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Malcolm Leigh writes about Birds

Some of you may have wondered where most of the birds had gone in late October and are still missing as I write in early November. Ihave noticed that out of 15 sparrows who used to visit our garden, there are now 3 and the starlings are down from over 70 to 10. Look no further than the fields in the countryside, with the ground being so wet with the rain and floods and also quite warm as a result of global warming,

Do you remember days and weeks of zero temperatures and regular snow? The ground is now so much warmer and slugs and snails are more active and worms come closer to the ground surface. Have you noticed the large number of worm casts around? There are more leather jackets to be eaten - and there is more protein in them than bread and seeds. Also there are more berries around to Last over Christmas.

Last October 1 and a friend were at Spurn Head, on the east coast at the mouth of the Humber. We were in good company. During the day, a large number of people were counting the birds as they flew over for records of the British Trust for Ornithology. The birds had flown from Scandinavia, some of them flying all night to avoid predators. They were all exhausted when they arrived and had to build up their strength by feeding on the sea buckthorn. Over half a million thrushes passed over while we were there and there were blackbirds everywhere. This is East to West migration and they come to Britain because our islands are warmed by the Gulf stream and made more attractive by the damp conditions.

These birds will then spread all over the country and we wondered how long it would be before they came over to the west side and into our gardens. Vicky and myself usually have about 9 to 12 blackbirds in our garden and five landed on 10th November.

The Scandinavian blackbirds are easily recognised because they usually have black beaks and no yellow orbital eye rings. They normally come into full plumage or nuptual next summer when they get back home to their country. British blackbirds have a yellow beak and a bright yellow ring around their eye.

How blackbirds survive is just short of a miracle, I have watched them for hours and all day they fight and argue over territory. We can have at least 9 birds fighting over 3 bird tables. They never seem to eat anything at all but they must do, as they're there next day fighting for more.

We also put apples and seed etc on the ground because thrushes prefer to feed that way so that they can run for cover if they sense danger.

So, do as we do, spend a fortune and enjoy watching them. Don't just throw a few scraps out and close the door. It's better than East Enders but on a par with Coronation Street.

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