In common with the sightings of others this week, the cold weather brought some unusual birds into the garden. Normally the Redwings are pretty flighty and keep well away from the house. Yesterday, in the snow, they were braver, coming close to the kitchen window at one stage. Snipe were dropping in at regular intervals and this has continued today where they are having some success with worms in the thawed ground. The ice also seems to have encouraged a kingfisher to try its luck in our garden pond. It has no fish in it but the bird seems to be picking things out, some from the water but mainly from the top of the weed beds. There are newts in the pond - possibly fewer now! From David Ord.