Redpolls Return

As if the Goldfinch and Bullfinch numbers in the garden this month were not impressive enough on the 24th we were visited by six Redpolls. This is our first December record for Redpolls and most of these birds have returned for a daily feed. Two are males and even though we are well away from the breeding season there is plenty of red plumage on show. This weeks gallery shows what they will look like by the time we reach May. Click here

I have spent some time during the last three months searching the Pennines for Owls and in all my travels I have only flushed two Woodcock. There should by now be plenty of Scandinavian Woodcock locally and it is a complete mystery as to why they are absent this winter.

The big event of the week has been the record-breaking rainfall and the flooding that has followed. This has not helped the Barn Owls mentioned in last weeks blog and I wonder how many of the recently established Otters have drowned in their holts? Time will tell.