Flight Mode

Heading off from the bird table at a rate of knots this female bullfinch had had her fill of sunflower hearts. I'd put out so many different things to tempt and lure them in but as she was such a messy eater with no finesse whatsoever it wasn't difficult to see that the sunflowers were her seed of choice. High energy, with a high oil content and good for their beaks she knew exactly what she was picking of the tapas selection at the brasserie today. 

Her mate Billy in the Extras was just as picky and again went for the sunflowers. 

Unfortunately for both these birds they have possible scaly leg which is a mite and will eventually lead in time to their demise. The female has it far far worse and it can be transferred to unfeathered offspring in the nest. The dry encrustations are made up from the bird's secretions in response to the irritation. 

Another cause of warty growths is the Fringilla papillomavius which affects chaffinches and bramblings too with the result they become lame and /or lose the affected digits. Nothing I can do I'm afraid except keep everything here very clean.