Flirting redstart displays his charms: Country diary 100 years ago

Originally published in the Manchester Guardian on 15 April 1916

Surrey
Not far from the wood in a sheltered hollow, there is an old stone barn, once part of an abbey, with the decaying walls stretching beyond the building that has been repaired. The wallflower is coming into bloom about them, and the ditch sides are covered with primroses which have renewed themselves with double strength since they were shrivelled by the frosts. The wood is a favourite place with the cuckoo, and it is not well to let a morning go by without an early walk there to catch the first of his spring call. He has not come yet, but to-day, among the briars that sweep one of the old walls a more beautiful bird, which could not be mistaken in his brown-red colour, a redstart, came twittering from the overgrown hedge, "flirting," as the boys say, out and back again, never still, always flying just so near as if purposely to show the charm of his breast and tail, then away off a little, and next returning once more, as if it were pleasant to be in new company.

Not far distant a pair of chaffinches are beginning to build. You know what they are about by the fluttering and calling of the cock bird, and presently the nest will be one of the most charming things in the whole countryside, hidden away but worth finding to look at for its wonderful art in shape and texture. Song of all kinds is now coming towards its best, like the budding trees.