February is a good month for seeing siskins in gardens and a pair turned up on our feeders last week. Although siskins are members of the finch family and have similar colours to a greenfinch, they are very different in appearance as they are much smaller and neater looking. The male also has a black crown and bib.

Other birds seen around the village recently include marsh tit in a garden and a grey wagtail along the brook in Brookside Lane.

Early signs of spring include bluebell plant shoots visible in Badby Woods and dog’s mercury flowering in several places around the village.

RP