Just like last winter, my garden is quickly becoming a haven for finches. I'm getting 20+ Goldfinches, 20+ Greenfinches, 25+ Chaffinches and 11+ Bramblings at the moment. Interestingly, one of the male Bramblings is ringed. I wonder if it's a returning bird from last year?
Poor old Bedfordshire has missed out on a Cattle Egret yet again. This bird at Havesham, Milton Keynes is just over the border, like at least four other birds have been in the last couple of years. I'm sure it will happen sooner or later, but we keep saying that about Great White Egrets and American Wigeon too, and neither of them have bothered to grace us with their presence either! Still, it was nice to see this bird this morning.
Two more shots of Moorhens to go along with my previous post "Laughing Moorhens"
The above two images are of British birds, taken at the Swiss Gardens, Beds, 2nd December 2008. Note the shape and size of the frontal shield. This birds shield is much smaller than the Brazilian and Madagascan individuals, and has a rounded top edge, very different from the square edge of the other birds. European birds also look smaller in stature with a bronzier sheen to their wings and flanks.
We spent a long weekend around Aviemore in November, the birding was slow but this wonderful Crestie made up for it....a bit.
