Young country diary: my first ever goldfinch, and it's staring right at me

South-west London: I've never seen one before! I'm enthralled by its song and its beautiful coloursI'm on a walk with my mum - it's way too early to be awake. The path is wet with morning dew. Flowers stand still in a breezeless field. Then, movement. A splash of colour - I squint. Over there, settling on a branch, a bird turns its head. Beady eyes look into mine as we regard each other. My mum powers on, oblivious. Is there a bird as bewitching as this? Its song is as gentle and enchanting as the soft bubble of a brook. I am enthralled by the beauty of the colours that decorate its small body. Beautifully adorned with an array of alluring yellows and crimsons. Continue reading...