Like most bird sounds(parakeets excepted)the clamour of a rookery is music to my ears.

In the countryside, rooks are now busy, noisily repairing nests ripped apart by successive winter storms.

No doubt suitable twigs are readily available on the ground but often a rook will take the easy option and when a neighbour flies off to forage,nips in and steals a choice stick.This often results in much loud vocalisation for if the neighbour 'twigs' what has happened,then arguments break out all over the colony as nest spaces are guarded.

Another early breeding bird is the grey heron(pictured)again a colonial nester in heronries.Built high up in lofty trees,nests are large saucer shaped structures of stout sticks,used in successive seasons and added to so that eventually some nests measure many feet across.

The heronry in Morden Hall Park has declined in recent years but on the small island on the Thames near Richmond bridge, adults can now be seen standing by their nests while the famous colony in Battersea park is the largest around London.

With rivers flooding,flowing fast and highly coloured,herons must be experiencing difficulty catching fish at a vital time with young to feed so probably try their luck in lakes and ponds where spawning frogs make easy prey.

On a few occasions in wintry weather I have lost fish and frogs to herons in my garden pond.