My garden has definitely come to life with the onset of the Autumn season. Today, although dreary and wet and with the clocks changing to light saving time, in other words it is officially NOT British Summer anymore, there was a particularly large amount of bird activity. Firstly the Coal Tits were on the feeders again and I actually got a half decent photograph from my hide which has been set up for a week or so waiting for just such an opportunity. Coal Tits are a special little bird, tiny in fact and very attractive with the distinctive white patch on the back of the head. This one is an adult I am pretty sure. Have a close look and you can see the worn feathers on the wings. If it were a juvenile going in to it’s first winter you would not see worn feathers. This one has a particularly worn primary wing feather so it should be easy to identify it if I take his photo again ….. just guessing at the sex if you were wondering….. I must say that I am intrigued by the visits of these Coal Tits, Blue Tits are thought to be much more common but I wonder if that is the case. We have had them with us for at least 3 weeks now. As I sat in there I was quite amazed at the amount of other birds that could be heard. All pretty common but never the less it is good to know that they are all still around. From the privacy of the hide I heard a Wren as well as: Pied Wagtail, Starling, Goldfinch, Robin, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Dunnock, Rook, Black-headed Gull, Jackdaw and Collared Dove, that’s 14 species. There was also a couple of calls that I was not sure of. I t was quite a good exercise in voice recognition and though not particularly difficult I was pleased that I recognised so many so easily. At one time the Blackbirds let out a very loud alarm call and there was the sound of wings, I think the local Sparrowhawk paid a visit but of course I am not sure.

My Portugal report with lots and lots of pictures can be viewed here so please have a look. I am sure it will make you look at that country in a different light if you havn’t been before because it is very very good for wildlife of all kinds. I mean real wildlife and not the “mongs” that we bumped in to in the bars of Alvor after dark, now they are wild!