It's a lovely day, today, ...

... that is, if you are looking out through a double glazed window and don't have to venture out into the stiff northeasterly and crazy wind-chill. 

As I walked around the village I noticed that there were lots of Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Siskins and the rump of Redwings cowering in the well stocked gardens of the larger properties, trying to 'eek out a living', mirroring the situation in my own premises. The wind has been too strong over the last few days to risk any mist-netting, not just from the birds' safety and well-being point of view but also on a pecuniary level (ripped nets caught on 'vegetation').

Over the Easter weekend holiday period, I did manage to present a few birds with a memento of West Somerset in the form of some BTO bling.

Male Chiffchaff (one of many)

Female Blackcap (first for 2013)

Magpie 1
Coal Tit 2 (1)
Long-tailed Tit 1
Chiffchaff 4 (4) - passage still on-going with birds remaining for 2-7 days. No definite signs of any females arriving.
Blackcap 5 (5) - 4 of the "winter regulars" (now getting fat, in preparation for the "off") plus a rake of newly arrived migrants.
Blackbird (3)
Song Thrush (1)
Redwing 3 - all adults (Euring 6)
Dunnock 1 (2)
House Sparrow (1) - a last year's juv male
Pied Wagtail 1 (1) - the second pair that visits for mealworms
Chaffinch 1
Greenfinch 1 (3) - much singing in the tree tops
Goldfinch 2 (1)
Siskin 13 (1) - and yet they still come, but few 2CY birds

Adult female Pied Wagtail

Adult Redwing (male)

Still no Willow Warblers spotted in this neck of the woods; perhaps next week? My stinking cold is, hopefully, abating in time for some better weather from this weekend onwards. If it warms up (stays above 5C) I might consider a spot of grass-cutting.