garden excitement 22/01/2010

At about 1.20 this afternoon mum alerted me to a huge number of birds in our Belmont garden, next to Banstead Downs. This included a party of LONG-TAILED and BLUE TITS. More significant, however, was a GOLDFINCH that was thinking about visiting the feeders before flying off, though I didn't see it. This species very rarely lands near the garden and if it does it never gets this far in! Also, REDWINGS very rarely come to the garden but several were feeding on the lawn for a brief period before flying off with the 60 or 70 that were lurking nearby (there was also a BLACKBIRD). Also 8 CHAFFINCHES were feeding at the bottom of the bird table and a couple more were up in the trees. Very odd! Loads of birds of species that wouldn't normally associate all staying for the same short period of time. I'm off to Manchester now! Back on Monday.