halftwo
Wird Batcher
Out along the lanes the bird-filled fields, and along the wires with their Linnets; the fluffed tops of flower heads gone to seed with flocks of Goldfinches rising and plunging and along the ridges two dark Buzzards pitching in the wind, above the heather, now below.
Sailing the breeze along the horseshoe hill the Lesser black - backs swerve to find the Ravens and make them rise from the sheep-cropped fields: eight barn-large birds make for the plantation.
Mistle Thrushes rattle a throaty warning when a young Sparrowhawk begins to circle up from the trees, tilting on the fretful air, turquoise sky beyond above the lowlands to the north.
But the Hobby does not show today: unmolested Swallows low above the grasses swirl and pause to pick flies - and the grey sky above otherwise empty.
Back home and the House Martins swarm lazily in the little valley, peaceful.
Then a bolt of dark lightning flashes from the east: a Hobby, speeding casually down the slope, rowing its tern-long wings to stay fast, then swerves at the Martins by the barn.
It curves north and fast - gone before the valley can react.
Now the birds panic: Starlings flee and the Martins vanish. Jackdaws and Wood Pigeons spin above the trees.
The world settles back to calm and grey. But briefly a Hobby had electrified the day and the fizz stilled sparked from the frayed ends of its passing.
Sailing the breeze along the horseshoe hill the Lesser black - backs swerve to find the Ravens and make them rise from the sheep-cropped fields: eight barn-large birds make for the plantation.
Mistle Thrushes rattle a throaty warning when a young Sparrowhawk begins to circle up from the trees, tilting on the fretful air, turquoise sky beyond above the lowlands to the north.
But the Hobby does not show today: unmolested Swallows low above the grasses swirl and pause to pick flies - and the grey sky above otherwise empty.
Back home and the House Martins swarm lazily in the little valley, peaceful.
Then a bolt of dark lightning flashes from the east: a Hobby, speeding casually down the slope, rowing its tern-long wings to stay fast, then swerves at the Martins by the barn.
It curves north and fast - gone before the valley can react.
Now the birds panic: Starlings flee and the Martins vanish. Jackdaws and Wood Pigeons spin above the trees.
The world settles back to calm and grey. But briefly a Hobby had electrified the day and the fizz stilled sparked from the frayed ends of its passing.
