Grumpy BLACKCAP in a NW London Garden
This lovely little beretted critter arrived early Saturday and stayed, on and off, all morning. In the photo he's taking a break from struggling to reach the half-coconut feeder I'd suspended in a tree. As his agility was not on a par with the tits that he'd seen gorging away, he would hop on to the nearest small branch and stretch out his entire body to reach the fatty goodness.
As well as all the 'exciting' garden activity, a trip to a very boggy Staines Moor was undertaken. A few good spots were recorded, notables include: Water pipits, Reed buntings, some Redpolls, a good flock of Linnets and many Green woodies. Alas no Short-eared Owls, which was our main objective of the expedition! But one exceptionally good spot and equally poor sighting was noted - a Bittern, sighted flying across the reedy patch by the reservoir wall through heavy cover, and only clarified by the birder that had actually flushed it. I personally thought it was our elusive SOE.
