I awoke to the sound of robin and blackbird at 4.45am. I have always struggled to sleep beyond dawn during the Summer months; bird song is my alarm clock. Most of the time this is a blessing, but I will admit that midsummer can get quite tiring! The sudden screaming of swifts especially, can literally have me awake and leaping out of bed in seconds! My swift scrambles.
Ptolemy and I set off before dawn, for a walk around Gilling Woods. We were greeted by another frost, but the sun rose in a clear sky and soon added its warmth to our backs as we walked West. A pair of green woodpeckers flew up in front of us, immediately making themselves invisible in the wood. We nibbled at wood sorrel leaves as we climbed higher up the escarpment. The number of singing blackcaps mounted up quickly and the species would…
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