Chiltern Birder

The garden is still very quiet. After a few wet days and frosty nights it was clear and sunny today. There was a good turn out from the ground feeders with pairs of dunnock, robin, blackbird and wood pigeon. One robin also decided to take fat from the starling feeder but rather than perching on it he hovered like a rather cumbersome humming bird to pluck a piece before flying away. This was repleated several times. A pair of blue tits also came to the feeders and a solitary hen chaffinch was on the ground under them. The starlings haven't discovered the fat feeder yet and I only saw one today, perched in the tree at the bottom of the garden.

Being out from before dawn until after dark I judge the number of birds in the garden by the amout of food taken. Since the very cold weather this has been minimal. As I am at home today I have a chance to actually look out of the window occasionally. There seem to be no tits coming into the garden at all. Ground feeders are well represented with dunnocks, robin, blackbird and wood pigeon but the only things taking from the handing feeders were a squirrel and the occasional chaffinch.

There isn't a huge amount of activity in the garden, just the usual suspects although the squirrels are more of a nuisance than usual. I will have to try the old trick of mixing chilli powder with the feed again. Away from the garden things are more interesting. I have seen my second goldgrest of Christmas in the lane behind our houses and redwings are in the area although I have yet to see any myself.