Now either I’m bored by lockdown or you are. In anycase there’s always more to see.

Normally blackbirds scutter about the hedge bottom making a din and reminding us all of “Stairway to Heaven”. But today he decided to sit up in the plum tree, bold as brass and looking quite dapper. I got a few shots before I wondered, why the behaviour change? Cherchez la femme the French say. And there she is sitting in the hedge about three feet behind the plum tree. Is this the start of an early spring romance?

I mentioned the real coconut in an earlier post. It has no fans at all. The fake coconut is now increasingly popular even though it looks like a pacman!

But what of this dumb title : “Kes Thrills”?

Well, yesterday a Kestrel decided he was not in the least bit scared of us. What a treat to get so close.

He then did a wee circuit to allow us to catch his better side before hopping into the neighbouring pine at a dizzying height of 2.5 metres. He’d be real cute on a Christmas tree:-)

Bonne Dimanche!

… and going to get freezinger, if that’s a word. Still the new supply of bird food seems to be keeping our feathered friends happy and encouraging more varied visits.

Here’s today’s special:

He just stayed for a couple of minutes and didn’t approach the feeders.

Meanwhile we’ve seen siskins in the garden for the first time.

At first singly but now in a crowd.

The robin in the back garden spent a few days trying to reach the fat ball by hanging upside-down from the hoop. Yesterday he finally got the hang of it.

Interestingly the half (real) coconut has not been at all popular. Sunflower seeds are by far favourite and I’ve even seen birds pecking at the perspex on our new feeder trying to get them. The robin uses the new feeder correctly of course:

I also wanted to share Sheena’s latest bird composition:

The temperature suddenly plummeted. It’s -7 at dawn down here by the lake. We’re trying to keep up with the birds’ appetites, but the shops are running short of seed. They’ll be eating the wife’s porridge next!

For Christmas day our back garden robin put his best blue jacket on:

The nicest surprise has been the return of flocks of long tailed tits. We counted 9 at the feeder on Sunday.

The folk who live around here are used to constant grey skies on cold winter days, but the sun is up there. Luckily we aren’t distant limited for lockdown, so we skipped up the Jura. For those unfamiliar with the region the band of cloud in front of Mont Blanc is hiding Geneva:

Where we managed to catch a crossbill enjoying the lovely day as much as we were.

Hope this brightens someone’s day.