The Robin sits waiting on my decking, the nest box he used is empty his family out learning to look for food. He takes to the air the Red chest glowing as the morning Sun catches it. My pond has the first visit of the day by the young male chaffinch, he sips the water slowly his little neck stretching down off the grey slate he sees his reflection for the first time, thinkinh it is his mum coming to see him.

High in the pine tree the speckled chest beats fast as the Songthrush sings his latest chorus of different notes. He knows I am there with my camera listening to him, he looks down to watch me pass as he takes in a breath before his next melody.

It’s approaching that time of year when the formation of Greylag Geese arrive from afar. The sound is like their alarm telling you winter is coming. I find them grazing in a field, quietly I park my car and keep slowly looking at my surroundings looking for cover as I approach. There wise old birds having a look out at all times. I remember in the army that the Armoury and the Magazine a building holding Ammunition was guarded by Geese. You could not get within a 100 metres of the place. Do I creep forward camera ready. No moving as I crouch down to get ready and there is a sound of a Goose calling telling the others a Human is present.

Across the stream the old legs tread legs of repair, legs that once climbed a Volcano in Mexico, ran the 400 Metres in 50 secs, now given an lease of life. Movement to the left a flash of Blue and a call like a Owl or a Buzzard. Mr Jay fooled Ron years ago by having the ability to make sounds like other birds.

Rest for a while old chap there is no rush take in the fresh country air, sit on the big patch of moss tempting me like a soft blanket on a bed. Lie back look up through the canopy, blue sky close your eyes and dream of all the blue skies you have seen. From the Atlantic to the Caribbean, Canada to Cyprus, Austria to Berlin, London or Florida. Skies as a boy that were blue for months on end before we poluted the planet with jet streams.

The leaves on the Beach, Oak, Silver Birch, Rowan and Willow, leaves all shapes sizes and colour like the people I have met, different in colour with a different tongue. One floats down slowly it comes towards me lands on my chest. It rests on my heart like Jake saying hi dad you used to walk me through here come rain or shine.

Twig breaks alert again the military trained man located the sound and turns over onto his belly carefully resting his 600 beast in the palm of his hand. Blades of grass move as Red fur mixes into the green grass like a painting. Stay there my beauty pose for me.

My cubs are near you have never seen on have you, be still and I will bring one out for first Fox Cub a image that people will love to talk about instead of sadness of man’s sport to hunt me and my family.

He spots me and his head tilts side to side just like a puppy trying to work out what is in the grass. Come back Son don’t trust Man. From his belly the long legs lift him up like scanning as he hears the Tawny owl calling in the evening sun. The Bluebells stretch out in Redstart Wood dancing like an opening ceremony at the Olympics changing shape as they close for the night.

The Oystercatcher cries out as he nears the young that fledged recently there in cover from the fox and me, just trying to eat the grass for tea. Turning to his right he catches sight of the white rump of the Roe Deer moving away with the sent he displays.

The ground is undulating. Just the track of the Hare that uses the same path in and out, looking for fresh grass spouting out. It’s as still as the night as Ron makes sight the light being just right. He takes sight the Fur brown shining bright in the evening light.

Long tailed tits play in the beach tree following me as I make my way through the long grass, they hang from small tiny leaves quickly snapping up insects as they go. Little eyes that glow red ring round it as it looks below, stopping briefly to be captured on film, it’s for my Blog don’t you know.

I gaze up to see, my eye that’s seen many things, as a Blue Tit sings blue and white in its wings, Thistles are purple an green ready for the Goldfinch food again this summer it’s young it will bring.

My body still moves well not as it did when I moved over my the Assault cpurse, when I completed 3 Marathons 10 Half Marathons, but it is a wiser body now we have learned to respect it after years of abuse carrying 50lb packs on it, jumping from planes trusting the legs and back will take the impact.

A dash from the Stoat he seen me close, no image today you little cheecky rascal. Doves chase high up in the trees calling as they go trying to impress the female

My neck feels that chill that tells me another season will end soon, the nights will be cold. An image of the moon would be nice with a Tawny Owl flying past. An berry falls on the grass in front a rustle is heard as Mr Squirrel collects his harvest for the winter, he needs his fat reserves. I watch him hang like a bat or a monkey showing off for me, get one of me Ron, let them see me in the tree taken with your Sony.

I have strolled along with total peace, sat and lay down listened to the animals making sounds all around. I am in heaven my birds singing for me as I make my way round this land where I walk free my children and me. Showing them what money or their mobile can’t give them. Hoping that the birds they hear will hit a cord one that will sound in later life. They to will walk round showing their children what’s in the trees and on the ground, where the Bluebells can be found, soft green moss like a blanket soft on the ground, not a sound can be heard. The mind cleansed by fresh air, it’s free don’t you know anytime of day.

I sit in my Hide make s brew on my little gas stove, a nice cup of tea my camera and me. As I sip my brew the water from the pond is like a mirror trees at the end of the hide area look so nice, then a little visitor arrives. He sits for a while then looks down to see another bird looking back at him. Hello my friend what are you doing hear, have you come for a drink like me. Or looking for seed that Ron brings us daily. He looks after us every year. Has you seen my Dad they left us weeks ago but I am strong and use the box Ron put up to roost in , it’s lovely and warm.

All the birds that sing and and call through the forest, echoes of joy make me so happy. It will add years to my life my best friend said. So I arrive back at my my lovely wife Ruth greets me. Then I sit next to our Bella who gets eye contact with me. She wants to learn more sayings or nursery rhymes.