The extra cold/snowy weather in January saw a few more species of bird in and around the garden.

There seems to be a distinct preference where the feeders are concerned. Table first, seed feeder second, peanut feeder third. This could be due to the ease of access i.e. the table is open, the seed is easier to get at than the peanuts. Then again, it could be due to the type of food on offer. Maybe they prefer the crushed fat balls I put out on the table to the 'work' involved in acquiring peanuts. Who knows.

I noticed that the Bluebells were up about 3". Another first for the garden was the Green Woodpecker I saw, I had a good view of it and also heard its call, very different to the Great Spotted Woodpecker; a sort of laughing call. One of its country names is the Yaffle.

Not in the garden but connected and worth a mention was one morning, around 8.50am when I was walking past the old Pebble Mill sports ground/tennis courts near the office. I saw a Red Fox close to the wire fence around the tennis court. It was watching a group of Magpies that sat on the fence and were, I can only say taunting it. The foxes ears were twisting and turning like a pair of radar dishes. Eventually it moved off along the fence, which it scent marked, and disappeared into the undergrowth at the back of the office fence.

Birds seen this month:

Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Robin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Woodpigeon, Dunnock, Magpie, Redwing (winter visitors), Crow, Wren, Blackbird, Chaffinch and I heard the Buzzard.