At last!

I've been having ongoing problems with the internet connection on my computer for quite some time now. There's a problem with the wired LAN connection, and since it's quite a new motherboard I'm a bit annoyed about that. But it works perfectly on wireless, so for the last couple of months I've disabled the LAN network, to free me of all the irritiating messages about being disconnected, being reconnected, being disconnected and so on. But last week my wireless adapter died.
So on Tuesday, since it was a bright and sunny day (even if there was still ice on the paths at midday) I walked over to buy a new adapter. On the way out the door I remembered that although I had made sure to tuck my camera into my bag, the memory card was still upstairs.
I'm glad I remembered! I'd just crossed the railway line and the canal, and in a garden in the first row of houses, I spotted two waxings. I couldn't get very good photos, so you can't really see the colourful parts. But those crests are so distinctive! I was surprised at how small they were - not much bigger than chaffinches. I think I was expecting something more like a starling size.

We also have one little bluetit, and a little wagtail stomping along. I saw him after an abortive visit to Woodies to get bird seed. They don't seem to have a good range at all since they took over; if it's so poor in winter that I can't even get sunflower seeds, I think I'm going to have to look into something else.

On a postivie note, spiking my apples into the ground with two skewers in an X seemed to have foiled the squirrel, and the blackbirds are happy again.