7 : Coombe Dingle, Bristol
I live in Coombe Dingle, a couple of streets away from the Blaise Estate and Kingsweston Chase. My front
garden is a developing wild flower meadow (to the horror of some neighbours!). The rear is bounded by hedges
of Beech, Hawthorn, Blackthorn and Pyracantha with an ivy-encrusted Lilac. There’s a pond and a small lawn.
Blue and Great Tit are regular nesters but the winter attracts more birds. Goldfinch, Greenfinch, up to six
Blackcap (who promise to stay but never do), Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker and, less often, Goldcrest,
Siskin, Green Woodpecker and Redpoll. Jays will cache acorns everywhere.
Sparrowhawks visit infrequently, sometimes seen and sometimes betrayed by their leavings. Winter thrushes will visit when snow covers the ground. Bullfinch were rare until this winter when up to six used the feeders. Two or three still visit daily, well into June. Perhaps they nested nearby.
Sparrows flock in the nearby streets but never in my garden. Two Willow Warblers made a welcome addition to
my garden list during this year’s migration. Buzzard and Raven will pass high overhead. Screaming summer
Swifts are a joy but rapidly decreasing in numbers.
Alastair Fraser
