´óÏó´«Ã½

Ipplepen, where we live, is a smallish village just to the south of Newton Abbot, a few miles inland from Torbay.ÌýOur house is a 1930's semi with a garden that is neither too small nor too large.ÌýIn fact, it's what you might describe as a typical garden.Ìý

When we moved in six years ago, almost the whole garden was given over to growing raspberries, which was nice for the first summer, but not exactly ideal as a space for a growing family to enjoy.Ìý

Over the following years, the raspberries made way for flower and vegetable beds and a smallish lawn that, as in so many gardens nowadays, is currently dominated by the kids' trampoline.Ìý

The garden is bounded by three other gardens and across the road is a large field grazed in summer by a herd of cattle.Ìý It's half way between rural and suburban.Ìý

Tony pictured at a Dawn Chorus event at Berry Head

It's not a fussy garden. Between a nice selection of showy plants is a nice selection of wild bits; bits where seed bearing weeds mix with the planted ornamental grasses; where the hoverfly-attracting Michaelmas daisies have over-run; where compost heap spills over.Ìý

And there's a bit we haven't looked at for ages that many might suggest needs 'cutting back'.Ìý We like this though - these wild bits are probably the best bits for wildlife.Ìý

Our bird feeding area is mainly at the end of the garden where we are lucky to have two wonderful old apple trees, privets and a tall elder bush.ÌýThese provide cover for the birds to dive in to should any potential predators (dog, cats, small boys) appear.Ìý

Since we've been feeding, which we do almost all year round, we've notched up 21 species.ÌýThis count is of birds that have actually landed in the garden rather than birds we've seen flying over.ÌýThis means that peregrine, hobby, Canada goose and little owls are all excluded, as are house martins, swifts and swallows.Ìý

Of the 21 species, by far the most numerous are the greenfinch gang, ever garrulous, always fighting over the seed, constantly, it appears, in a hurry to consume as much as possible in the shortest time.Ìý

There are plenty of greenfinches in Tony's garden

Next most numerous, currently, are the goldfinch crew.

After this, it's the usual mix of 'our' robin, the family blackbird, great tit, blue tit, coal tit and a few house sparrows.Ìý

Although not as frequent as normal, we also have our resident flock of long-tailed tits that never fail to delight as they fly through the bushes calling and chattering.Ìý

As for unusual-ish birds, last winter (2007-8) we had a resident female blackcap, along with a brambling, the latter bringing a nice extra splash of colour over Christmas.Ìý

Birds we've yet to see in the garden? Well, with all the fallen apples it'd be nice to think we might attract a fieldfare one day, although I suspect the garden is too enclosed – I always imagine fieldfares as birds of open spaces.Ìý

Likewise it would be nice to have redwing too.Ìý And siskin ... with quite a few around last winter I was surprised we didn't pick up at least one.

Over the next few months here on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Devon, I'll be telling you more about the birds in our garden, sharing some of the things we do to attract our feathered friends and letting you know how you can get involved in national garden bird surveys.Ìý

I'd also love to hear your garden bird stories too, and any hints and tips you may have, or birds, common or rare, that you are enjoying watching.

You can post your messages or questions on the messageboard which is linked from this page.

And if you manage to photograph birds in your garden, send them in jpeg form to devon.online@bbc.co.uk for inclusion on the wildlife galleries.