After a little over three weeks back in the UK for Christmas I'm relieved to say I'm back in the Alpujarras, with the ice and the snow of Manchester already a fading memory...and it's time to check the "backyard" and see what's out and about in the new year. Most of the familiar species appear to be still around and at first glance it would appear to be business as usual.

The House Sparrow colony is as busy as ever, incredibly they seem to be showing signs of nesting despite the inevitable January winds and rain. Flocks of Goldfinch and Serin continue to pass by through the day. The olive groves and fruit trees are still supporting huge numbers of Blackcap, their hard, abrupt "tak...tak" calls added to by the churring and clicking of the Sardinian Warblers and the soft "hwit...hwit" of the Chiffchaffs.

Black Redstart too are showing well, alert and agitated as always, tails vibrating constantly as they flit nervously between their favourite perches. Blue Rock Thrush have stayed local through the bad weather and seem as happy on the shed roofs, pylons and wires close by as they do on the crags and boulders across the valley.

Our local pair of Kestrels are as busy as ever, calling noisily from the cliff-face across the river. The arrival of a pair of Ravens has not gone down especially well and their "cronking" calls have met with furious indignation from the Kestrels, obviously unwilling to share their territory with these huge and powerful corvids. It will be fascinating to see what happens as spring approaches if they try and stay to nest...to be honest I hope they do but there may be trouble ahead!

With the weather brightening a little we're hoping to be heading out further afield as soon as possible, so keep checking the Tour Diaries for all the news as another year of birdwatching down here in Lanjaron begins. Happy New Year!