You can contact us through the form at the bottom of this page.

It's almost that time of year again.  Excited children (and their parents and grandparents) turn eager faces skywards in the hope of seeing what they've been waiting for all year.  Have they been good over the past twelve months?  Will they be given all their hearts desire?  Redwings in a leaden sky, a Black Redstart in the churchyard, perhaps a Brambling or even a Snow Bunting.  Certainly garden birds rapidly consuming all nuts, seeds, scraps and morsels put out for them.  Yes, January 2022 is dedicated to ....

The January 2022 Brent Bird Survey

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When icicles hang by the wall,
And Dick the shepherd blows his nail,
And Tom bears logs into the hall,
And milk comes frozen home in pail,
When blood is nipp’d, and ways be foul,
Then nightly sings the staring owl:
Tu-whit, Tu-who’- A merry note,
While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.

When all aloud the wind doth blow,
And coughing drowns the parson’s saw,
And birds sit brooding in the snow,
And Marian’s nose looks red and raw,
When roasted crabs hiss in the bowl,
Then nightly sings the staring owl:
Tu-whit, To-who’- A merry note,
While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.

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A Merry Note (When icicles hang by the wall) Verse by William Shakespeare, From the Play “Love’s Labour’s Lost“

Photograph: Steve Hopper

January 1st 2022 signals the time to polish your binoculars, open your bird identification books and sharpen your pencil as we spend the month recording birds spotted across the parish.

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As always, the survey relies on as many people as possible sending in their data.  So whether it's just the birds in your garden or you're out roaming the hills please do record your bird sightings and send them in to us.

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Recording forms and a full explanation can be downloaded here or from the panel at the bottom left of this page.

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      Bird Recording Form (Formats: pdf, xls, xlsx)

     Recording Guidelines (Format: pdf)

     Observers' Crib Sheet - relates grid references to square numbers, etc (Format: pdf)

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Good Luck!!

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Reports

Since the start of the Brent Bird Survey in 2014 several reports have been written summarising sightings of new and exotic species in the parish as well as those which are rather more familar but equally exciting.  These reports can be downloaded from the links below or click on the images (BBS = Brent Bird Survey ; BBGBS = Brend Birders Garden Bird Survey):

16.   BBS January 2021 Results

15.   BBS January & May 2020 Summary

14.   BBGBS 2019/20 Report

13.   BBS Annual Report 2019

12.   BBGBS Oct-Dec 2019 Report

11.   BBGBS Oct'18 to Apr'19 Report

10.  BBGBS Oct-Dec 2018 Report

09.  BBS Annual Report 2017-18

08.  BBS May 2018 Report

07.  BBS January 2018 Report

06.  BBS May 2017 Report

05.  BBS Feb-Apr 2017 Report

04.  BBS January 2017 Report

03.  BBS Annual Report 2016

02.  BBS Annual Report 2015

01.  BBS Annual Report 2014

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06                  05              04               03               02               01

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14

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Books from Brent Birders

'The Birds of South Brent Parish' has now been joined by 'The Butterflies of South Brent Parish' and

'The Moths of South Brent Parish'

The Birds of South Brent Parish: The 244-page full-colour book presents results of the 3-year Brent Bird Survey as well as some historical records and recollections of South Brent birdlife going back to the earlier part of the 20th century.  £17.50 from artworks or contact us using the form at the bottom of this page.

The Butterflies of South Brent Parish is based on data gathered during the bird survey lists and has distribution maps of 28 species.  Peter Reay and Monica Hazell have contributed articles and the book is richly illustrated with photographs.  £3.50 from artworks or contact us using the form at the bottom of this page.

The Moths of South Brent Parish lists nearly 600 species recorded in the parish together with distibution and flight period tables.  Background articles and photographs provide a comprehensive view of the moths found in our parish.  £5.00 from artworks or contact us using the form at the bottom of this page.