Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs,#270)

This Chaffinch, getting to grips with a sunflower seed, is the first I’ve seen actually down at the feeders this winter. Especially on the colder days there’s a lot more birds around the garden; Blue, Great, Long-tailed and a single Coal Tit, which darts in to grab a sunflower heart when it can. The small gang of House Sparrows are back, having as usual, left to forage elsewhere during the Autumn. The mature Holly tree next door has a flock of a dozen or so Redwings stripping its berries, more this year than usually, also several Blackbirds and a Song Thrush. There’s a Mistle Thrush, which jealously guards the clumps of mistletoe in the surrounding area. The lunchtime roost of Woodpigeons is up to about 10 individuals now, and large groups of starlings are flying over morning and evening heading to a local roost. Many more birds than a few weeks back.