garden Listing 3rd May 2021

Perranarworthal: April a little quieter in terms of additions, but Osprey over on the 12^th was a highlight. Also added Blackcap on the 2^nd, Swallow on the 17^th and House Martin on the 28^th. Think this takes me to 59. (Stu Bearhop)

Lanlivery: 3rd May: Cuckoo calling from South Red Moor brings total so far to 56 species. (Phil McVey)

Garden Listing 2nd May 2021

Lanlivery: Doesn’t count of course, but a very unusual sight was a Fulvous Whistling Duck, calling in flight and still present on the 3rd. A few more additions over the past four weeks and an earlier one I forgot to report:

27th April: I think I must have overlooked them before, but my first recorded Bullfinch today (55)
26th April: A Grasshopper Warbler ‘reeling’ in the damp field next door at dusk (54)
15th April: A Kestrel briefly showed above the garden. (53 species)
6th March: They must always be about, but my first Sparrowhawk (52) (Phil McVey)

Constantine: Dave Collins’ Cuckoo came up here! I saw it in the garden and it is now down in our valley. This takes me to 58. (Tim Pinfield)

Constantine: There was a Cuckoo calling somewhere in the valley late afternoon. Would be great to see it from the garden, but takes the list to 56 anyway. (David Collins)

Polbathic: House Martins over the river, this evening. That’s 57. (Andy Blonden)

Praa Sands: At last two House Martins have arrived over the houses. No. 65, hope we have a few more. (Matt Southam)

Garden Listing 28th April 2021

Liskeard: A long awaited addition today, Long-tailed Tits picking off Acer flowers in the garden. Total now stands at 35. (Deena Sharp)

Crowlas: House Martin and Skylark new. (Reuben Veal)

Garden Listing 27th April 2021

Crowlas: House Martin, Sand Martin and Great Black-backed Gull take my total to 46. (Gary Healey)

Constantine: House Martin over this evening takes the list to 55. There were quite a few coming in over Lizard this morning, so this was probably a migrant rather than a bird returning to breeding locally.

Garden Listing 26th April 2021

Tresillian: Two more to add to my list, Coal Tit and Feral Pigeon. (Andrew le Masurier)

Polbathic: The Swallows came along yesterday and are now regularly “pond dipping”; making 56. (Andy Blonden)

Garden Listing 24th April 2021

Grampound Road: Swift for 52 and Swallow for 53. (Rob Nicholls)

Polbathic Creek: A Whimbrel turned up this morning, making 55; but it’s been very slow lately. (Andy Blonden)

Garden Listing 19th April 2021

Constantine: Grey Heron heading down the valley this evening towards Polwheveral Creek takes the list to 54. (David Collins)

Feock: Little Egret makes 33, as one just flew over while we were sitting facing the window. (Rosalind Smith)

Praa Sands: Thought it a blank week until this evening, when having a G&T out in the garden, distant Whimbrel calls were heard out to sea racked up number 64. (Matt Southam)

Constantine: Last night at 18:05, a Red Kite glided over my garden so close as to be identifiable without binoculars. Only the second record here ever, the first being last spring during the first lockdown. Best record for me here this year. This takes me to 57. (Tim Pinfield)

Tresillian: Five to add to my list: Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Greenfinch, Little Grebe and Shelduck. (Andrew le Masurier)

Liskeard: Total now 34 with today’s sighting of a lone Cormorant flying overhead this morning, South to North. Possibly heading for Siblyback from Looe? (Deena Sharp)

Garden Listing 13th April 2021

Grampound Road: Total now 51. (Rob Nicholls)

Garden Listing 12th April 2021

Praa Sands: Last week saw Swallows passing over, bringing me up to 63 which I believe is the total I reached in the last lockdown. (Matt Southam)

Grampound Road: 50. Kestrel. (Rob Nicholls)

Coverack: No new sightings but a very entertaining comedy moment: a rather rotund Woodpigeon which has recently started feeding on spilt seeds underneath the feeders clearly got fed up of waiting for the finches and sparrows to drop more seeds, and decided he’d head up into the tree and get his seeds directly! After jumping up onto the branch and making it bounce around like a diving board, he wandered up and down the branches, turning round at the end with the elegance of an oil tanker! What he lacked in intelligence he tried to make up for in perseverance, but after far too many attempts he eventually figured out that he just couldn’t reach. I gave in and put some seeds out on the ground. (Dan Beadle)

Liskeard: My running total is now at 33, as I heard a Green Woodpecker “yaffle” this morning as I put out the washing. It came from the direction of a neighbour’s garden, so I abandoned the chore, grabbed my camera and hot footed it over to their trees, but no sighting unfortunately. (Deena Sharp)

Constantine: Two new birds for the list today. A Swallow has taken up residence in the vicinity, and a Shelduck landed in the field opposite the house, presumably looking for a suitable nest site. List moves on to 53. (David Collins)

Crowlas: After a quiet month with just a single addition, two came along within two minutes. First a Green Woodpecker calling then 3 Siskin calling loudly before dropping into nearby trees – and all whilst stuck at the desk revising! (Reuben Veal)

Coverack: Flyover Swallow (one from the house at last!) for 57. (Dan Beadle)

Mount Village, Bodmin Moor: This is my first report since my initial listing back in January. The garden continues to be busy with almost all the birds I originally listed though the Starlings completely stopped coming to the village generally at the end of January . The Long-tailed Tits and Marsh Tit have also stopped visiting this last month but are up in the woods away from the house and not seen a Lesser Black-backed Gull fly over either. However I can add Swallow to my list now – the first flew over on 2nd April. Also a pair of Jackdaws are regulars on the feeders. Many of the birds are now feeding in pairs and many of the males are very vocal and colourful (Jasmina Goodair)

Garden Listing 6th April 2021

Trethurgy: We can now add to the garden list Mallard, Chiffchaff, Nuthatch and Pheasant which I think brings the total to 43. (Jacky and Geoff White)

Coverack: Late update from 4th April: House Martin for 56. Also spotted a distant hirundine over the garden earlier in the day and made a dash inside for the binoculars, missing a definite Sand Martin that my family saw in the process! (Dan Beadle)

Garden Listing 5th April 2021

Middlewood: Two to add to my garden listing: Blackcap and Chiffchaff. (Jen Bousfield)

Tresillian: Two more to add: Swallow and Linnet on 3rd April. (Andrew le Masurier)

Lanlivery: Catch up on a couple of week’s worth of new species:

23rd March: We used to see 20+ Yellowhammers in our garden over winter, but one singing on this date was the first individual since October 2020 (43 species)

26th March: Chiffchaff (44 species)

30th March: a single Swallow on an early date for here (45 species)

1st April: Willow Warbler on a typical date for returning migrant to this location (46 species)

2nd April: A very high Peregrine being mobbed by two Great Black-backed Gulls were both new species for this year. Also, first Blackcap this year, and first Barn Owl over our garden for five years (that I’ve seen!) (50 species).

3^rd April: A single Siskin calling as it flew over. They never visit our feeders for some reason. (51 species to date)

Polbathic: My garden list for Sunday 4th was: Tawny Owl (heard), Mute Swan, Pheasant, Little Egret, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Rook, Blue Tit, Jackdaw, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Common Sandpiper (2), Mallard, Siskin, Robin, Canada Goose, Herring Gull, Raven, Grey Heron, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Cormorant, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Shelduck. That’s 26, but nothing out of the ordinary. (Andy Blonden)

Crowlas: Swallow takes me to 43. (Gary Healey)

Crowlas: perhaps even the same Swallow as Gary, new for 58. (Reuben Veal)

Praa Sands: Wednesday saw the Sand Martins, number 60, return, prospecting possible nests sites in the sandy cliff edge. Followed by a pair of Mallard number 61, flying over and Saturday saw a Chiffchaff number 62, feeding in the garden. (Matt Southam)

Tresillian: Goldcrest, Tawny Owl and Sparrowhawk from 27th March; Firecrest, Nuthatch and Blackcap (singing) from 1st April; Grey Heron on 2nd April. (Andrew le Masurier)

Constantine: Swallow flew by singing yesterday so up to 56. Amazing show of butterflies this week with Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Small and Green-veined whites, Comma and male Brimstone – it’s like summer. (Tim Pinfield)

Feock: Another three for my list, one heard and two fly overs: Chiffchaff (heard not seen), Canada Goose and Mallard. (Bec Penny)

Garden Listing 1st April 2021

Liskeard: Not a new sighting, but thrilled to see a male and female Blackcap in the garden this evening, mopping up the sunflower seeds from under the feeders. (Deena Sharp)

Penryn: A garden first at the end of March – Willow Warbler – prompted me to type up my scribbled list. Medium sized urban garden, with distant views over Penryn river and countryside.

1. Blue Tit
2. Coal Tit
3. Great Tit
4. Blackbird
5. Chaffinch
6. Goldfinch
7. House Sparrow
8. Dunnock
9. Wren
10. Firecrest
11. Grey Wagtail
12. Pied Wagtail
13. Jackdaw
14. Rook
15. Carrion Crow
16. Magpie
17. Wood Pigeon
18. Collared Dove
19. Tawny Owl
20. Starling
21. Redwing
22. Black-headed Gull
23. Herring Gull
24. Great Black-backed Gull
25. Cormorant
26. Mute Swan
27. Redshank
28. Red-throated Diver
29. Little Egret
30. Grey Heron
31. Blackcap
32. Mallard
33. Robin
34. Skylark
35. Buzzard
36. Sparrowhawk
37. Curlew
38. Greenshank
39. Oystercatcher
40. Turnstone
41. Pheasant
42. Feral Pigeon
43. Mistle Thrush
44. Little Grebe
45. Canada Goose
46. Mediterranean Gull
47. Greenfinch
48. Song Thrush
49. Fieldfare
50. Lesser Black-backed Gull
51. Peregrine
52. Kingfisher
53. Chiffchaff
54. Swallow
55. Willow Warbler

Another month has whizzed by in the Cornwall Garden Listing League, and March was definitely a month of change – the combined Cornwall list has risen to 116, and the vast majority of the 11 new additions were spring migrants.

Dave Parker continues to lead at the top of the table, now with 66 species. Matt Southam has leapfrogged Reuben Veal to hold 2^nd place on 59 species, with a four-way tie between Dan Beadle, Tim Pinfield, Stu Bearhop, and a new entry from John Holmes at Penryn rounding out the top 7 on 55 species.

Bird of the month was quite possibly Ron Fullwood’s Little Gull, although Dave Parker’s Chough on 4^th March and Great Skua on 22^nd Feb at Marazion are also good candidates – most of us can only dream of a Skua on the garden list! Another quality bird seen was Black Redstart, which was added by Andy Blonden at Polbathic and Dave Parker at Marazion.

The first Swallow was seen from Helen Norton’s St Keverne garden on 23^rd March, with Chris & Janet Duffy and John Holmes having subsequently seen one as well. Sand Martin was added by Stu Bearhop on 29^th March, and Dave Parker added the first Wheatear on 5^th, followed by one for Andy Blonden on 29^th. As well as ticking off Mediterranean Gull on 22^nd, Stu Bearhop at Perranarworthal added the first Whimbrel on 15^th. More recently, the first Sandwich Tern materialised for Matt Southam at Praa Sands on 29^th March, and the first Willow Warbler was seen by Chris & Janet Duffy at Dobwalls on 31^st, and Willow Warbler was also a garden first for John Holmes at Penryn during the month.

There were plenty of other decent birds to be seen, with Matt Southam adding Mute Swan and Red-throated Diver, as well as the first Greylag Goose for the league. A Red Kite appeared for Brian Toms on 12^th March, and clear views enabled Dan Beadle to add Shag to his garden list on 3^rd, along with his second-ever Fulmar. Three more gardens added Peregrine, and Simon Marquis became the fourth lister to add Marsh Tit and Tim Pinfield the fifth to add Stock Dove. Blackcap and Chiffchaff were popular additions, and Canada Goose continued to be added by many listers. Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Chaffinch Dunnock, Wood Pigeon and Blackbird now feature on all the lists we hold, whilst only 3 gardens have had Barn Owl and only 4 have had Kestrel.

Looking ahead to April, spring migrants will be the target for many – which garden will be the first to hold House Martin, Whitethroat or Sedge Warbler? Will anyone manage something rarer, such as Hoopoe? In the immediate future, the Easter Garden Bird Race runs until Easter Monday… Good luck!

Constantine: Peregrine flying up the valley today takes my garden list to 51. (David Collins)

Dobwalls: A Willow Warbler singing for number 42 (Chris and Janet Duffy)

Coverack: Realised that I’ve missed Mallard off my list – plenty flying over most days recently, although the first was at least a month ago! Total now 55. (Dan Beadle)

Garden Listing 30th March 2021

Grampound Road: Great Black-backed Gull for 49. (Rob Nicholls)

Perranarworthal: Quiet month here with 6 additions: Lesser Black-backed Gull on 8^th March, first Chiffchaff singing on the 12^th, 2 Whimbrel over on the 15^th, Pheasant on 17^th, 3 Mediterranean Gull on 22nd and a small flock of Sand Martin over on 29^th. (Stu Bearhop)

Feock: Two additions, bringing my list up to 32:
Canada Geese flying over early this morning and a Chiffchaff singing away. (Rosalind Smith)

Garden Listing 29th March 2021

Liskeard: A fantastic number 31 seen! I wondered what could have sent about 90 Jackdaw into a frenzy over the bungalow – only a Peregrine! Fantastic! Later, a lull in the bypass traffic meant I could hear the Chiffchaff! Total now 32. (Deena Sharp)

Creegbrawse: Our Blackcap have arrived. Spring has arrived with them. (Brian Toms)

Dobwalls: 2 Swallows over the garden brings our total to 41 (C&J Duffy)

Polbathic: A Wheatear spent a long time this afternoon, on the Kingfisher stick, watching the tide come in; looking cold and tired (just like me, although I hadn’t flown across the Channel) and making my total up to 54. (A Blonden)

Coverack: 1 female Siskin on appeared on the feeders, taking my total to 54. Siskin is an annual visitor to the garden, with 1 or 2 usually turning up in late April or May for a day and then disappearing again! (D Beadle)

Dobwalls: Heard Chiffchaff calling, a sign of spring, that’s number 40. (Chris and Janet Duffy)

Feock: Please can you update my list to 30. This morning we had four starlings on the feeders.  They are very unusual visitors to our garden. (Rosalind Smith)

Garden Listing 23rd March 2021

Constantine: Added Linnet and Chiffchaff today so total now 55. The Chiffchaff was a single singing bird whereas the Linnet was one of a flock of about 30 that landed on the trees on the border of my property .

More interesting, however, is that I was looking through my telescope at a number of bigger birds circling in the distance over near Goonhilly Earth Satellite Station, which I can see from my living room.

They were Buzzards, in excess of thirty, circling upwards on a vortex and disappearing up into the ether. There may have been more had I spotted them sooner. I know that thoughts turn to Honey Buzzards when this sort of phenomenon happens, especially in South Spain, but the closer ones I could identify were definitely Common. I have not observed this event before during the 40 + years I have been here. (Tim Pinfield)

Lanlivery: Update 22nd March. Two new species: Green Woodpecker heard briefly and Goldcrest singing in the garden. Running total 42 species. (Phil McVey)

Wadebridge: My total edges up to 43 thanks to Canada Geese flying over and Skylark over nearby fields plus two nice ones on the bird feeders – Marsh Tit and Siskin. And singing Chiffchaffs have returned. (Simon Marquis)

Charlestown: one of our bird news contributors reports a Long-tailed Field Mouse (aka Wood Mouse) on their garden nut basket (D Hastilow)

Constantine: Great Black-backed Gull takes list to 50. (David Collins)

Feock: List moves to 29 as we had a pair of mallards fly over this morning. (Rosalind Smith)

Dobwalls: Number 39 is a female Pheasant, in the field below our garden (Chris and Janet Duffy)

Praa Sands: No migrants yet but I did clock up numbers 57, pair of Greylag Geese flying across the bay and 58, a Grey Wagtail over the Green. (Matt Southam)

Grampound: Skylark brings up 48. (Rob Nicholls)

Liskeard: My total is now standing at 30, as Canada Geese flew overhead this morning, probably en-route to Looe from Siblyback Lake.

Whilst the number of birds visiting the garden continues be regular (with goldfinches and siskins appearing daily), the number of new species is very slow. I eagerly await the arrival of the swallows, martins and swifts. (Deena Sharp)

Constantine: A Cormorant flying up the valley takes the house list on to 49. (David Collins)

Feock: Can’t believe my eyes but I’ve just been visited by a pair of Grey Wagtails investigating my new pond!
Please add to my list. (Bec Penny)

Garden Listing 16th March 2021

Praa Sands: Only the one bird new to the list this week, no 56, a Mute Swan doggedly flying head-on into a westerly gale. (Matt Southam)

Mabe Burnthouse: First new bird for some weeks, up to 40 with Jay in the back hedge. Alerted to it by the fact that one of the neighbours cats was halfway up the hedge – disturbing lots of other birds including 8 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush and a Chaffinch. (Dan Chaney)

Creegbrawse, Chacewater: Just had a Red Kite pass very low over the garden lower than tree top height. Total now 40 species. (Brian Toms)

Garden Listing 11th March 2021

Feock: Two more to add to my list please, both seen flying over today: Grey Heron and Cormorant. (Rosalind Smith)

Constantine: Fly-over Linnet takes the list to 48. (David Collins)

Polbathic: At last; after six weeks with no ‘new bird’, today there’s been a lovely male Black Redstart around here, making my total 53.

Constantine: My list now on 47. Pheasants reappeared during the last week and took up territories. Today I finally added Sparrowhawk, which I was alerted to by the panic stricken rooks as it sailed through the rookery. (David Collins)

Creegbrawse, Chacewater: Pheasant for 38 and Chiffchaff for 39. (Brian Toms)

Praa Sands: Only the new bird for the week is no.55 Little Egret, flying eastwards over the bay. What I find astonishing and not a little humorous is that a flock of Curlew have been feeding in fields on the crest and lee side of Hoe Point (about half a mile distant if that) all winter, yet I haven’t had sight or sound of them from my garden. (Matt Southam)

Garden Listing 8th March 2021

Grampound Road: Black-headed Gull for 47. (Rob Nicholls)

Feock: Please can you update my garden listing list by adding: House Sparrow. (Unusually these are very rare for us although loads within half a mile), Pheasant, Great Spotted Woodpecker. (Rosalind Smith)

Coverack: You wait 2 months for a Jay and then, like buses, two come along at once! (Dan Beadle)

Marazion: Great Skua on 22nd Feb, Guillemot on 1st March, Black Redstart and Chough on 4th March and Wheatear on 5th March, taking the total to 66. (Dave Parker)

Crowlas: New additions Feral Pigeon, Cormorant, Bullfinch, Siskin, Redwing, Sparrowhawk, Raven, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Linnet and Canada Goose takes my total to 41. (Gary Healey)

Newquay: A new list from a garden overlooking the Gannel Estuary, bringing a new species of the collective list; Little Gull. Full list includes Blackbird, Blackcap, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Robin, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon, Song Thrush, Magpie, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Collared Dove, Redwing, Wren, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, Crow, Tawny Owl, Coal Tit, Starling, Little Egret, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Curlew, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Black-backed Gull sp., Little Gull. (Ron Fullwood)

Crowlas: woke up to Canada Geese calling as they flew over, bringing up 57. Also great to see a pair of Long-tailed Tits well into the process of nest construction. (Reuben Veal)