I'd like to announce my candidacy

              I'd appreciate it if you vote for me....
                Vote for Me, Joe Walsh

So, ignoring the small thing going on in early May, cos thats what I am planning, ignoring it, there has been the other task of voting.  For a National Bird.  Oooooh!  A National Bird!
There I was listening harmlessly to Radio 4 last week when on comes David Lindo blagging about a vote for said bird.
Did I vote.....no...(is it over?).  Did you vote?  What for??
Now, even my wife, via the universal tedium known as Face-ache(book) was in the know.  She even ventured an opinion....Robin.  But she didnt vote.
Im guessing most people across the UK, probably including many birders, didnt vote.  Even if they knew about it.
You see the trouble is, with us Brits...we just arent patriotic enough most of the time.  Take an American...now, they are well in to their State birds and whatnots.  Ask any of them what their State bird is, or fruit...or whatever....and they will tell you.  Even if they dont know anything about birds.
Why?  One word.  Patriotism.  If nothing else you can count on an American to be patriotic....flag waving.....knowing all the words to the national anthem....even if it does sound like a Christmas song to everyone else in the world.
So now ask a Brit to be patriotic.  Hmmmm.  A hard task.  And when that National Bird is announced, if its announced....to the Brits...or the world...ask them to name that bird the day after....!  Or have I missed the announcement already?

So to today................

Overcast, cool, SW f1-2

Around the pits:

Dunnock, Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Robin, Crow, Woodpigeon, Wren, Great Tit, Yellowhammer, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Blackbird, Feral Pigeon, Blue Tit, Skylark, Buzzard, 5 Fielfare, 4 Stock Dove, Reed Bunting, Magpie, Green Woodpecker, Long Tail Tit, Bullfinch.

Warbler count:

19 Chiffchaff

On the pits:

19 Mallard, 95 Tufted Duck, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Mute Swan, 5 Grey Heron, 1 Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, 42 Coot, 6 Moorhen, 4 Pochard, 7 Cormorant, 8 Canada Geese, 4 Greylag Geese, 1 Teal, 2 Water Rail, 4 Mandarin Duck, 2 Snipe.