We now have no less than 22 feeders out in the garden so we really should be attracting a goodly number of birds but what we're finding is that, while there are plenty coming in to the garden, the range of species has been reduced - so, still no greenfinches, siskins or goldfinches, and certainly no sign of anything exotic like a blackcap. The most numerous bird is probably still the house sparrow, though its numbers are drastically reduced from last year, but the chaffinch is catching up. We notice that the males are very boldly coloured, some with quite large white patches on their wings.
I'm happy to report that the blue tits are doing well. One recent lunchtime we managed to count no less than seven all at one time in the back garden. The one pictured may have something wrong with its right eye.
In all the other gardens we've had, coal tits were a rarity but now we're seeing almost as many coal tits as blue tits, probably attracted by the generous amounts of sunflower seeds in feeders which are designed to be 'Tits Only!'.
By comparison, we continue to see relatively few great tits, though when they do arrive, usually singly, the other tits are very wary of them.
This is the cheekiest bird in the garden, a male blackbird who, when I go out to feed the birds first thing in the morning, almost assaults me in his hurry to get at the seed. This picture was taken using my iPhone, from a range of about 18".
At one time we thought we only had one robin in the garden but we now know there are at least three. This one is top robin, a very aggressive individual who....
....is seen here in a confrontation with one of his robins rivals. However, it's not only the other robins which he chases: the dunnocks, sparrows and chaffinches all get the run-around.
The jackdaws continue to be a nuisance. At any time I am only one step ahead of them in maintaining the feeders so they can't get at them. The other day one of them discovered how to dislodge a 'Tits Only!' sunflower seed feeder and ate its contents.
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