The Occasionals

Sunday is the first day of my garden count week, and it got off to a good start with 9 species in my half hour slot. Somewhat later, two of our less frequent visitors arrived - a pair of Greenfinches. They are a largish finch with a big chunky beak, but despite this are quite timid. They are easily bullied off the feeders by House Sparrows and never stay long even when the Sparrows leave them alone. In the last week or so, apart from the more frequent Goldfinches, we've also seen Chaffinches, Siskins and a lovely pair of Bullfinches from the kitchen window. This morning I could hear a pheasant very close by - I wonder if that could be  our next garden tick.