The past few weeks we have been delighted by a siskin that joins the other birds feeding here, he is such a pretty little fellow. In Victorian times, they were caged and kept as pets, thank goodness we are more enlightened about such things now.
The moorhen spends a great deal of each day here, perching on the woodpile or up in a tree or bush, swimming on the larger pond or just wandering around and about the lawns. He eats just about anything and tucks in with great relish. The other birds take no notice of him and he ignores them. The heavy snowfall of a few days ago, which so delighted us humans, and caused us to head for the nearest hill, sleds and toboggans in tow, was not such a delight for the poor birds. So our first duty was to fill all the bathing and drinking containers around the garden with fresh water, knock the lumps of ice out of them, sweep and clear the lawned areas, and then put out extra food for our feathered friends, who then duly came to feast. Redwings and fieldfares had returned to the malus tree to fill up on the many red fruits still hanging there. I was pleased to see the redwings joining the other birds on the back lawn and feed with them. The snow also brought many extra thrushes to the garden. I noticed that the sheltered spot by our front door, where the ducks used to sleep last year, had been used by a thrush eating snails. The thrush had been using an old metal boot remover as an anvil. Robins have started their nest in the bank at the back. Last night I spent ten minutes outside after dark listening to a tawny owl calling.
