It was a good day in the garden yesterday, the 16th of February, with a variety of interesting bird visitors and activities. As you can see from the above, it was a wet and showery day with overcast conditions but this didn't deter the birds. They have to feed come rain or shine so the feeders both in my garden and my immediate neighbours were visited constantly. A Blackcap male was seen at around midday. We had a large flock of very noisy Goldfinches with us the entire day. Amongst them was a solitary male Siskin, the first sighting this  year of a male and only the second  Siskin this winter. I took up position in my shed and tried to get a good photo of him but although Goldfinches were constant,  he didn't visit this feeder unfortunately. We also had 3 Greenfinch, one male and a female. Several Chaffinches were with us again but no elusive Brambling which is what I am always looking for……… one day I hope!  A Magpie has decided that the garden is a good place to be just lately and he has been in and out of the garden for the last few days. Even when I got up this morning, he was the first bird I heard. There was the vaguest hint of Blackbird song at dusk which is a portent of spring at least, and the male was seen carrying nesting material.  The Collared Doves are now well and truly "in love" ! The large group of 17 has now been thinned down to just mum and dad and yesterday, a day late for Valentines day, they were performing in the garden. I entitled this photograph "Sex in the City".

Interesting to see him actually standing on her back to copulate with her. I found a predated fresh egg last week, obviously one of hers, so they have already laid and this is what has encouraged the Magpie in to the garden I think. The promise of fresh eggs is too much to resist for him!

Talking of eggs, there is fresh  frog spawn in the lower pond, more than 6 weeks later than last year.

Down on the Brook, no sign of my male Kingfisher today who hasn't been seen (by me that is) for 48 hours now……… is he off looking for a breeding territory? Probably!