Hello everyone
Well, what terrific weather we’re experiencing! The hot sun has finished our daffodils off, and I’m afraid the tulips may not last long. Still, we can’t have everything.
In our garden, we are lucky to have not one, but two pairs of greenfinches feeding on the nuts and seeds. The male is a beautiful bird, like a small green parrot (right)! We’re lucky
to have the two pairs, because greenfinches are not so common these days, having suffered from a nasty infectious disease. We also have lots of goldies, blue and great tits, plus blackbirds, robins, dunnocks and lots more.
This afternoon, there are two huge wood pigeons (below) sitting 
in the bird bath — it’s so hot, I don’t blame them. I saw my first two swallows on the 8th April, down on the wires at Tuck Mill. Then, the next day, there were two in the village. They have already made a summer! There is a pair of grey wagtails by the stream in the village. I heard my first chiffchaff on the 3rd, at Willands Ash, and I’ve heard lots more since then. It’s wonderful that these tiny birds battle their way to Britain from deepest Africa, every year at this time.
My daughter’s father in law, who lives near Louth, Lincolnshire, tells me that two sparrow hawks killed a pigeon in his garden. They both worked in tandem to chase and kill the poor bird. Then, one of them flew up into a tree, whilst his mate fed, and then took his turn. I believe the hen bird would have eaten first, because, after all, he’s a gentleman. More to the point, she’s bigger than him! Talking of sparrow 
hawks (right), I saw one quartering the hedge tops near Tuck Mill. Then, when I reached Cokesputt, there she was again—still quartering the hedges.
The sunny weather has brought the butterflies out early. I’ve seen the lovely yellow brimstones, tortoiseshells and peacocks already. The orange tips should be next.
Bye for now, Alan
