Robin's nest

Since the snow melted, the birds have stopped coming close to the house and all the unusual specimens such as the fieldfare (thanks, Jacula!) have vanished. But today, a movement outside the side patio doors caught my eye and I spotted the robin, a distinctive bird thanks to the white streak that bisects his red breast, with a twig in his beak. It was so long that he did a hop and tripped over his twig, whereupon he dropped it and went for a shorter one. It's a hopeful sign, though. If the birds are nest-building, the Spring can't be far behind!

Green Woodpecker

Today was the first time I had seen the green woodpecker for a couple of months. He was stabbing away at the grass that had been newly revealed by the thaw. I hope he found something to eat.

My partner was just coming in with some heavy shopping bags when I noticed a visitor in the garden. "Don't move! Stay there!" I commanded and turned on the camera just in time before he moved forward and frightened this particularly red fox away. It was one I had never seen before. It certainly looked hungry. In fact, one of them ran off with the metal tray containing the birds' crumbs the other day. It didn't get far as I found the large tray under the bushes. Empty, of course.

Gull on lawn

I think this is a young herring gull but any help with identification would be gratefully received. Although gulls frequently fly over the garden, I have never seen one land before due to the amount of space they need to take off again. This one made it though - yet left without taking a piece of bread. Perhaps it preferred wholemeal!

Thrush

We haven't seen a thrush in the garden for years, but I can't think what else this can be!

Snow fox

This was pure luck. Saw the whisk of a ginger tail around a bush, said a breathless goodbye to a friend I was gabbing to on the phone, grabbed the camera and clicked just in time.

Snow birds

I am doing my best to keep the birds alive by refilling feeders twice a day and breaking the ice on their water tin. But while I've been on the phone, it has snowed so hard that their tray of food on the lawn has been completely buried. Here are 'before' pictures.

Frosty contrast

When I saw the blackbird in the frost and the light on the bushes, I rushed for the camera...