Bird Survey, April 24th 2008. 

Carried out by Barry O’ Dowd

A bird survey was carried out between 6pm and dusk.  A fine evening but with a cool breeze.  
Within the orchard a sparrowhawk was seen upon our arrival, this may have caused birds to become secretive for the initial part of the survey. The first area surveyed was the main roadside hedge which was , even so, surprisingly quiet. Just a wren heard singing.

The orchard had 3 male and one female blackbird feeding on the ground. There was also a red-legged partridge. A greenfinch was singing and also a chaffinch. We didn’t come across the woodpecker nest found last year and also missed the little owls which owner Mr P Neaves said are ‘always around in the evening’.

The richest habitat was the tall hedge which borders the lane to the north of the orchard.  This held many breeding birds:  Singing males = 2 robin, 2 blackbirds, a greenfinch, wren and chiffchaff.  Also seen or heard here were mistle thrush, long-tailed tit, song thrush, blue and great tit, wood pigeon, jackdaw and a pair of chaffinches.
                                                   
This survey probably represents most of the birds present in the Spring.  A morning survey in May could produce a few more birds but probably not more than 1-2 new species.

Note. A previous survey by B O’Dowd was carried out from 8pm on June 8th, 2006.