A walk along the lanes to the local sub-post office to post some book-shaped parcels. On the way back, as I walked down the bridleway just below the house, a sparrowhawk shot out of the undergrowth and headed off low down the track in front of me. Without pausing to look either way, it hurtled across the road, and swooped round the corner of the row of houses opposite. It was clearly following a regular hunting flight-path, no doubt heading for a neighbour’s bird-feeder—then possibly our own.
Later, near dusk, about twenty thrushes flew overhead in loose formation. Mistle thrushes, perhaps with some other thrush species thrown in for good measure. I saw a flight of about 150 last week, as I stood looking out the dining room window. Such formations are one of the delights of autumn and winter as far as I’m concerned.
