The lovely little treecreeper always draws attention on the show bench – if you can spot it! A master of camouflage, this native softbill often goes undetected as it gleans on a tree trunk or branch. But once spotted, it’s totally distinctive and the reason for its popularity with softbill fanciers becomes clear. We examine the life of the “bark-runner”, with tips on housing and breeding. Not quite so inconspicuous is popular Kuwaiti budgerigar ace Ali Bouresli, who this week reports on the first part of a whirlwind tour of England’s budgie rooms and shows. On the canary front we have bulletins from the worlds of Fifes and frills. We also report from the Scottish and English National Exhibitions and carry updates on Bengalese and from the North Downs. Raffle news, too, and some classic show reports.

The lovely little treecreeper always draws attention on the show bench – if you can spot it! A master of camouflage, this native softbill often goes undetected as it gleans on a tree trunk or branch. But once spotted, it’s totally distinctive and the reason for its popularity with softbill fanciers becomes clear. We examine the life of the ....