Country diary: A walk among the fresh molehills and bright ivy leaves

Comins Coch, Ceredigion: Another tree has fallen in the high winds since the new year, leaving a gap like a broken toothIn the crown of the tall beech tree at the corner of the lane, two pairs of rooks are perching close together. While not adding much warmth, the last of the afternoon sun, as it creeps beneath the western bank of cloud, at least brings some colour to their plumage and the bare branches around them.The main rookery is just over a mile away - a noisy, crowded roost in a collection of pines - and in recent years I have noticed a number of rooks apparently scouting for other accommodation. Continue reading...