The Lincolnshire Bird Club

News a little late as I forgot to renew membership and couldn't access the forum. Having had 2 jays visit daily in the back garden of my housing estate semi from 3 April - first time I've seen jays in Holbeach - I had what I thought was a sparrow on the niger seeds in my front garden on 6 April. Saw it again on the 7th and realised it had a red cap. I managed to get quite a few photographs of it but they were through a window and it had its back to me most of the time. The photographs are very fuzzy but good enough to show it as a female redpoll. Can't confirm what sort I'm afraid. Regularly have goldfinches in the garden as the avenue is lined with silver birches so assume it might have been flocking with them. Don't know whether they've been seen in Holbeach before, and apologies if it's a common occurrence - made my day anyway!

Hello Stewart

Redpoll has not yet been recorded in the summer months in the BTO Atlas for the 10km square TF32 (centered on Holbeach). The record should be entered as a migrant (M).

I have seen individual Jays in TF32, but not a pair of Jays. This record should be entered as a pair in breeding habitat (P).

If you are not registered for the BTO Atlas, you can follow the instructions on the website at http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/bi ... bird-atlas. If you have any problems I can enter the records for you.

Hugh Dorrington

Thanks Hugh - I'll investigate the site and do my best! The jays were back again today, feeding off the peanuts. O posted a photograph of one feeding the other - presumably male feeding female - a few days ago. They both came, then just the one for two days, now both again. Long may it continue!