Exciting Times

Once again confined to living room birding, there has been some excitement this week, with a first Blackcap of the year visiting. A very nice looking female has spent a few days now scurrying around the various hedges and has even taken to having a nibble at a fat block. This bird was a day earlier than the first Blackcap I saw last year. So this makes me think that it may be a fresh in migrant.

Female Blackcap

More excitement when the male Bullfinch decided to put on a show for me, with the female that I presume is the same as the one I saw last week. I could hear it's call while I was sat in the window and then it flew straight across from my eyeline. A real treat.

Also this week, has seen a pair of Robins gathering nesting material and taking this to the bush outside my kitchen window. I have everything crossed that I get a group of youngsters in the months to come.

With leaf in beak.

Garden Gold

 Well, it's been pretty quiet of late. I am only birding on my daily walks, and rarely taking the binoculars out let alone the camera. So unfortunately there has not really been anything new to report.

Having said that, I did have my garden highlight of the year (so far) this week, with a female Bullfinch visiting. I thought I could hear it's call while working away at my desk, but couldn't see anything from there. I carried on, but then it flew across my window to the trees opposite. I was hoping that the male would soon follow, but sadly it didn't. I can't complain though. What a bird to have outside your window. Just to think that I wouldn't have seen this had I not been working from home. A real bonus.

Hopefully soon I will be able to get out and about a bit more, as it's really starting to frustrate me. I need my birding and photography fix. Plus the best time of year is coming, in terms of migration. 

Female Bullfinch