Birthday Birds

Ok, I know we all have one (unless you are the Queen) but I really like my birthday. Especially when I get to do some birding for no other reason other than I can.
I dont know about you but there is something comforting about seeing all your common favorites, they are like known friends & not just birds. For example when you look at certain birds they remind you of something different, for example the Wagtail, I dont just see a bird that I like anyway, but they remind me of busy waiters running from table to table, very smart and neat and saying thank you every time they dip their tail. 
Magpies always give me the impression of the old Victorian sneak thief and so on with others, but the Robin always portrays the good in life, that delicate neat appearance that lets me feel safe.
Anyway after my usual rude awakening, cats dont care about birthdays only their tummies, I was treated to tea (yak pee) in bed, with all my birthday cards & pressies. My beautiful wife Ali really makes b'days special. This year I asked if she could get me "Lars Jonsson's Birds of Europe". It's an old book, but one I never got round to buying, and I have a good few bird books. It first came out in 1992, but I was looking for a newer edition. 
Ali found a second hand 2003 copy on Amazon for 5 quid, the new price is 16.99. When I opened it up I was amazed at its perfect condition, it looked like it had never been touched and I was very pleased, so well done Ali and well done Amazon.
Ceremony over, breakfast done (for cats and me) Ali asked what I wanted to do. The weather is not so good today, drizzle & cloud and feels chilly. Not sure I reply, would like to get a spot of birding in, nothing fancy, maybe a walk round the village, something simple. No probs she says, now I keep myself fit I do mountain walking, I still run & can still climb and today I am 57. However Al's Idea is a quick 15mins up a level track with several stops for, sightseeing, this is cos she is knackered!
Anyway I love being in her company, I truly love my wife and never tire of being with her everyday, so whatever birding I get in is ok with me as its not an arranged trip or anything.
You should never need an excuse to go birding as it is one of life's simple pleasures. Birds calm you, they are such amazing creatures, they capture your imagination and relieve tension, plus they tune your senses and observation skills. You should never just look at birds you should observe them, study their movements, colours & song. 
In closing this I had a great b'day, I got to share it with my family, I got messages from family back in UK & Spain, I got the book I wanted and I got some birding in at the same time!
Birthday Birds seen:
                            Lesser- Whitethroat
                            Sombre Tit
                            Yellow Wagtail
                            Alpine Swift
                            Crag Martin
                            Red-Rumped Swallow
                            Chiffchaff
                            Blackbird
                            Hooded Crow
                            Chaffinch
                            Blue Tit
                            Marsh Tit
                            Great Tit
                            Jay
                            Magpie
                            Black Redstart
                            Olivaceous Warbler
and my reassuring   Robin.