flock shock

I am not sure whether this was a flock of starlings or skylarks, they look too small for starlings but what else flocks in these numbers? Skylarks around here tend to gather together on the ground. This lot squeak excitedly as they fly. Looking at an earlier photo of starlings (2001, see below) I think it must be a flock of starlings.

poseur

posing for posterity, this male chaffinch is displaying his Spring best against the gold euonymous

today's pheasant

keeping very still on the principle that if I can't see you, you can't see me

same as last year

same place, same snowdrop but it is so pretty it deserves another page.

drying off

after a refreshing dip there's nothing quite like a good shake of the feathers with one's mates. Three starlings at the bath house.

bird watch afternoon

it has been a busy afternoon with flocks of starlings, wood pigeons, collared doves, sparrows, blue tits, great tits, dunnocks, chaffinches, a cock pheasant, robins, blackbirds, rooks, jackdaws and this shy little coal tit.