Youngsters

A walk along the Peddars Way at Great Cressingham this morning produced my first observation of fledged Long-tailed Tits.  A flock comprising 10+ birds was watched moving through a hedge, the youngsters being most vocal as they begged to be fed.  The male of the pair was seen carrying food for his offspring, the female, the bird with no tail feathers due to incubating and other nest duties, looked tiny.
The Long-tailed Tit is in fact closely related to the Babblers of Africa and Asia, it is not a true Tit species.

Long-tailed Tit (juvenile) Peddars Way 18th May

Also seen was several Whitethroats holding territory by singing and performing their conspicuous song/display flight.  I predicted that one section of the Peddars Way would hold Lesser Whitethroat, and indeed a singing male was found in traditional habitat which has been utilised for years by this beautiful Sylvia Warbler.
As expected, both Goldfinches and Linnets were present in typical breeding habitat.

Starling (juvenile) 18th May

Starling (juvenile) 18th May

The first fledgling Starlings of the year appeared in my garden on 11th May, it is amazing how far they have come in a week with the youngsters almost reaching adult size.  Young Starlings are very noisy birds as they follow their parents around constantly begging for food, a consolation for the ever-busy parents is that young Starlings are very quick learners.
Also noted from the garden today was Siskin (I have seen 4 together recently indicating breeding), Goldfinches, the occasional displaying Greenfinch, a passing Sparrowhawk (male), and a couple of Buzzards high overhead.