Bellbirds in the city

Press, 25 February 1981, Page 20

Bellbirds in the city

Sir, — Herewith my per- ; sonal observations for the Avonside area during the last decade. The list comprises 34 species of which 17 are indigenous. Absence of honey-eaters is entirely due to lack of suitable trees in the area. Starting, scarrow, dunnock, blackbird, thrush, magpie, rock pigeon, mallard, chaffinch, goldfinch, greenfinch, redpoll lesser, 1973, ’75, ’7B, '80; yellowhammer 1974; black swan 1973, ’76;' flight of 34 swans seen September 10. 1980: Canada geese 1973, ’74, ’80; little owl 1975. Waxeyes are common and welcome swallows arrived in 1979. Native species include all three gulls, grey ducks, black scaup female . (four days on the Avon) 1980, white heron, pied little and black shags, oystercatchers, stilts 1978; bellbird '■ 1973; fantail, warbler 1973; wood pigeon 1974. My most unexpected sighting in the city was' at 10.45 a.m. on March 15, 1974, a sweltering gusty - day, when a large gull skimming the rooftops of the business area flew almost directly at me and, a was identifiable as a mature northern royal albatross. — Yours, etc., R. FRANCIS NAYLOR. / February 20. 1981. -