A new guest in the garden

The snow's still on the ground and more is forecast this evening so it's no surprise the numbers of birds in the garden is holding steady, with the occasional new garden record (ten Reed Buntings for example). It is always a delight however when we get an entirely new species in the garden - yesterday (Saturday) we were visited by our first Redwing seen here rummaging under one of the feeders:














On Sunday it was two Redwings, seen here again on the side border under the whole sunflower seed feeder:
















The other unusual thing about the garden this weekend is the amount of birds getting ready to breed. We've seen both Collared Dove and House Sparrow with nesting materials. A pair of Robins did a display, which I've never seen before:











Before alighting in the hedge together:

















I guess they must be reacting to the increasing hours of light, as it remains freezing cold with most of the ground covered in snow, except the areas we're keeping clear to feed them.