Branches, branches everywhere

and behind them cracking birds just sit and stare. Well actually in the hour or so I spent this morning they also dozed and preened feeling safe in their hawthorn enclosure.

Yes that's plural. Two birds next to each other discovered when I was out last night trying to find the Shorteared Owls for a visiting couple I found young tufty in the same place as Thursday and was banging on about how the bird behind it was a shorty when the lady pointed out it also had tufted ears. Cracking. Never did find a Shorty last night but this pale bird perched for a while nearby this morning.

Never can get close enough and hopefully M will have some better shots of all three owls.

V also paid a visit but not even a bigger lens can get past the tangle of growth.

There's nowt like warming yer lugs in the sunshine of a morning.

I got stalled watching these birds and never did complete my usual count but there was evident Skylark and Pipit movement with a large flock of about 100 Goldfinch still feeding on the thistles. Another shot was missed when they mobbed a Kestrel en masse. Never mind I can't complain at the fayre on offer despite the obstructions, but for the rain approaching I would still be there.