#BWKm0 - bread & butter birding

Another pleasant, pre-work, session out in the garden ever hopeful of the next addition for the "laid back" garden challenge list. As it turned out I did actually manage another two species, so should be happy with that, I suppose? Although the sun shone brightly from a relatively clear sky, the brisk NE wind certainly had a chill to it and, a female Sparrowhawk excepted, no raptor movement was forthcoming as a result. Chaffinches continue to move eastwards in dribs and drabs, yet it was the regular garden visitors which provided the bulk of the entertainment today. The camera is never far away whilst I'm outside so, after topping up the meal worm tray, I thought I'd sit quietly in the shadow of our sawn-off "Christmas Tree" and see what turned up.

30 - Linnet - Four birds passed along the hedge line several times during the morning, prospecting for nesting territories at a guess. They are a relatively common breeding species around the Newlands Farm area, so very much expected around the garden at this time of year.

I have to admit that I was getting a little bored by mid-morning and the chilly wind was taking its' toll. I retired to the study, confident that my day was over and Linnet my only addition. Then it happened. Completely out of the blue a Fieldfare landed in the tiny Hawthorn bushlet just beyond the garden boundary. This is the first 2020 record of this species from our bungalow - why today? I fired off a couple of token shots through the double glazing before opening the back door and securing a few more for the record. Wow - I don't remember ever getting so excited by a thrush, I was buzzing!
31 - Fieldfare - Nice! Very nice!!

I've just seen Steve's latest update on our "Lockdown" birding gig and the accompanying images of some of the competitors garden spaces. I also saw a post from Stewart Sexton depicting the abject squalor of life on the Northumberland  coast, horrific! No wonder he's in self isolation since 2006. Quite how my little piece of Thanet can hope to compare to the majestic scenery which Stewart overlooks puts this whole caper into perspective. Make the most of what you've got, stay positive and enjoy whatever comes your way. 
So to attempt to portray the minuscule footprint from which I'm conducting this exercise I took a few images to show the very ordinary space which I call home.