2017 is definitely a Waxwing year, with records coming in thick and fast from around the country but the nearest we could find were in Borrington Road, Kidderminster.  Lovely to see them, however, even if they weren’t in the garden.  During the last big ‘invasion’, we did have a brief visit from a flock of 15 which descended onto the birdbath, landing all round the rim, before taking a drink and departing as quickly as they arrived.

The marsh tit was on the fat feeder again this morning but its visits are always short and hurried.  By time I’ve grabbed my camera it’s usually gone!

In the past week we have had visits from the badgers but not with the same regularity as we expect.  Some mornings this winter there have been nuts on the ground the following day instead of being cleared up quickly.  Both male and female muntjac have been in, taking advantage of the badgers absence.

The weather has been grey, misty and depressing, with just one bright sunny day to remind us that the sun is up there somewhere!

After a few days indecision I am completing my first post on this blog.

Although snow was threatened, we had only a light dusting this morning, it’s still pretty cold though and the birds have been enthusiastically attacking the sunflower hearts put out for them.

The feeders are full and the fat balls are attracting plenty of long tailed tits as well as blue, great and coal tits.  We have an occasional visit from a marsh tit (last seen yesterday) but it only seems to be a single bird.  When we first moved to this estate they were regular visitors to our garden despite us living further into the estate.

There is constant activity around the feeders and on the ground beneath them.  I’m afraid some birds (especially the nuthatches!) are very fussy about which specific sunflower hearts they pick and discard any which don’t meet their exacting standards.  This provides scope for dunnocks, chaffinches, robins, blackbirds and the odd thrush to clear up – not to mention the merry band of squirrels which swarm over the garden!  Luckily we have discovered two good anti-squirrel feeders so at least they cannot eat everything.