At this time of year, early mornings are filled with the sound of birds seeing off the rival suitors they can view mirrored in the highly reflective new indows we had installed last summer. The courtyard robin announces his ardour by a flurry of pecking and fluttering against my bathroom window, while the pheasant knocks loudly enough on the french windows to the small sitting room to make you think someone is at the door, while the bluetit contents himself performing pirouettes on the honeysuckle stems outside the kitchen window. He may just be watching himself perfect his courtship rituals...only he knows for sure.