Most of the birds, like the siskins, chaffinches and goldfinches, that went around in flocks through the winter, have now paired up ready for breeding but one imagines that, when both of them come to the feeders at the same time, either the eggs haven't been laid or they're taking a very quick break from nesting duty.
As a result, the feeders are very busy at the moment. Here, Mrs Greenfinch is telling Mr Greenfinch that he ought to be getting rid of the siskin that's spoiling her meal: moments later, he did what she required.
Not everyone is going around in pairs. The wood pigeons don't seem to have sorted themselves out yet, so there's a great deal of arguing going on between two males, while the female ignores them and enjoys her meal.
There's also intense rivalry between some very smart blackbirds visiting the garden.
For a time we didn't see any robins in the garden but recently this one turned up, joined, shortly afterwards, by a second which, presumably, was of the same sex as there was some of the sort of fierce rivalry that is common in this species.
Another species which has been worryingly absent from the garden has been the dunnock. Long-time readers of this blog will know that I have a special affection for this unassuming little bird. Happily, one made an appearance yesterday, as usual clearing up the sunflower kernels dropped by the more greedy birds.
We've had a few newcomers into the garden. This male was one of a pair of house sparrows which has suddenly decided to visit us from a sparrow roost only a couple of hundred yards away. We've also seen a pair of starlings.
All this activity is costing the household budget a fortune in sunflower kernels, so the humans face having to do with bread and water until the bird breeding season is over. Happily, water - which is so important as all the puddles and many of the little burns, and our pond, have dried up - is free.
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