Once kindled, the love of birds doesn't go away.

The last few warm days have inspired the gardens round here to come alive. The area was positively deluged with birdsong during the breakfast cup-of-tea in the garden - all very inspiring.
Blue tit, great tit, goldcrest, robin, blackbird, woodpigeon, starling, greenfinch, and most significant of all, a house sparrow!
The regular pair we had nesting here for ten years disappeared during 2005 and these birds in general have been on a massive decline round here with so much new building work going on replacing the old warehouses and stuff.

But perhaps he's back, or one of his sons at least. Up there on the traditional overflow pipe below the bathroom window, clearly prospecting for nest sites. 2004 there were three broods raised from there. He'd be very welcome back.

And this morning, one of those great birding moments that I share with the few birders I still ocntact now and again. Came out of a meeting in Ringwood, and was walking through the gardens to the carpark when I heard Canada Geese calling. Quick look around and suddenly a whole squadron appeared, honking like mad and buzzing the town at only about 25-30 feet off the ground!

Below rooftop level at least. Quite a spectacle.
They just needed some pompous militray music behind them. Fantastic

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