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| A Christmas Eve sunset |
It was a mild December day which would have been good for a wander but I didn't want to trust public transport and the ground is extremely wet underfoot locally. Which is a long-winded way of saying I was feeling bone idle.
Just as I start pontificating about the regularity of the black-headed gulls on the school playing field not a one was on there until sunset when two floated in for a couple of minutes. I waited in vain for the rest to follow along.
It was a busy old time in the back garden. The spadgers were monopolising the fat feeders and seeing off any starlings or squirrels that wanted a go. It's remarkably mild out and there's enough insect life about for the titmice just to be passing strangers as they bounce through the trees along the embankment.
I'd filled the squirrel-proof feeder with suet pellets and the squirrels had prised the lid off again so they could get at them. The starlings noticed this, which is how I came to look out this afternoon and see the rather alarming sight of a starling squeezed headfirst down the feeder scoffing suet pellets. Just as I was wondering how I'd make the rescue I saw a demonstration of the strength of a starling's legs as it slowly pulled itself back up and emerged without so much as a wobble to get its balance back. I think I'll put the rest of the pellets in the not-squirrel-proof wire feeder, just to be on the safe side. I had nightmares of a sparrowhawk turning up at just the inopportune moment.
Late afternoon saw the gulls flying overhead to roost. I don't know where they've been all day.
The collared dove is singing, the woodpigeons are tuning up and the magpies have started renovating last year's nests. Spring is in the air.
- Black-headed gull 2 overhead
- Blackbird 1
- Collared dove 1
- Dunnock 1
- Feral pigeon 1
- Goldfinch 2
- Great tit 2
- House sparrow 13
- Jackdaw 2
- Lesser black-back 6 overhead
- Long-tailed tit 7
- Magpie 1
- Robin 1
- Rook 1
- Starling 1
- Woodpigeon 1
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