Bullfinches

The silence of winter forestry can be oppressive. This morning, when we walked through the plantations below Beinn Bhraggie as the first of the day's rain came on, we met no-one, not a bird sang, and not an animal moved until....

....a beautiful bird decided to make our day by sitting at the side of the path and posing for us.

Bullfinches are not easily worried by quiet, slow-moving humans. This one was within five metres of us while I took pictures and his mate....

....was even closer for this.

They were, it has to be admitted, very intent on feeding. They spent most time on the dead flowers of the ling, presumably removing and eating the seeds. They also spent time doing what makes them so unpopular with gardeners, farmers and, in particular, owners of fruit trees, which is....

....picking off the young leaf shoots and flower buds.

I forgive them all their sins for the pleasure they gave us this morning. Unlike so many British birds, which have dull plumage, these are positively tropical in their bright colours, and it's good also to have a bird species where the difference between male and female is obvious. 

Sadly, the species has been in decline, having lost over a third of its British population over the last fifty years, though there are some signs of recovery.