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Spring is Sprung

Living at the top of a 500 foot hill it is striking how much later plants come out. My forsythia is now in full bloom while those in Central London are already showing signs of finishing. In particular the buds started to break on by two quince trees this morning. On the bird front the need to earn a living means that I only get a quick look in the garden at the start and end of the day, this morning was fairly typical with a blackbird and a chaffinch vanishing over the hedge when I checked the feeders.

Driving home from the station last night there was a red kite over the Chess valley at Latimer. I thought it might be about to land in the woods but couldn't stop to check as another car was right on my tail.

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No Choice

Taking my usual walk today it was striking how the autumn colours had come on in the last few days. When the sun came out I really regretted not having the camera with me. There wasn't much to see in the way of variety or numbers of birds. A couple of probable skylarks put up on a cultivated field but the gem was naturally a red kite. Circling over the fields behind my house at tree top height it finally came over my head as I reached the edge of the field. Living where I do I suppose that I should be blasé about them by now but when one comes overhead there is no choice. I still just stop and say "wow!"

Harvest

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Not So Quiet

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