New Spring visitors to the Garden 

 It was an early April morning when I peered out into the pepper trees across the lane.Still blurry eyed I was sure that was a Sombre tit inspecting the nestbox I had put up 2 years earlier .

Sure enough, after a cup of coffee and a quick dusting of my binoculars ,I confirmed there were now two Sombre tits very interested in my up- to -now tenantless -box.

Since the winter we had only  the House sparrows coming to the peanut feeders in the olive tree.That was until I heard a lot of "chattering" coming from outside the kitchen window.It was a Great tit seemingly very unhappy having to share some peanuts with my new -found friends the Sombre tits.

This behaviour has been a regular early -morning occurrence for the past week now with the 2 Sombre tits usually winning the breakfast-battle.That's, of course ,until the House sparrows arrive in force .

                                                   Sombre Tit winning the  early breakfast battle

 After 2 months of regular daily- visits to the feeders,the parent birds, both Great tit and Sombre tit, grace us with the pleasure of bringing their nine fledglings (between them) for breakfast,eleven's,dinner and evening meal every day; causing absolute mayhem with all the other birds. 

                                                                   Great tit picking up the leftovers 

                                                 One of 4 Scruffy juvenile Sombre tits  

               Collared flycatcher                                             Spotted flycatcher

                        Olivaceous warbler                                        Willow warbler

                                                                     A pair of Red backed shrike

      Its now late October and the last of the spring/summer garden visitors have departed on their migration South,leaving room in the garden for the winter visitors that should be arriving in a few weeks time.Some of which include the Black redstart,Sardinian warbler,Chiffchaff,Blue rock thrush and usually about 24 Blackcaps.

  Fingers crossed we shall get a few unexpected visitors as well .