A few days ago in lovely spring sunshine a pair was off Bowness-on-Solway on the rising tide ...
... meanwhile as a reminder of the changing season a Chiffchaff sang from a nearby ash tree ...
Brambling have been scarce in North Cumbria this winter but two returned to my garden feeders during the week ...
... the male looking very smart ...
... a recent return to the garden after the mid-winter period is Stock Dove ... with up to four birds present at times ...
... Collared Doves are ever present and an early breeding attempt failed as a result of strong winds ...
... and just to complete the trio Woodpigeons often feed alongside the other two species ...
There are at least two pairs of Dunnock in the garden ... their typically cryptic behaviour conceals the complex social structures whereby an individual seeks extra-pair matings while preventing its mate from doing the same ...
... always on the lookout ...
Yesterday in that most northerly extension of Cumbria, Kershope Forest, with Scotland lying just a quarter of a mile to the west and Northumberland half a mile to the east, a few Crossbills fed high in the conifers ...
... never as numerous as the Siskins and Coal Tits that were very active and vocal in the almost sprin-like sunshine, a small group's calls rang out ...
... with only my phone to record them I listened as they gave deep 'excitement calls' and then as the party moved through, birds gave the higher pitched 'flight calls' ...
... the recordings from so high in the trees were barely audible but the sonogram reveals the typical traces of Common Crossbill of the 'British Crossbill' vocal type ...
With winter biting back yet again this morning a pair of Red-legged Partridges found what they could in a sheltered corner of the garden ...
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