The Morning's Music

Anyone zooming along the A1 dual-carriageway road could be forgiven for not noticing the sign to Diddington. It's every bit as "diddy" as its name suggests, just a church, a farm and a few houses - and a total contrast to the noisy mayhem of the traffic rushing past.

We were there, my brother Les and I, just a few days ago but failed to see, or even hear, what we were searching for. Today we set out from the tiny car park at the end of the lane and walked back past the houses. Small birds tumbled out of every hedgerow and skylarks were singing up above as we made our way past the farm and out into the grassy meadows. We'd heard that a Ring Ouzel had been here lately. It should be migrating north but for some reason a few of them are hanging about around here. If you've never seen a Ring Ouzel it's a mostly black bird with a shining white collar - it looks rather like a clergyman - and there was not one, but two of them hopping around in the field.

Not being able to get close enough to photograph the birds I contented myself with a shot of some bunnies!

We then sought out the concrete road leading to the water treatment works. It doesn't sound very promising I know, but at this time of year there are usually small brown birds, hidden deep in the undergrowth at the roadside. They sound like this...

Recordings never quite do justice to the wonderful tone, wild improvisations or sheer volume of their song. Despite their name Nightingales can sing at any time of day or night. There was no chance of a photo, but that really doesn't matter; the bird is nothing to look at anyway, much better to just stand and listen...and wonder.

As we know someone who loves horses we thought we'd better include this fine fellow in the blog. It would be nice to think he was standing waiting for us; however he was really watching a beautiful grey horse who was being led along the road. 'Tis springtime.

Take care.