They really are.
I don't know where to start today! I had a thoroughly enjoyable couple of hours at Warnham Nature Reserve and saw loads of birds. There were a few that stuck in my mind though; there was a nutty nuthatch that thought he ruled the feeders and was giving all the other birds a hard time. There were stacks of Reed Buntings (making me think of the Sparrows at the Masked Ball reference and Eeyore's smashing photo). I had super views of Teal. But the two main highlights were both new to me if they were what I think they were. One was a female Yellowhammer, and the other was a male Tree Sparrow.
Anyway, a smashing morning and it gave me a real buzz.
P.S. Oh, and the reeds were full of female Partridge, what were they doing there?