A great day for garden birding began with three Dunnock together on the feeder at around 8:30am. The pair that seem to be nesting in the neighbour's conifers have been seen regularly over the past weeks, but I'd not considered the possibility that others were visiting. An equally welcome sight was the single Coal Tit that joined them on the feeder and proceeded to visit regularly over the next twenty minutes, taking seed away into nearby cover and reappearing moments later. Throughout the time it visited, it began moving to cover further and further away, making its journey longer and longer.

Two Pied Wagtail were seen together on the ridge tiles of the school, and a pair of Greenfinch were on the seed feeder. A single (and scruffy looking) Long-tailed Tit was moving through the shrubs in neighbouring gardens and landed on a fence just long enough to focus the bins. Slightly later in the morning a single Stock Dove (garden tick) was seen flying over to the woods at the front.

In the evening two House Martin were flying back and forth over the back for quite some time, often close enough for good views. A male House Sparrow came to our conifer hedge for a few minutes, moving through looking for food. The Blue Tit drought had continued all day, but finally one landed on the TV ariel of the adjacent house, so all is well! Three large gulls flew over heading north-west towards the Pit Top, I could make out black wing tips, and were probably Herring Gull, but I couldn't be certain in the failing light.

Just as I was about to call it a day a Green Woodpecker flew over the houses at the back from the east into the large oak tree within the school grounds. It moved upwards through the tree with small flights and finally flew off towards the Pit Top. As I was closing the door a single Barn Swallow flew low over the houses and gardens towards ours before disappearing to the north through the gap between our house and the neighbour'. Altogether a great day of garden birding with a record 18 species recorded.

A single Lesser Black-backed Gull was over the woods and Pit Top to the north in the late morning. Interestingly, no Blue Tit were seen today.

Three Blue Tit were seen chasing each other through the garden today, landing on the fence posts and conifers. A single Barn Swallow was over to the north and a distant Sparrowhawk was seen near the mobile mast and woods at the back at sunset.

A male Kestrel was over the woods and gardens to the west at 9:30am, and another sighting at the back in the afternoon. The first record of Carrion Crow landing in the garden with a single bird landing in the cherry tree and then onto the lawn to take peanuts fallen from the feeder. Two House Martin were over in the morning.

More House Martin over today with groups of four or more in the evening. Greenfinch, Robin, Dunnock and Collared Dove all noted on the feeder.

A male Kestrel with a forked V-shape tail (missing tail feathers) was seen flying in front of the woods to the west around 1:30pm - the first for a while now. Later in the afternoon a Sparrowhawk was seen hunting over the woods and gardens at the front, soaring very high. Throughout the day small groups of 4-6 hirundines/swifts moved north-west very high up. The last group of the day was a group of five at 7:30pm, which were IDed as House Martin.

A Dunnock frequented the front conifer hedge throughout the day; it was calling, singing, and providing a good opportunity for some close footage.

Dunnock

The only unusual thing seen today was a Coal Tit on the lawn feeding on a lump of dried cat sick/poo - not very pleasant, but it seemed to be enjoying the - dare I say it - meal!

Just after 8am a Green Woodpecker caught the morning sunlight flying over Warren Primary School in the direction of the Pit Top. At 8:50am a Grey Heron was over the woods heading east-south-east. A Skylark was heard singing over the Pit Top and (probably) seen high in the distance too. A pair of Barn Swallow were chasing each other over the edge of the woods at 9:05am.

Three distant ducks were seen flying high over Big Wood in the direction of the Mill Lakes (NW) at 10:10am, and a Barn Swallow was over to the east five minutes later.

A pair of Robin were in the garden at 7am, and one was seen throughout the day. Dunnock is now the most common visitor to the feeder and the pair were on it together at 5pm today.

A single Barn Swallow (garden tick) flew directly over the house to the north at around 11am. Three female House Sparrow were together in our tree in the morning, and three or more pairs were seen in the conifers of the adjacent garden in the evening. Another Green Woodpecker was seen flying over at the front, and 14 species were recorded.

The pair of Dunnock continue to visit the feeder very regularly throughout the day. Aside from the usual, another Green Woodpecker was seen flying over today, but this time at the back.

In the morning a Dunnock and Robin were seen on the seed feeder, and the former returned throughout the day. In the afternoon 6+ House Sparrow were recorded in the conifers of the adjacent gardens, another Grey Heron was seen flying north at the back heading for the woods at 3:55pm (almost the same as yesterday!), and a single Green Woodpecker was seen flying ESE along the edge of the woods at 5:15pm.