60 BIRD LIFE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR 



revisit one's favourite haunts without a struggle with 

 mud and mire. The stronger light shows off to 

 advantage the plumage of our smaller birds, and 

 foliage does not yet hide those which spend most of 

 their time amongst the twigs and branches. Plumage 

 is now at its best, for the nesting season is at hand, or, 

 in some cases, actually begun. The birds which have 

 wintered with us are in full song, and towards the 

 end of the month fresh voices tell of the arrival of 

 returning wanderers from over seas. In the bird- 

 world renewed energies and fresh activities give to the 

 month its key-note. 



Whilst several of our resident birds begin to sing in 

 February or even earlier, March brings a large accession 

 to the volume of song. The Mistle Thrush seems to 

 defy the shrill blast to drown his loud, harsh notes, 

 so often heard in dark, rough weather, or when the 

 north-easter rocks his perch amongst the topmost 

 boughs of the elm, that his country name of " storm- 

 cock " seems more than usually appropriate. The 

 Song Thrush and Blackbird towards the end of the 

 month are too much occupied with nesting duties to 

 sing much, and are then chiefly heard at dawn and for 

 a short time before and after sunset. All day long the 

 Chaffinch rattles out his lively challenge, while the 

 leisurely strains of the Robin form a sort of under- 

 current of song. Greenfinches trill in the orchard, 

 and the cock-bird begins the long-drawn call-note 



