Diversity of birds in your area?

[burntfacedjake]

I'm in suburban Leeds, and have seen the following in and from the garden in the past six years:

House Sparrow
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Chaffinch
Bullfinch
Starling
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Long tailed Tit
Goldcrest
Wren
Dunnock
Blackcap
Robin
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Mistle Thrush
Redwing
Fieldfare
Swift
House Martin
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Tawny Owl
Sparrowhawk
Red Kite
Hobby
Ring Necked Parakeet
Budgie (Yes, really!)
Cormorant
Black-headed Gull
Greater Blackbacked Gull
Herring Gull
Common Gull
Mallard
Pink footed Goose
Grey Heron
Magpie
Jay
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Waxwing

Highlights for me have been Waxwing (4 last winter), Sparrowhawk that flew about 3 feet above me whilst watering the garden! (I was watering the garden not the bird... Now that would have been something special) and Red Kite which occasionally fly over from Harewood. This Spring saw my first Blackcap and Bullfinches in the garden. Have started keeping a Butterfly and Moth list too, but my ID skills, especially for moths, are only in their infancy.

[Wilma]

I'm new to this site too, but would like to say that here in highland Perthshire we have a great diversity of birds. We regularly do the RSPB garden birdwatdh and it's been realy interesting seeing the changes over the years. A few years ago we ahd masses of greenfinches and siskens, but now only the occasional visit, instead we have literally hundreds of house sparrows and in the last 3 years have had tree sparrows breeding. Long tailed tits visit in the winter. Red Kites fly overhead along with many buzzards and sparrow hawks visit regularly! Heron fish in the burn at the bottom of the garden and we often see them tussling with an eel. We did have coots and moore hens in the burn too but they have disappeared over recent years - has anyone any suggestions why and if there's anything we could do to attract them back? Of course in Perthsire we have many Osprey in the summer and they too are frequntly seen flying over the local country side. It's a priviledge to live so close to such marvelous sights. As I type this I'm listeneing to the Tawny Owls calling in the garden.
Wilma

[eenymac]

I don't really see too much at home but at the office it's a different matter. My office campus in Reading has a lake along the rear and down one side with footpaths and bridges for walkers as well as plenty of trees, bushes and redbeds. It's full of wildlife and makes lunchtime strolls a pleasure. From memory, here a few of the regulars:
Blue Tit
Coal Tit
Great Tit
Long tailed Tits - lots of 'em
Goldfinches by the flock
Coot
Moorhen
Mute Swans
Mallard
Tufted Ducks
Shag
Plenty of Herons
Little Egrets - recent arrivals
Red Kites
Buzzards
Kestrel
Hobby
Green Woodpeckers
Greater Spotted Woodpeckers
Great crested Grebes
Robins
Wrens
Great mix of Damsel Flies, Dragonflys and Butterflies this year too. Oh, and the odd Deer, foxes, mice and interesting insects. Makes going to work a pleasure. It's also good to see planners using a good mix of building and landscaping to maintain a good habitat for the wildlife.