Bits and pieces

Work has unfortunately gotten in the way of birding since my last post so all I've been able to do is a few short outings within Brussels.  My regular patch on the edge of the Sonian Forest remains very popular with photographers who scatter generous helpings of seed to try and attract the birds.  As you can see below, though, the Bank Voles have also discovered this bounty; I counted at least five of them coming to this particular log.

There was a sudden influx of Firecrests into Brussels Park last week, and it is only a matter of days now before we should be hearing the first Chiffchaffs of the year.  The region of Brussels doesn't boast much farmland but what little there is can be good for some atypical 'city' birds.  Yesterday, I found a pair of Grey Partridge as well as a single Skylark hiding in the same stubble field but was much more surprised to find a large flock of 40+ Linnets wheeling around Neerpede, in the south-western corner of the city.