Mr Woodie has a sex change

Confession time: I realised today much to my embarrassment that Mr Woodie is in fact Mrs Woodie. I'd always thought it was the females which had the red nape but as I was reading up about their fledging chicks this morning I noticed my mistake. Oh well, I know better now.

It finally stopped raining in Capel Curig today. Mrs Blackbird (yes definitely female) has been out collecting worms and taking them back to the nest all morning.

Closer view

When I went out into the garden this afternoon I noticed all the buttercups were covered in these little insects. I had a look in my books under flies but couldn't find out what they where. Until a nice man called Malcolm from an online Bug Group got in touch and told me they were in fact moths, Micropterix calthella to be exact.

Added 17:10 Just heard the cuckoo calling so dashed out into the garden and there he was on the wire. Not a great photo but fantastic to see.

Hedgehogs, Jays and the Blackbirds

Late last night I went up to open the gate at the very top of the garden when something small and black scurried past my feet. It was very dark so I went back indoors and grabbed my camera and a torch and this is what I found.

A hedgehog

As for today, its been a tough day of nest defending for the black birds as the Jays have finally found their nest site amongst the hedge cuttings at the top of the garden.
The Siskins also returned today and feasted on the dandilion heads on the lawn.