A miserable morning enlightenend

A dank morning, wearing my rubber boots for the first time in months. Then as I headed up towards the downs, a pair of goldfinches rose from the sow thistle edging the field bean crop. That was good enough but then a flock of around thirty linnets came out of the hedge and whirled around, determined not to leave the area. A mistle thrush broke into song, followed soon afterwards by a yellow hammer and of a sudden, the world seemed much brighter.

Pembrokeshire Coastal Path

With glorious weather, the birds were out in force along the coastal path. I have never seen so many linnets in one day and every few hundred yards you could also guarrantee to see a stonechat. But the real prize was to see small flocks of chough. Their plaintive calls btought them immediately to my attention but their playful flight was what really caught the eye. In a single day it was possible to see every member of the crow family excepting the hooded crow. Jay, magpie, jackdaw, rook and carrion crow all made an appearance, but none of these could outshine the choughs.