I glanced out of the window at lunchtime today and there, feeding on crumbs from a fat feeder, was a nice female Blackcap warbler. This is one of the Northern European birds that, instead of migrating to Southern Spain and North Africa, come and spend the winter in the UK. It is the first clear view of a female Blackcap this winter. It is one of those species which are sexually dimorphic, that is, visibly different. A good extreme example of this is the Eclectus Parrot from South East Asia where the Males a bright red and the female green. But I suppose the Blackcap is also a good example with females being brown with a brown head and the males grey with a black head.

In the afternoon, after spending an odious morning completing my Self assessment tax return, I went out to watch the Buzzard. I noticed that the water level on the brook has now gone down enough to let me in to my Kingfisher Hide and that will be tomorrows adventure…… check back for a Kingfisher photo ( I hope). Anyway, a good afternoon where patience was needed to eventually  get "Buzby" close and he obliged today but only when it was well past 4 and getting a little dark as the sun set. I really did think he was coming to get the Rabbit but what kind of bird of prey is it that prefers worms to rabbit flesh? He had definitely seen the Rabbit because he perched above it and looked intently, I was getting excited as he swooped down but decided against it and caught worms instead!!! Still, at least he was the nearest I have been to him.