Dawn listening

A brief visit into the garden this morning, before first light, produced at least 3 tawny owls communicating. Mimickery from myself led to a female calling from a tree by the chapel, although not visible. Two mallards were observed by the ford as I left for work, taking the running total for species to 30. Robins and a song thrush were heard in local trees and the resident jackdaw population was just beginning to stir. Plenty of bird activity in the garden throughout the day as the bird feeders (5) , which were filled Sunday afternoon, were all virtually empty. At this rate the cost will be somewhere around £12 - £15 per week for seeds and fat balls! Made up some bird suet food with left over kitchen scraps, Christmas nuts and lard. Maybe this high fat content will mean less feeding and a longer time between replenishing the feeders. I have noted that numbers of coal tits to the feeders are more than expected, with, I think, a maximum of 5 being regular visitors. Now need a local pheasant to return to eat all the wheat grain that the smaller birds seem to leave, which then falls to the ground. Otherwise, will have a proliferation of wheat in the garden later in the year.