Birdwatch's team blog

Spring time for Harbard

Coming back to the UK, having spent most of the winter in California, was something of a shock to the system. So few trees are in leaf, whereas the omnipresent Eucalyptus in San Francisco at least provides year-round greenery, as well as attracting Yellow-rumped Warblers to the flowers.

I refilled my feeders, which had been empty for months, and had to wait nearly a week for the first birds to rediscover it. Chaffinch was the first at the seed feeder, followed by a Coal Tit. This latter bird was a new species for the garden, as I have never had one in the eight years I've been here. There is clearly no suitable habitat locally for them (no conifers apart from some Leylandii) and I wonder where this bird has come from. Perhaps it has joined a local roving tit flock, driven into town by the bad weather earlier in the winter.

Fresh ice-free water has brought a few of the local birds back to the garden for a bath, but it is noticeable that the cold temperatures seem to be keeping down bird song. Only Robin, Greenfinch and Great Tit are at present vocalising near the garden - even my local Blackbirds don’t seem to be singing. Once warmer temperatures appear, and some buds, I’m sure there will be an upsurge of activity – I’m looking forward to it!

Chris Harbard

Posted by Birdwatch