New bird species - Bullfinch

Spotting a species that I have not seen on site before is becoming increasingly rare after three and a half years living here. Today I saw the first bullfinch on site - this has got to be one of the handsomest birds in the UK. As a child living in the suburbs of London in the late fifties and early sixties I remember them as fairly common but they seem to have declined drastically. Living in Appleby for fifteen years I can recall a couple of sightings in the area, both whilst cycling, so this is only the third bullfinch I have seen in that time.

Kingfisher fishing (sort of)

I saw the kingfisher actually dive into the moat on Friday and come up with apparently something in its beak. It flew in and perched briefly on a sycamore twig that is over the water. I saw it dive in and then return to the perch. Unfortunately the handblown glass I was watching through makes everything a bit hazy so I could not be sure what it had in its beak. I can only think that is it is dragonfly larva or something similar as I have never seen fish in the moat.

Fox sightings

I am seeing a fox regularly for the first time since we moved here in 2004. Early on there was a large dog fox that came crashing through a hedge by the back door at night but nothing since. Last week one came into the garden in daylight - running on three legs with blood on its other leg. It made a hasty exit when I went out and clearly knew its way around. Since then I have seen it regularly in daylight typically heading up the field from the wooded area as I am walking through the trees. I don't know whether it has its den on the property but I am concerned about the moorhens. I found a pile of moorhen feathers yesterday and my assumption would be that the fox had taken it.