I don't know about you but my bird feeders are heaving at the moment. I'm fill them up in the morning before work and by the time I'm home they're empty again.
In a normal spring this can be one of the leanest periods for many garden birds, with natural seed supplies exhausted and very few insects on the wing. So imagine what it must be like this year, given the conditions - we even had yet more snow flurries in Brighton today.
But at least all the bird activity in my garden is drawing in some more unusual birds, and one day this week I had a coming-together of north and south.
Presumably waiting for his chance to head off across the North Sea to Scandinavia was this dapper male Brambling. Over the next few weeks, the white tips to his head feathers which give him a rather grey-haired appearance will wear off revealing their jet black bases, and he will begin to look quite a different bird, but we rarely get to see them in that attire for they will be in their remote forest breeding grounds by then.
Sharing the same cherry tree (which as you can see resolutely refuses to come into blossom) was this female Blackcap, which if I had my way would be called a Gingercap.
It is possible that she was fresh in from wintering grounds in the Mediterranean or Africa, feeling cold and hungry. Equally she could be one of the mid European birds that have taken to wintering in the UK but wisely she has yet to make the return journey for she would be battling the easterly winds all the way.
I'm sure that for both the Gingercap and the Brambling, my garden was the pit stop they needed, helping them recharge their batteries at this difficult time ready for great journeys and breeding season adventures ahead. And the same is true in thousands of gardens across the country. So to all of you filling your feeders at this time of year, nice one! I know birds can't exactly show their appreciation, but you can feel confident that it really makes a difference.
If you want to drop by my RSPB wildlife gardening blog, it is updated every Friday, and I'd love to see you there - www.rspb.org.uk/community/blogs/hfw
We're just to the west of you - mature suburban garden in Chichester, West Sussex/Hampshire border. Three bramblings arrived just before the Big Garden Birdwatch and hung out with the finches. They were here until fairly recently but I don't think I've seen them this week. Twelve-ish siskins joined the flock and are still here now, making a racket and being messy eaters (sunflower hearts)! Both species are new to me and my garden and two other firsts this year too: a male blackcap (seen once) and a chiffchaff seen just before Easter. I've binoculars on the side in my kitchen just in case anything else new turns up!