Chiltern Birder

 I haven't been posting much due personal matters but still have my eyes open. One thing that has struck me is the eastward spread of birds of prey. I have seen buzzards over Havering-atte-Bower but the big suprise in the past month as been a red kite over the M25 near Stapleford Abbotts in Essex. The skys still look empty by Chiltern standards though. A nice little spot last week was a goldcrest during a visit to Kew Gardens.  I have downloaded the Merlin app which supposedly identifies birdsong. I have had little opportunity to try it out but a quck test in the garden showd that it correctly told me that I could hear jackdaws and a robin. I look forward to using it on the coast to see if it can distinguish the various waders for me. 

 I have given up with seed feeders as I had the feeding  ports ripped off my last two by squirrels. Ground feeding has its own problems. When food doesn't get taken during the day it can attract other creatures. Normally I would expect mice or rats but thus time a badger had been digging seed out from between the grass steps. Birdwise there has been nothing of note but I did see a muntjac in the front garden earlier this year.