Five Long-tailed tits and a blackcap feeding

Dusk was approaching when I looked out of the back door. there were at least eight long-tailed tits scrabbling about this feeder for the suet pellets they love. Long-tailed tits fly in big groups around the gardens alighting for a very brief feed and then rushing off to the next port of call.

By the time I got the camera out there were just five of them with one lone blackcap hanging on to his eating place. The tits are very sociable and don't mind sharing the food without squabbling. Goldfinches are quite the opposite and tend to want to dominate their perches and will squawk and posture to defend their perches. 

A few minutes later I photographed the goldfinches doing exactly that, but on their favoured food, the sunflower seeds, which are in another feeder a short distance away on a lower level of the garden.