6.40 am

Rumours fly around these raucous ring-necked parakeets. Some say Jimi Hendrix is responsible for their prevalence in this area, having released a pair in the 60s; others insist that a small flock escaped from Shepperton Film Studios during filming of The African Queen in the 50s. Both explanations are undoubtedly nonsense but I like the stories nonetheless.

Sadly the parakeets bully the bird community, and are now regarded as pests. Apparently, people are allowed to cull them. Not me though.