Hand warmer

The weather may of been overcast and dull but the mornings ringing session back down at Beckton sewage works with Paul 'boy' Hawkins was multicoloured.

19 new birds trapped and a few retraps made it nice and steady with a smart female Reed Bunting, Blue and Great tits, Dunnock, Robin and my favourite Long tailed Tits- new for me in the hand. They may be tiny but the warmth that they generate in the hand for just a few seconds holding them is just amazing, like a small hand warmer.

 Long tailed Tit

Female Reed Bunting

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Dunnockl

Thanks again Paul.....

Patch year tick

Last week while enjoying our first skiing holiday in Bulgaria along with 14 other family members and friends in the resort of Bansko. A group Waxwings were spotted in Airfield Way Hornchurch near the GI pub and this morning was the first time to have a look, luckily 30 were still present in the same tree and the fact that they did fly into the Ingrebourne valley airspace for a welcome patch year tick made it more special!

A soft image at ISO 1250 F5.6 in this mornings snow.....  (patch year tick)