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Frustrating

I came in just before noon and looked out of the back window to see a totally undistinguished brownish grey bird, about the size of a great tit, at the bottom of the garden. Without any outstanding markings I couldn't identify it so fetched the binoculars, just in time for it to fly into a bush. With some patient waiting it reappeared and returned to the tree, I found the spot with the glasses just in time for it to fly away. Whatever it was it didn't show any interest in the feeders.

In Chesham this morning after heavy rain, and reports of flooding elsewhere in the country, water was actually flowing under the Town Bridge. How much of the rain will actually enter the water table is another matter, on recent performance I don't hold out much hope for the flow outlasting a few dry days.

Contrary to expectations we are still not seeing more than one or two goldfinches in the garden those that come are still regulars along with the coal tit and nuthatch. The blue and great tits are present in numbers that vary according to the weather, I don't know where they vanished to in the cold snap but they soon returned when mornings were just above freezing. A flock of long tailed tits pays frequent visits and we also see chaffinches, blackbirds and robins of course. I haven't had much opportunity for any bird watching away from my own windows so haven't seen any of the migrant thrushes so far.

We have had one visit from the badger about a week ago but since then the raisins aren't being taken from the ground feeder overnight.
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