But, as always, a session in the garden is what really stirs the brain into action - especially at 06:30 on a frosty (-4C) morning. Now that the sun is climbing in the sky, I only get about 4 hours before the nets are 100% visible to all and sundry. Nonetheless, 40 birds of just 7 species was good enough. It would have been better if the Siskins had returned from their winter haunts, possibly as far away as Catalonia (thank you, Jeff K) - Barcelona, Spain for the uninitiated.
Robin 2 (1)
Blackbird 8 (2)
Coal Tit (2)
Blue Tit 1 (8)
Great Tit 4 (4)
Greenfinch 6
Chaffinch 4
First up was this large (wing 139) male 'Blackie' with a crossed bill; as a >/=3CY it must be managing OK. It was not as heavy, at 115g, as some which I caught later that reached 132g with a good fat load (scored 3).
At the same time I had this female, a normal 'English wing' sized bird. However the 4 old greater coverts show up much better in the photo' below than in the hand. Many 'continental sized' birds habitually have these deceptively coloured covert feathers. This female had a lovely mottled breast - which took my fancy.
aaaaa
Jen had mentioned that her Garlic shoots had disappeared. Her thoughts were that a mouse or similar had had them because the mesh cage over the plot stopped any birds getting to them. Lo and behold, what should appear on the feeder hanging under the climbing rose but "Mr. Country Mouse"
I was able to get fairly close and eventually 'it' stopped hiding round the other side of the peanuts. Finally, a couple of Coal Tits frightened it back to its underground home below the patio.
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