King of the castle

or .... a Partridge Magpie in a pear willow-type tree .....One of our cheeky Magpie pair is back, high up in the tree outside our kitchen window and calling to his/her mate/friend. The bird on the lower branch is hop-a-long, a very lame and fat Woodpigeon. Our Crow family came to visit the bird feeders and drink and bathe in the bird bath first thing and our resident family of masses of Sparrows and Dunnocks who live in the hedge are creating a din whilst all trying to balance on the various feeders and fat balls at once - Our one Robin, once seen Jay and Nuthatch, couple of Blue Tits and Blackbirds and a few other exotics have not shown their beaks this morning.

Its been a gorgeous bright December day today and #1 daughter and I have made some inroads into the C shopping. We had a leisurely lunch at the local garden centre followed by quite a successful shop. Mr. T was happily ensconced at the Gliding club and has been up in the air twice today, and obviously was very glad to have got out of any more shopping!