Bomble, after far too long a blip absence

I went to replenish the bird feeders this afternoon, as there have been a lot of birds milling about. I saw the injured blue tit sitting in the tray to feed itself again and photographed it in very dark light with a big piece of suet in its mouth, whilst it looked straight at me down the lens.

I decided to put the plan I have been concocting into action. I wanted to bring some feeders nearer to the back door out onto the patio so we can see the birds more easily and possibly film them. I collected my tools, screws and new brackets and to my surprise I had them all set up within an hour. I retired inside, with the door open, and within five minutes two blue tits and a robin were eating from the feeder which is about four feet away from the door.

I took a lot of pictures but the exposures were terrible in the dark grey light of such an overcast day. I did note a greenfinch, three bullfinches, two blackcaps, a dunnock, many and various tits, two robins, a blackbird and three goldfinches. The crows don't count, nor do the magpies or gulls. But the kestrel did, flying high up in the sky.

I went back outside a bit later after Helena had come home, her client had arrived and Bomble had bothered to get up from his all day sleep and wandered out with me to the back garden. Here he is in inquisitive mode checking his territory. I hope that the cats can't reach and attack the birds when they fvly to the new feeding position. But the most important thing is to provide a flat surface where the injured tit can eat to his hearts content without exposing himself to the dangers of the cats, or possibly a sparrowhawk, which has been seen here before now.