Young Jays..

The day started with a resolution. The ironing had to be done!! If it wasn't I was in serious danger of running out of clean clothes!! I don't like ironing! In fact I don't like housework of any kind..... ;)

However, I stationed myself by the window so I could birdwatch while undertaking this horrendous chore. I was well rewarded.

Lots of squabbling amongst some Greenfinch little ones. A couple of young Goldfinch then joined the crowd under the apple tree.

BUT... there was loud screeching and calling from high up in the Holly Tree (this must be about 40 feet high). At the top of said tree were three Jays (Garrulus glandarius). One a parent and two youngsters.

The parent left and...

a young one dozed..

one opened a sleepy eye..

and decided to have a wash and brush up

its sibling at the top wouldn't come into view for quite some time..

but then gazed around looking bleary-eyed

In the lower branch again, the first youngster was having a look around

After a while, it moved to a higher branch. By this time its sibling had gone to join Mum in one of the tall oaks nearby.. she'd been calling.

After a while, it had another preen; showing off its colourful plumage.

And then it helped itself to one of the many green holly berries. I was interested to note, that having collected the berry in its beak it then placed the berry on the branch and held it between its two feet whilst it pecked at it to eat.

And yet another youngster. This Great Spotted Woodpecker has been coming every day for over a week now and often comes several times a day. The peanuts are disappearing quite fast.



And after all that excitement and taking loads of pictures it was back to the chores. But they got finished in double time after that;)