Turf wars

At first I thought it was a pair of blackbirds getting amorous in the rowan tree. In fact, it was a cock blackbird seeing off a visiting thrush. There's something very relaxing about just spending 10 or 20 minutes looking out into the back garden, watching the comings and goings. Since the thaw, birds are back in the garden in reasonable numbers. I'm always amazed that the smaller ones survive a period of sub-zero temperatures (and I know that many don't).
A quiet day, catching up on some Christmas preparations. Val and I managed a quick afternoon walk down to the Botanical Gardens and back.
Tomorrow brings the shortest day, and then the lovely sense that - however slowly - more daylight is returning. On the trees and bushes, bright buds are already in place.