Greenfinches and Long-tailed Tits

Picking up on Byron's point.

Long tails had a brilliant breeding season in 2008 so there were lots of big families and flocks around in the autumn. They do move readily and some distance but I suspect the cold weather has done for a lot of them - Wrens also I think 'cos they are hard to find now.

Greenfinches are MUCH scarcer than in any other recent year. When we get our ringing totals out I will try and remember to post the annual totals but the viral disease last year probably clobbered a lot of them and they may have suffered in the wet summer too. Whatever the reason they are very scarce at feeders this winter. A word of caution here too though - many of our winter birds are from eslewhere, predominantly they arrive from the NE in winter so the effect may also be weather related if they went on to Ireland this year. They also get up late so looking at feeders after 1000hrs is a better guide than an early one!!