Garden Update and the Staffordshire Hoard

There were several warblers in the garden over the weekend - some may have been the same bird but I did see two on one occasion. I am pretty sure one was a willow warbler but the others were either too far away or keeping to much under cover to get decent views. The male and female great spotted woodpeckers are still visiting the feeders daily - they especially like the fat filled half coconut and are very aggressive to any other birds that dare try to feed when they are there. Two robins are feeding together quite happily and blackbird numbers are building as they feast on the rowan berries. The sparrowhawk is still visiting most days but I haven't seen it manage to catch any birds yet.

My son is on holiday this week and yesterday we at long last went to see the "Staffordshire Hoard" at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. A metal detector enthusiast, Terry Herbert, found over 1500 pieces of 7th century Anglo Saxon gold and silver pieces (mainly weapons) in farmland near Lichfield, Staffordshire in July 2009. The collection has now been purchased by the Birmingham and Stoke museums. I was very impressed with the items on display - some of the engravings on the metal work are exquisitely detailed and I loved all the tiny garnets in some of the pieces. I must admit though to being a little disappointed that there wasn't more on display. To be fair the museums concerned are trying to raise more money to fund conservation and research of the pieces found and establish permanent displays so I am sure the amount of items on display will increase in the future.

I did phone the museum beforehand but unfortunately photographs of the Anglo Saxon Gold display are not allowed so sorry no photos.