twenty

Both Monk Parakeets and Ring-necked parakeets are now on the general licence, they are both classed as agricultural pests, with the monk parakeet also posing a threat to power lines, by using supporting poles and lines for communal nesting, whereas ring necks use all available tree nesting holes to the detriment of the native species,.......they now form large flocks in London and the south east, with numbers in the thousands, and are an introduced species, with escapees from aviaries/collections etc forming initial numbers.

Two Whooper Swans, and six Bewick Swans, at Wainlode Hill meadows,( nr Tewkesbury ), yesterday. Female Siskin on sunflower feeder in our garden, first I've seen for a year or two.

Three Kittiwakes on the high tide at Saul, ( River Severn ), yesterday.

Yeah the difference is they have different beak arrangements, the finches are Granivorous and can crush seeds and swallow them straight away, with their heavy mandibles, whereas the Robins and tits are insectivorous, with daintier bills, they take the seed away and hold it in their feet while breaking it down into smaller segments, with hammer movements of the beak.

A Glossy Ibis yesterday at WWT Slimbridge.

A Dartford Warbler in gorse bushes on Tidenham Chase, Forest of Dean, yesterday.

A White-fronted goose at Coombe hill meadows, nr Tewkesbury, yesterday.

England 2nd innings, 68 all out..........Scott Boland, 4 overs,1 maiden, 6 wickets for 7 runs.........Ashes to Ashes, dust to dust. England lose by an innings and 14 runs.

But going on that basis, you would only need one positive case a day for the number to keep rising. If that is how it works, the case numbers will never drop, surely we work on numbers per day ?

Quite agree about what you said about phoning in positive........bet there's not many self employed doing that. Also, I just watched the news and it was said about positive cases rising, they then put up figures of 113,000 on Christmas day, 102,000 yesterday, and 98,000 today.....uh, rising ? They must hate saying anything positive on the news.

Brilliant, may you have many happy times together, Merry Christmas👍

It's not good.........just google Mark Drakefords son.

A Great Northern Diver on the River Severn, above Tewkesbury weir, yesterday.

Yeah they are a stunning bird, ( breeding condition cocks especially), Unfortunately the last one I studied closely was a probable tricho case, you could feel the breastbone like a razor blade, have also found a goldfinch and a greenfinch with same symptoms over the last year, both emaciated, but still beautiful in plumage.

It first emerged in British finches in 2005, with heavy tolls of Greenfinch and Chaffinch in 2006 in central and western counties of England and Wales. In 2007 it spread to more Eastern England, and in 2008 was recorded in Norway, Sweden and Finland, with the affected birds carrying English Leg rings. Greenfinch that migrate go directly to Norway and Back. Chaffinch that migrate go through Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium on their Autumnal return Migration, this led to the first cases in Germany being reported in 2009. Symptoms of the disease which attacks the back of the throat and gullet, are fluffed up plumage, difficulty in swallowing, laboured breathing and drooling of saliva or regurgitated food. Known as canker in pigeons and doves, and Frounce in Birds of Prey. Hope this helps explain a little.

Lucky you, please send some south,👍.......Have a good Christmas.

c14 Greenfinches amongst a mixed flock of 60-70 finches, ( Chaffinch, Goldfinch), feeding amongst Alder trees in Gloucestershire University grounds yesterday........hopefully a positive sign for the Greenfinch,(and Chaffinch), after recent years of rare sightings, due mostly to trichomoniasis

Male Goosander on Pittville Lake, Cheltenham, yesterday.

A lot of my shooting friends are from just over the Welsh border from Gloucestershire, I have yet to hear a good word about Mark Drakeford, (or Drippy )as they refer to him.

That's brilliant, all the best to everyone involved,👍.

Cracking looking pup, hope you have many happy years together.

The wren is the third smallest/lightest bird in Britain, the goldcrest is the smallest/lightest, weighing about the same as a 20 pence piece, followed by the firecrest.

Black Redstart on Gloucester Cathedral south porch yesterday, probably the returning bird of last winter. Two Scaup at Cotswold Water Park over the last few days.

Yes, my wife has also received the email, she is also in the vulnerable category.......not seen it ' advertised ' as such, and she was wary of a scam.

Our shoot yesterday was cancelled at the last minute, four of the eight guns testing positive..........next one is 30th Dec..........six more in January'22, including keepers day...........fingers crossed. Merry Christmas.........hopefully 🤞