A week into the my new job and I'm missing the freedom to get out around the park. The weather conditions were good today and I've heard lots of stories about what's been turning up down the east coast. I decided to console myself with a bit of garden birding, which ended on a high note.

First off were a group of six Barn Swallow over to the south, two Long-tailed Tit were calling and a single Goldfinch was seen in a tree at the front. The back garden had already been quite active with one or two Robin, three Blue Tit, a Greenfinch and the usual hoards of Starling and House Sparrow. Woodpigeon and Collared Dove are still visiting the feeder on a daily basis. A Pied Wagtail was calling from the ridge tiles of a nearby house, and the first Dunnock of recent weeks was calling from the neighbour's conifers. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flying over and into the trees in Warren Primary was a flyover first. Recent sightings of Jays flying over, have been both frequent and consistent, and this morning was no exception, with at least two Jay over along with a group of seven Magpie, which was a notable garden count. Two Jackdaw in the school field were also an unusual sight.

Whilst watching some of the crows, I saw a large bird that drifted over from the direction of the Pit Tip Top. My immediate thoughts were of a large gull rather than a raptor, but getting the bins onto it, I realized it was an Osprey! I thought the time of year was okay for Osprey migration, so I quickly took some notes of the distinguishing features as it circled, before letting Holly have a quick look. I got back onto it in time to see it drift off to the west. Two months earlier and it would have been a lifer, but then again, it wouldn't have been passing over at that time of year!

The day finished off just as the sun was setting, with a group of ten House Martin calling as they passed over high to the south east.

A day of mixed weather brought a single Woodpigeon onto the feeder tray, and later a pair of Collared Dove. Starling, House Sparrow, and Greenfinch visited throughout the day. A small flock of nine Goldfinch were moving through the nearby trees, and were flushed by a Sparrowhawk hunting over gardens at the back. Earlier in the day a Pied Wagtail was seen flying low along the length of the road, and a male Chaffinch - an uncommon visitor to the nearby gardens - was in the trees of the primary school.

Two Collared Dove rediscovered the feeder - or rather, the feeder tray - today, after a lengthily absence in recent months.

Two Goldfinch were on the feeder today, and a few have been creeping into the nearby gardens, so it should just be a matter of time before they're frequenting again.

Only the Grey Squirrel on the feeder today - I'll have to stop putting peanuts on the tray! A single Lesser Black-backed Gull was over to the SE mid-morning.

This morning saw the return of Blue Tits to our garden, after a summer of none. A group of three Blue Tit spent several minutes around the garden and visiting the feeders at around 7:30am. Also present was a single Robin and a male Greenfinch, with good numbers of Starling and House Sparrow. A single Goldfinch stopped in briefly, but didn't go near the Starling-clad feeder.

A Robin was on the feeder briefly this morning, and good numbers of Starling and House Sparrow were enjoying a recently cleaned and restocked feeder. A Grey Squirrel was also keen to get at the peanuts, and scared all the birds away.

The recent record House Sparrow count was broken one morning earlier this week, when I woke up to circa twenty of them all over the back garden: Feeder, lawn, patio, fences, and even garden furniture - they weren't fussy! I've also given the feeder a good clean tonight, in preparation for the coming weeks, which promise to be busy.

A group of ten House Sparrow were in the trees and on the feeder together this morning - the highest garden count to date.

Today was slightly more interesting than other days in recent weeks, with a Coal Tit visiting the feeder along with the usual group of House Sparrow. A juvenile tick came in the form of a Pied Wagtail in our neighbour's driveway.

A Tawny Owl was heard calling from the woods at 11:15pm.

Lots more rain today, but a break at lunchtime gave me a brief opportunity for photos - juvenile Starling being the target. There seemed to be a lot around, so I did a quick count and got eleven juveniles with about five adults. The Pied Wagtail was seen several times on the school roof, but only briefly - the recent building work (and possibility of breeding elsewhere) meant this was the first sighting in a while. I also got a brief view of a Barn Swallow flying over.

Patches of heavy rain with intermittent sunny spells produced a quieter day in the garden. Two juvenile Dunnock were on the lawn first thing, confirming my suspicions from yesterday. A Coal Tit was again on the feeder and a Greenfinch was feeding from the lawn, whilst the feeder was occupied by a Woodpigeon.

More notable was a Kestrel hovering over the playing field behind Warren Primary - an odd location for any prey. A pair of Goldfinch were heard and seen in the trees at the front, the male in full song. One of the dry spells in the late afternoon produced a large group of 30+ Common Swift over the houses and wood. A group of twelve House Martin were over the back at 9pm in the clear evening sky.

Lots of activity in the garden throughout the day, even before I put out some new fat balls. The House Sparrow are now the most regular visitors, and I think a pair are feeding young in a nearby roof because the female is visiting the feeder every few minutes and returning to the same roof afterwards. She's also become quite brave and visits when we're in the garden.

The Coal Tit young are also regular, but seemingly only in the mornings. Today I saw two at one time, although they were careful not to be on the feeder at the same time, one always waiting in a nearby tree for the other to fly off. Today's regular visits gave me some opportunity for a few digi-bin photos, with mixed success.

This morning also saw the return of the Dunnock, with one visiting the lawn below the feeders and nearby borders throughout the day, and what was a probable juvenile in the morning. Three Wood Pigeon put the feeder stand to the test this afternoon by deciding it would hold their combined weight. To my surprise, it did!