16/10/2026
There’s an app for everything these days… even my washing machine shouts at me for attention via an app! 😂
But there is one app I genuinely enjoy using, and I know quite a few of our guests do too, the Merlin Bird ID app.
I love using it when there are lots of birds calling around the farm, just to see how many different species it can pick up. It’s also brilliant for identifying a bird when you hear a call you don’t recognise.
Last year, I heard an unusual and interesting call and grabbed my phone. Merlin identified it as a Garden Warbler, which I'd never heard of before. I’ve only heard it once since, so it felt like a rather special moment.
This morning, it picked up two of my favourite birds, and two of the most elusive visitors to our farm; the tiny Goldcrest, Britain’s smallest bird, and the Long-tailed Tit.
We often hear them, but spotting them is another matter! They flit about among the trees, usually managing to stay just out of sight.
I especially love listening to Long-tailed T**s as they travel in little groups along our lane, through the woods or, as they did this morning, around the tree-lined garden, twittering away to each other as they go.
So, next time you stay with us, take a little time to sit quietly and listen. You never know what might be singing just beyond your window. 🌿
