Slowsome

The weather has picked up in one sense - more sunshine - but dropped down in another - more rain. One minute the wind is in the north, only to veer to the south overnight and vice-versa. Most days we have been blessed with two out of three - wind, rain & clear skies - and we shan't be turning the central heating off just yet. This switching of the wind direction is a pain in the orchard as I need to adjust one or other of the poles to prevent the top shelves snagging on the upper branches of the apple trees.

In the meantime, the daily catches have been diabolical; for the winter finches, the temperatures are "too high" (any frost dissipates quickly) and they stay on the tops (<300m) or disperse towards "home". [Not a bad thing in itself as the latter could lead to a recovery or two.] The garden is alive with birdsong that heralds spring; Chaffinch Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Robin, Dunnock, Wren, Blackbird, Jackdaw and the three tits, Blue, Great and Coal. However, spring itself has not arrived, nor have the Chiffs and Blackcaps which I hope will grace our humble abode in the coming month. In exchange for this, they will, of course, be lumbered with a metal anklet courtesy of the BTO.

Since the last posting, I have managed very few birds even though the two nets have been open most days. We have had the pleasure of both the male and female Sparrowhawks through the garden, if that's got anything to do with it.


Another Robin (the 7th) was a bit of a surprise as I thought I had caught all 4 males that sing from their songposts in or within earshot of my garden and the two females that belong to the top and bottom hedges of the garden. This was another male; had it been displaced from somewhere else, had it out manoeuvred one of the four or was it just passing through?

Anyhow, 17 birds of 8 species in 6 days - painful! Nine of them were Goldfinch, keeping up the tradition of making up almost half the new birds this year. 2 Brambling (both '5'females), 1 Robin (6M), 1 Lotti (4F), 1 Blue (5F)& 1 Great Tit (6F), 1 Greenfinch (5F) and 1 Siskin (5F). So it looks like last year's birds are now in the ascendency. A bit like August, me thinks. I wonder what they do in Australia. After all, a bird hatched in November is in its second calendar year come Jan 1st! [They do the same with horses, don't they - all have their birthdays on Jan 1st].

Been to the opticians and ordered some new, improved spectacles. Should be able to identify those gulls soon. (Rolls about laughing!) Bound to be something rare down on Doniford beach. Don't hold your breath!