New Birds for my Garden / Greensand Way Bird Survey Paul Ritchie

I have now added Sparrowhawk, Marsh Tit and Siskin to my garden survey, recorded Mallard on the riparian walk and Tawny Owl in the woodland. So far I have recorded a total of 47 native species and 5 naturalised species of bird across the four transect walks.
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My bird of the week is the Tawny Owl (Strix aluco), an owl that favours woodland and wooded areas with tall hedges and trees, such as the spinney near the barns and Betchworth church where I heard it hooting this week. This medium-sized owl is primarily nocturnal feeding on voles, mice, rats, small birds, frogs, beetles and earthworms but can sometimes be seen roosting in the mature oak tree near my garden during daylight hours. I have been drawing this impressive and beautiful bird since I was a young child and it has always been one of my favourite species.

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