This morning saw the return of Blue Tits to our garden, after a summer of none. A group of three Blue Tit spent several minutes around the garden and visiting the feeders at around 7:30am. Also present was a single Robin and a male Greenfinch, with good numbers of Starling and House Sparrow. A single Goldfinch stopped in briefly, but didn't go near the Starling-clad feeder.

A Robin was on the feeder briefly this morning, and good numbers of Starling and House Sparrow were enjoying a recently cleaned and restocked feeder. A Grey Squirrel was also keen to get at the peanuts, and scared all the birds away.

The recent record House Sparrow count was broken one morning earlier this week, when I woke up to circa twenty of them all over the back garden: Feeder, lawn, patio, fences, and even garden furniture - they weren't fussy! I've also given the feeder a good clean tonight, in preparation for the coming weeks, which promise to be busy.

A group of ten House Sparrow were in the trees and on the feeder together this morning - the highest garden count to date.

Today was slightly more interesting than other days in recent weeks, with a Coal Tit visiting the feeder along with the usual group of House Sparrow. A juvenile tick came in the form of a Pied Wagtail in our neighbour's driveway.

A Tawny Owl was heard calling from the woods at 11:15pm.

Lots more rain today, but a break at lunchtime gave me a brief opportunity for photos - juvenile Starling being the target. There seemed to be a lot around, so I did a quick count and got eleven juveniles with about five adults. The Pied Wagtail was seen several times on the school roof, but only briefly - the recent building work (and possibility of breeding elsewhere) meant this was the first sighting in a while. I also got a brief view of a Barn Swallow flying over.

Patches of heavy rain with intermittent sunny spells produced a quieter day in the garden. Two juvenile Dunnock were on the lawn first thing, confirming my suspicions from yesterday. A Coal Tit was again on the feeder and a Greenfinch was feeding from the lawn, whilst the feeder was occupied by a Woodpigeon.

More notable was a Kestrel hovering over the playing field behind Warren Primary - an odd location for any prey. A pair of Goldfinch were heard and seen in the trees at the front, the male in full song. One of the dry spells in the late afternoon produced a large group of 30+ Common Swift over the houses and wood. A group of twelve House Martin were over the back at 9pm in the clear evening sky.

Lots of activity in the garden throughout the day, even before I put out some new fat balls. The House Sparrow are now the most regular visitors, and I think a pair are feeding young in a nearby roof because the female is visiting the feeder every few minutes and returning to the same roof afterwards. She's also become quite brave and visits when we're in the garden.

The Coal Tit young are also regular, but seemingly only in the mornings. Today I saw two at one time, although they were careful not to be on the feeder at the same time, one always waiting in a nearby tree for the other to fly off. Today's regular visits gave me some opportunity for a few digi-bin photos, with mixed success.

This morning also saw the return of the Dunnock, with one visiting the lawn below the feeders and nearby borders throughout the day, and what was a probable juvenile in the morning. Three Wood Pigeon put the feeder stand to the test this afternoon by deciding it would hold their combined weight. To my surprise, it did!

The pair of Starling that nested under the eves of a nearby house have been raising their second brood of the year. All seemed to be going well, but the nest's location has been discovered by a local Magpie, and I've just seen it reach in and pull out a live unfledged chick, then carry it off to a nearby roof to eat it alive. Hopefully this chick was being too adventurous, and the Magpie won't be able to reach the others.

House Sparrow, Greenfinch, Collared Dove and Woodpigeon continue to visit the feeder regularly in its new location with odd visits from Coal Tit, however Blue Tit and Dunnock have become a rarity.

A surprise visitor to the garden this morning was a single (and scruffy looking) Long-tailed Tit on the patio and then in the tree! It was possibly a juvenile that hadn't learnt the danger of cats. Also noted in the evening were a singing male Greenfinch at the top of the neighbours conifers, along with a singing Dunnock. A Woodpigeon was on the feeder tray, as is becoming common since I found it a new home.

With the thesis being overdue, I've not done much birding lately, but today I heard a Pheasant calling right outside the window while I was working. Looking out I saw a male Common Pheasant walking about in our driveway and looking a bit lost. The neighbour's cats were frothing at the mouth, but didn't have the guts to take it on, so after getting a bit of footage for the record, I went out to steer it back towards the woods.

Three Common Swift battled with the winds heading north-west towards the Pit Top this morning. The first I've seen this year.

It was nice to see and hear a Goldfinch singing its heart out on top of next door's TV aerial this afternoon. Nothing else of note, due to being glued to the computer most of the day!