Although tailing off now that the nesting season is over, birdsong in my immediate area has been especially vibrant this spring and early summer.

My garden blackbird (pictured) begins singing before first light and continues throughout the day right up until late dusk.

He is flanked on either side by two more equally vocal blackbirds each established in his own territory about fifty metres apart.

Chaffinch, goldfinches, the trill of a wren, the soft tinkling of goldcrests and occasional greenfinch perform while a songthrush in the far distance can be heard at times.

To complement that happy situation a snatch of early morning skylark song, however brief, in Richmond Park is enough to set me up for the day.

I contrast those beautiful melodies by comparing them to a visit to the Pheasantry in Bushy Park.

This delightful woodland is home to a variety of water birds, most of which are quite tame and easily approachable.

Nuthatch and rare lesser-spotted woodpeckers are also present.

However, any trip to Bushy park woodland is spoilt by the incessant racous yelping shrieks of rose-ringed parakeets.

Their loud calls obliterate native birdsong and their population has escalated out of control.

Richmond Park and other commons and parks are also suffering but Bushy is by far the worst example and clearly illustrates just how much an alien wildlife species can take over and dominate some habitats if not controlled.