Had a good day birding today and I didn't even leave the garden!

Although there was a cold NE wind blowing, the skies were clear so I tried to keep my eyes up as much as poss to watch for raptors. As is warmed up, 2 common buzzards went west and at just before midday, a red kite circled for about 5mins before gliding off east. Managed to get a couple of (very) record shots. 1st record for the garden and species #79.










Also a couple of sparrowhawks through including one nailing a juv blackbird in the neighbours garden. Robins have been busy feeding their young and a pair of great tits are now building in the tit box.

Had a good morning ringing yesterday with 29 new birds and 49 re-traps. Now many of the tits are starting to breed the total numbers are beginning but there was plenty of quality. Highlights were 6 blackcap ringed and a re-trap from last year, 1 chiffchaff, female pied wagtail ringed, and a re-trap willow warbler. Amazingly, this bird had been ringed on exactly the same day last year! Also around the site was a late redwing, 2 tawny owl and a med gull.