Birch beast

My blip is just a bit of fun. As I walked past this broken trunk of an old birch tree I thought that it looked a bit like some kind of beast taking a dive into the bracken. 
My ears tuned into all sorts of noises while Bertie and I were out for an afternoon wander. As I left the garden I could hear a chain saw and hammering. Evidence of J (our neighbour) and Nick, each involved in their individual wood projects. The birds were tweeting in the nearby trees and I noted that there was much more birdsong than there had been a couple of weeks ago. One bird, a woodcock, made Bertie and I jump when it squawked loudly as it rose vertically from the undergrowth, obviously startled from its resting place by our proximity. I am in awe of its incredible vertical take-off skills! Further along in our walk, I was soothed by the babbling and gurgling of the stream as it tumbled over stones and boulders. What a lovely way to spend part of my afternoon. I am very fortunate.