This bird was singing its head off in the middle of a golf coarse at Dornoch Easter Ross Scotland

Eagle Owl photographed in Inverness. It was to be flying just after I photographed it but no time to spare.

This past week we have had visits from 2 female Chaffinches. They do not go on the feeders, but stay on the ground under them. Also we have had Long Tail Tits 2/3 days, 1 solitary Starling, Blackbirds lots of Great Tits few Blue Tits, Dunnocks, Robin, pair Doves, Woodpigeons, and the House Sparrows and a pair of Greenfinches have returned.

Yesterday Tuesday saw 5 Buzzards circling above, this morning one was out early just after 9.00am, I think he may have been disturbed from where he was roosting because they are usually later or during the afternoon when they appear.

First the Sparrowhawk catches a pigeon and they both land in the pond, so the hawk holds the pigeon under the water and drownds it.

It tries very hard to get the pigeon out of the pond, but fails. He manages to get the pigeon resting on the pipes to the waterfall / filter. He does manage to get some meat off it by starting at the head and slowly moving down the neck. It then decides that enough is enough and flies off.

After lunch I go and remove the pigeon from the pond, not a lot of meat left on its neck. I decide to leave the Pigeon on the grass by the pond thinking he may come back for some more. A short while later we get a visit from a pair of Buzzards. They seem nervious at first, but one takes the plunge and moves the pigeon closer to the shrubs. They seem to take it in turns to come down and feed it takes them about 3 hours to finish off the Pigeon.

The smaller birds kept away while the Sparrowhawk was about, but not the Magpies one was about 2 feet away at one point with others looking on from the Silver Birch tree. When the Buzzards where about they did venture back into the garden for food.

Hope you like the photographs these are straight out of the camera shots out of about 150 photo's taken.

Only seen a few birds this week we have had workmen in and being in and out of the back door all week.

This morning while it was quiet our visitors where Long Tail Tit, but only one. Pair Chaffinches, Blackbird, Pair of Dunnocks, Robin, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Pair of Collard Doves and a Woodpigeon, House Sparrows. Magpies have not been about so much today.

Not seen the Buzzards for a couple of days either, they have been regulars all week sometimes flying low just above the roof tops.

A report for this week.

Lots of Great Tits few Blue Tits Coal Tit pair Robins male Blackbird and a young one, Woodpigeons, Magpies that are trying to build a nest in the top of our Silver Birch, up to 4 Dunnocks the Wren, twice a pair of Long Tail Tits male and female Chaffinches and a special this week a Goldfinch. Today we have had a pair of Buzzards flying around, pity my camera was indoors, because one was very low and right over head. I have not seen many birds about at all today while I have been in the garden.

Just after lunch we had birds everywhere, Great Tits, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Robins, Dunnocks, Magpies, and a load of Chaffinches, usualy only one or two at most. It was like Piccadilly Circus from the feeders to the trees only a few feet away. Chaffinches though only feed on the ground at the moment and they are very nervous, hope that they will take to the feeders like the Tits.

Garden bird count compiled on Saturday 30th.

Chaffinch 2, Blackbird 3, Dunnock 4, Magpie 5, Great Tit 5, Blue Tit 2, Woodpigeon 2, House Sparrow 1, Robin 2.

Today Sunday not seen as many birds but, a pair of Collard Doves gave us a visit. During last week for 2 days we had a Coal Tit feeding with the Great Tits here. Used to have more Blue Tits than we are having now, also Greenfinches that looked like book ends on the feeders not seen any of these for months. I see a lot of LBJ's flying over from time to time, not knowing what they are or why they don't pay us a visit is frustrating.

Still 5 Blackbirds around, but yesterday they where waiting inturn for oneanother to have a bath in the wterfall to my pool (yes still have the pump running, also helps to keep an ice free space in the pool). Had a quick visit from a Starling first one for months also a couple of female Chaffinches, plus the usual Blue Tits, Great Tits, Dunnocks, Magpies, Woodpigeons and now more House Sparrows.

Used to have Coal Tits and Greenfinches regular, but not seen any for 2/3 months now.

Well a turn up for the book today 5 Blackbirds in the garden, but one was a youngster still chasing dad for food though he was also finding his own. Saw him find a tasty bite and promptly wipe it on the grass 2/3 times before eating it, not sure what it was he found it under some leaves at the side of the lawn.

Had the usual visitors today. Great Tits, Blue Tits. Robin, Dunnocks, Magpies and for a change a couple of House Sparrows, not been many of these about lately we used to get about 10/12 at a time in the past.

Fighting today, that is the Robin wouldn't let the Great Tit onto the bird table. The Great Tits are here often during the day either at the seed feeder or the bird table. Also have had a pair of Collard Doves, Woodpigeons, Magpies, Blackbird, Dunnocks and Blue Tits. Had a visit from the Heron again didn't land in the garden, but tried to land on a fir tree next door. In the last few months only had 1 Starling usualy get 2/3 at a time. Earlier this year they nested a couple of door down the street and was regular visitor to the bird table.