Signs of spring

Although the morning was cool and overcast, it was ideal for carrying out the Big Garden Birdwatch. We have several feeders, but also put out home-made fat balls and some stale bread. In total we had nineteen species, including a male and a female Blackcap - I also caught a brief glimpse of a Goldcrest, which are probably around most of the time, but lurk unseen in the dense conifer and Ivy. There were good numbers of Goldfinches and Greenfinches, but this year the Long-tailed Tits and Coal Tits seem to have abandoned us. 

The sun appeared after lunch, so I went for a walk at Sutton, where the cemetery  has a gold and silver carpet of Winter Aconites and Snowdrops - so uplifting! I continued onto the flood meadows where there were large flocks of Redwing and Fieldfare foraging on the grazed pasture, and a pair of territorial Buzzards in one of the oaks. There was also a female Stonechat, flitting among the rushes, and a brightly coloured Grey Wagtail, feeding in an area of shallow mud under the railway bridge.

Sarah and Ben joined us for an Indian takeaway in the evening. CJ hates curry, but she's spending the weekend at her sister's house in Brighton, so were were able to indulge! A lovely way to end the weekend.