In message , Stephen
Wolstenholme writes
On Sun, 3 Jan 2010 11:04:33 +0000, Sacha wrote:

and it really is, too - nothing but grey as far as I can see. The
whole landscape is very bleak but various birds are popping around here
and there which cheers things up a bit.

Up here in Cheshire the sky is clear and the sunshine is brilliant but
much too cold for gardening. Lots of birds are visiting for their
lunch.

Steve

North Dorset - glorious sunshine with just a line of distant cloud to
the S & SW. Goldfinches, Redpolls and Siskins cramming the nyjer seed
feeders with the usual squabbling. Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Sparrows
polishing off the seed and sunflower hearts at amazing speed and Great,
Blue and Coal Tits mobbing the nut feeders. Diligently hoovering up at
ground level the woodpigeons and pheasants are ably assisted by the odd
dunnock and any sparrow and chaffy overflow. The bully boy starlings
appear to be observing a New Year resolution of better behaviour. And I
haven't seen so many male blackbirds for a long time - about 10 at any
one time; a few song thrushes are ferreting about in the various beds.
Everything is observed by a pair of male bullfinches which only rarely
visit the table. Lots of targets for the sparrowhawk!

A perfect winter's day.....
--
Gopher .... I know my place!