The house martins are back, zooming around twittering. Hope the cold spell isn't harming them. Saw the red kite again early yesterday morning, soaring in the sky. It really is a huge bird, with its forked tail. And lastly, a little egret which seems to live down by the small river and mill race in the village. Still haven't heard a cuckoo. That always makes me tearful with joy. I know they're a menace to the small birds who have to feed the chick, but that call is so haunting and poignant.