8th December - Frosty Wind Made Moan

At this time of year the garden is probably the best place to watch the birds, the feeders bring them in close, and you don't have to pursue the moving flocks through the woods.  With the weather turning cold the birds are quite frequent as well.

Goldfinches are the most numerous, with my four feeders holding four on each port at times.  Greenfinches and Siskins have to wait their turn, nipping in when a Goldfinch  decides it has had enough, which is not that often.

Blue Tits have been about in good numbers this year, with a maximum of six birds being seen at any one time.  This individual took the time to sit in the midday sunshine.

In the sunshine today there was activity overhead with the calls of Redwings, and I am sure there were one or two feeding on the berries in the tree opposite the house, but I was never able to see them.  The Blackbirds though were busy devouring the red berries.

In the trees by the berries were a flock of House Sparrows.  They have taken up residence in the conifer hedge, and you can hear their chatter all through the day when the sun is out.

This cock bird was also taking in the midday sun.

On the roof opposite my office a pair of Jackdaws were walking over the roof.  I have often wondered how the lumps of moss have managed to get on the drive, and watching these two it was suddenly apparent that the Jackdaws dig into the moss and flick it about in the hope of finding bugs.

A good sign it is colder and that the birds are looking for easy meals is the number of Starlings visiting the garden.  This morning there were plenty coming through.  Their favourites are the fat balls and nibbles, but they also enjoy a good bath, throwing the water everywhere.

As the sun fell in the sky it became a lot colder, and the birds were starting to prepare to go to roost and keep warm through what could probably be the coldest night of this winter.  Small groups of Starlings can be seen flying around the roof tops, and settling on the TV aerials.  These two took on a golden hue in the setting sun.

Back in the garden a flock of Long-tailed Tits came through, they are regular at this time almost every day, the maximum number has been ten, and they feed together on the fat balls and the nibbles feeders.

Our tame Blackbird, took its time but eventually returned to the garden in October, it would be really interesting to know where he went, we thought he had gone for ever, but he is definitely back.  Without the pressure of feeding young he is not as confident, but will come when called and will sit in the tree while the meal worms are put out.  Feeding time is early in the morning and just before dusk.

Today he took his share of the worms, then was off leaving some for our other tame bird the Robin.  In the morning both will sit ion the tree waiting for us, and the blackbird, while objecting to the presence of any other Blackbird is happy to let the Robin have its share.

 Finally the sun set with that cold yellowish orange light that for me is a sign of a frosty night.

Hopefully if the cold spell continues we will start to see some of the more unusual birds such as Brambling, Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpeckers coming to the feeders.