I have already posted today but I do need to record the Mistle Thrush that came in to my garden this afternoon. Mistle Thrush is a garden first, and we have now had  5 of the UK's 6  species of  Thrush in the garden in the last 2 days. Along with the Fieldfare below, here at the same time,   they were both a delight to see.  The district here is pretty much alive with mixed flocks of Thrushes. From an upstairs window I watched them swooping and whirling around the gardens nearby in a search for berries. These flocks of hundreds have moved in off the nearby fields and local countryside to feast on the ornamental berries in Alphington gardens. I suspect that this is probably happening all over the country. If this weather persists there won't be a berry to be had anywhere. It is going to be interesting to see what happens then? As far as Fieldfare are concerned, we have had a few in the garden already this winter but never showing as clearly and boldly as this, an obvious sign of hunger and "food" stress. On that subject, late afternoon I almost stepped on a Pied Wagtail – Motacilla alba yarellii in the street. He was obviously in a bad way, not finding enough to eat in these really cold conditions and I doubt if he was going to make it through the very long cold night.

Finally today, just before the magnificence of the Kingfisher this morning I was pleased to see the the Grey Wagtail who has been with us for  the entire winter, or at least until January. As soon as dawn broke he was on the hunt for food, I sure hope he found enough to sustain him through the night. But apart from that his appearance certainly made for a pretty picture with his reflection in the ice and the frosty surroundings.