Introducing...

...Dick Turpin, one of the two male blackies that haunt our decking at the moment. So called because of his ambushing tactics when we pop out to give the birds their morning porridge. When we open the door he flies almost straight at us, hopping about inches from our feet. He has some dark markings on his beak, which distinquish him from the other, less aggressive one. Or maybe his dental hygiene isn't up to scratch?

And BTW, the robin asked me to say he is not content to be always out of focus.

Capturing the birds in this weather calls for courage. It is well below freezing and when I appear with the camera, they seem to see it as more of a threat than a cameraless GOD, and dive for cover for a full 10 minutes, during which I sit still and freeze. Is the answer a portable bird hide, I wonder? Preferably a centrally heated one?

Later, had a long leisurely lunch with the wonderful Bs and a brief daunder down the cycle track, where we became concerned by a tiny little one who appeared to be out on her own on her scooter. Awfully relieved when someone turned up to claim her.