What have you seen

Just for fun, how many other birds can you identify?https://youtu.be/yOQBQMEE0aM

For the first time that I can remember we have both a Blackcap and a Garden Warbler singing away in the woods behind us. Great to compare the two of them.

Last year when in the Netherlands we came across mostly Garden Warblers with very few Blackcaps.

We've been quite lucky with Golden Orioles when abroad but not much chance of seeing one this year.

House Martins made an appearance in the village today. First time seen in the village but not our first of the year.

Walking around Fewston reservoir in Yorkshire this morning I was amazed to spot a golden (Chinese?) pheasant at the water's edge - I though they were quite rare? Tried to take a picture but by the time I'd got Ralph to sit and got my phone out it had jumped into the trees.  

We had a visitor to breakfast yesterday. I think it’s a red legged partridge but I’m happy to be corrected.

You are correct TW. Lovely visitor. Moulesy also correct. They are indeed rare.

Thanks, WN. If I’m honest, a friend pointed me in the direction of red legged partridge and it’s good to know he was right.

PS. That’s on IoW, not Cornwall,

I’m hearing of more than usual occurring at the moment, Mandarin Ducks and Black Swans too. Don’t know why more often mind. There are a few explanations out there but I just wonder if social media is increasing the ease of these being widely reported.

Mandarin Ducks are definitely becoming more common in the countryside, we have seen them in three different places already on our present tip.

I heard my first Cuckoo this afternoon while walking Flyte near to the C&CC's Ebury Hill site.

An extremely rare sighting today. Didn't even need my binoculars.

There were actual patients in the Doctors waiting room with appointments! Someone in front of me actually got a 9.45 appointment when they rang up this morning. 

The experience was quite surreal.

Most of them originate from stock that has escaped Wildfowl collections and the like.

Egyptian Geese are another species now spreading.