The Holly Tree has taken a real bashing and now is devoid devoid of every berry. It's almost the end of all the Thrush and Blackbird activity which is a real shame because it has been a good week with a lovely subject to watch and photograph. It hasn't been easy tough because the light, so crucial for good photography, has been difficult. While the tree was still heavily laden, I had cut off a few branches and placed them in the back garden stuck in to the cotoneaster hedge. I  hoped that I could encourage the Redwings to come and feed very close to the house. This didn't happen but I did mean that I had few berries left to entice some birds back in a good photographic spot.  With a trusty cable tie, I fastened the branches back in  to the tree, a bit odd I know, but it almost immediately worked and I took my best photos of Redwings in really good light. After a short while, they cleared those up as well and by the afternoon that was the end of it.  You can see all the best Redwing photos from this week  here

The other highlight today was a male Blackcap perched in the open in the apple tree for several minutes. I have rarely seen Blackcaps in the tree like this and this year it seems that they are not showing as well as last but there is plenty of time left.

Tomorrow I have another ringing session and I plan to take more photos to post. Who knows what we will catch, hopefully another Firecrest so check back soon to find out.  Then next week, if the weather holds I plan to have another go at the Avocets, Grey Plover, Redshanks and Dunlin at Turf before leaving on Wednesday for Yorkshire to spend Christmas.  So perhaps Twite, Short Eared Owl, Divers and what have you, are on the list of prospects.