Upscaled Bird Feeding on Sheep's Carcass, Crowhill

Not the best picture, but needs must, so a trip to the bottom of the garden with the scope found two Buzzards, up to 11 Magpies, three Red Kites, three Great Black-Backed Gulls, and two Ravens feeding on a sheep carcass about 500m away on a field near Elliots Hill. The pecking order was apparent and roughly in the order above, with the GBB only earning a high place due to a reckless juvenile. There was only one Buzzard feeding at a time, the other waiting patiently nearby. The Magpies, probably due to their numbers, managed to avoid the Buzzard's objections, whereas the Red Kites were chased away if they got too close. The Ravens were mostly just observing nearby, possibly having fed earlier.

In the crisp air the ponies were clearly visible on Plumstone Mountain 7km away, but no sign of Hen Harriers, Goshawks or Great Grey Shrikes. I might have to get a bigger scope.

Closer to home, the female/immature Blackcap is a very regular visitor, seen almost daily since 19th December, usually several times a day and often one of the first and last visitors to the feeders. She prefers the sunlower kernels, but visits the mixed seed feeders and caged fatballs too.

And today at 1.5m from kitchen's patio window, a picture of her in a more erect posture, more chat-like than warbler, possibly pretending to be a Black Redstart - no offence intended to anybody.