Hogs Back does the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

Eagle-eyed Colin spotted this little robin amongst the kegs one bright morning and it set us thinking, what other birds visit our site? 

So as part of the RSBP Big Garden Birdwatch, Colin and Jill donned binoculars and camped out for an hour in the hop garden to see what they could spot.

On route to the hop garden, the cheeky house sparrows were seen flitting around amongst the kegs. 

The robin was chirruping brightly.

Pied wagtails were bobbing about in the yard.

The early morning dew glistened on the grass as the sun came out over the hop garden.  The beautiful clear notes of the blackbird’s song greeted them. 

The rooks were happily poking about on the grass.

A solitary crow flew over - unless it was another rook!

The magpies were chattering noisily. 

There were woodpigeons aplenty.

A flock of small birds wheeled over the garden again and again, with their dipping flight, but were too quick to identify!

There was plenty of bird song, but the birds proved too elusive to catch on camera.

The resident family of deer wandered across the field, but we don’t think they count for the Birdwatch.

It was a serene start to the day, although our amateur birdwatchers were disappointed not to see the red kite who regularly soars gracefully overhead, or the kestrel who hovers over the hop garden and likes to rest on the anchor posts or even the Egyptian geese who regularly visit and graze on the grass.

All in all, not a bad way to spend an hour!  It was tempting to stay longer but there was work to be done. We think they need to invest in a zoom lens before next year’s event though……