Bird Table LIfe

Our bird feeders are very busy just now, after a run of cold nights and frosty mornings. The blackcap that arrived a week or so ago is still very much around; he makes his presence felt, too, chasing away any other bird that comes near, even the robin, though he does back off when the nuthatches arrive. We have only the single male blackcap. Previously we've had a pair, as my brother currently does; I wonder if this is a species that pairs for life, like the bullfinches I so enjoy watching?

We have very large numbers of blackbirds just now. Most of those I see are males, and they are constantly chasing each other. Blackbird life seems to consist of an endless sequence of arguments and spats. We briefly had song thrushes about, while there were still berries on our rowan tree, but I hadn't seen one for several weeks until yesterday when one emerged just for a moment from the thick screen of laurel at the back of our ground, only to disappear just as swiftly. So they are around, but I suppose the woodland to the back of us supplies their needs.

This morning we have had three robins in our back garden. Two were engaged in serious dispute, while the third sat quietly by. I imagine therefore that we have a pair forming, and breeding territories are being established. There are large numbers of chaffinches about, some bright greenfinches and goldfinches too (and our two pairs of bullfinches, always visiting as pairs). So far, though, we have not had a repeat of last year's delightful influx of playful and acrobatic siskins, nor have I seen bramblings and redpolls, both of which were around last winter.

Another bird missing at present is the collared dove. We have more woodpigeons than ever, and they too have mating on their mind, to judge from their behaviour (but when is that not true of pigeons?). Looking back through my records, though, it's a good month since we last saw collared doves in the garden, whereas before that they were pretty much a daily presence. The feral pigeons seem also to have moved on - better pickings somewhere else, I suppose.