Cool and breezy Sunday - but sun too!

Hello

I'm afraid I had very little opportunity for any birding personally today and Eleanor was away eventing with the three collies.

I did notice a male Blackcap in our small rear garden this morning. I wasn't sure what he was eating but I have now added some more 'cut in half apples on sticks' which he may come and sample. We are still receiving regular visits from Marsh Tits, Nuthatches and three Pied Wagtails but the Bramblings seemed to have now moved on. Small flocks of Skylarks were on rape-drilled stubble fields near to Hanging Houghton today (flocks of 18 and 12) and the hedges that have not been massacred by flails continued to provide their berry crops for Blackbirds, Redwings, Fieldfares and a few Song Thrushes.

Other observers today located the long-staying Great Grey Shrike near Crick next to the DIRFT3 complex and Hollowell Reservoir continued to host the two Velvet Scoters plus a Great White Egret and the mobile Ruddy Shelduck.

Regards

Neil M

Adult male Blackbird.

A fair proportion of the
Starlings around locally
are likely to be migrant
birds from Russia, intending
to spend the winter here before
winging back north-east in the
 spring.

All images courtesy of
John Tilly.