I had another visit from the same female Crossbill yesterday and Siskins are coming constantly to drink and feed as well. There are beautiful Yellowhammers also who must have a nest nearby, I know that because they come to collect food and then fly off with beaks full of sunflower hearts only to return to do the same repeatedly. Great-Spotted Woodpeckers are coming to take peanuts - there are 3 - an adult female and 2 juveniles. Interestingly and perhaps uniquely, juvenile GSW are more colourful than their parents with a red crown that disappears after the first post-juvenile moult in late August.
I really hope that the male Crossbill that I have seen regularly moving with the female, comes down to give me a chance to photograph him. I have no idea why he is so reticent, several times he has flown down only to circle around before disappearing back up into the high canopy. This is very frustrating.
As you can see, juveniles do not have bright crimson red feathers around the vent as adults do, instead there is just the vaguest hint of red, however, they are still one of our most colourful birds with bold black and white markings on the wing which flash when they are in flight.
This is a female Yellowhammer.
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