11 MAY 1951, Page 18

A Changing Scene The view I command from my windows

changes from Moment to moment. At one time the air is. full of house-martins ; then later on none are to be seen. On the ground at one time the garden seems to be full of blackbirds ; an hour later their place is almost entirely taken by song- thrushes ; at another time there is a predominance of finches and so on. Both blackbirds and thrushes are now busy gathering building materials. including dry blades of grass. I have noticed one blackbird slowly and laboriously burdening herself with so much of this material that eventu- ally it was difficult to see that she was a blackbird at all ; on the other hand a thrush was more expert at quick work, and, having hastily gathered a moderate load, flew off with it to the nest. Incidentally our jackdaws have had another fruitless week of nest-building in the church porch, and thougft once or twice a few twigs have draped the rafters it has all come to nothing.