There are plenty of birds that live around the croft. Pictured below are a few of the commoner species. I hope to post more images of the local birdlife as the week progresses.  Especially nice to see are the Tree Sparrows. This is a bird I am yet to see in my home county of Hants, and here they are nesting in among the outbuildings. Probably around a dozen birds are resident around the croft. House Sparrows are also here in about the same numbers. The most abundant bird by far is the Barn Swallow. Maybe about twenty breeding pairs are present in the outbuildings, quite a few juveniles are already on the wing. By the summers end in the region of 100-150 birds are to be found roosting on the wires. The croft also receives a few Sand Martin, which breed down the road at a small quarry.

Barn Swallow, Essie Croft, 2 Aug 2009

Tree Sparrow, Essie Croft, 3 Aug 2009

House Sparrow, Essie Croft, 3 Aug 2009

Siskin, Essie Croft, 2 Aug 2009

The Siskin above is sporting a BTO ring, I hope to get some better shots and I will attempt to read the ring.

Meadow Pipits are easily found in the sheep fields behind the croft.

Sand Martin, Essie Croft, 3 Aug 2009

Steve Copsey