Friday, October 26, 2018
A female crossbill was seen from the car and snapped from a handy passing-place.
The clear blue sky didn't last long; I'd driven through one shower, and soon another blew in from the north; there would be no other bird sightings on my drive today. But at home, a flurry of activity in a puddle at the top of the neighbours' drive proved to be redwings, starlings, and a fieldfare - all sharing a small, leaf-filled bath on the pavement.
Hanging out washing a couple of days ago (a pointless activity in the present weather followed several minutes later by bringing the washing back in - not unaccompanied by much swearing) I heard panicky calls and watched at least a hundred winter thrushes flood over the garden, pursued by a sparrowhawk.
The rowan trees are being stripped bare. If waxwings arrive, I doubt they'll find anything to eat. My first snow of the winter was seen at Ardmair, with a fine dusting on Ben Mor Coigach.
// posted by Christine @ 11:49 AM 
