December...it must be cold weather...

...or not....a promising start to last week when it was cold became a shambles by the end of the week and when I stepped outside on Saturday morning it was positively mild (werent we promised an arctic blast?)....which usually means very few winter thrushes around as they will all be out in the fields somewhere eating worms....anyway...I went ringing and although it was an early finish some nice birds turned up anyway....

Ive been lucky enough to ring a few Redpolls at the orchard...heres a rather stunning male....

Lesser Redpoll

Male Siskins look fabulous...but this female is equal to the good looks task....

Siskin

Siskin

One of the birds that always has a lot to say for itself....Sturnus vulgaris....there were half a dozen in the net, so it was rather noisy!!....but the purpley, greeney, spotty suit of feathers is a thing of beauty...

Starling

....and heres a female, identified at this time of year by the outer eye ring....

Starling