STUDYING woodpigeons as they came in to feed in a cornfield, I sat quietly out of sight in a makeshift hide under a thick hedge and marvelled at the ease with which I was able to get fantastic close views of other birds.

To one side, and only just in view, my attention was drawn to that peculiar chirping call given by young blackbirds as they beg for food from their parents. For the several hours that I was there, the devoted blackbird parents kept up a constant relay to their offspring. It's no wonder they grow so quickly with the amount of attention they receive.

One of the little teasers that often catches me out is the difference between the simple calls of the chiffchaff and the willow warbler. I know that one is a single hweet' note and the other has two syllables, sounding much more like hooeet', but I could never remember which is which.

I could hear the loud single note call gradually getting closer as the bird worked its way up the hedge. Then, suddenly, there it was on a hogweed just a few feet in front of my face.

Although they look remarkably similar to the untrained eye, there are one or two differences that can be picked out with a good view. In this case there was no mistaking the dark-coloured legs that identified this bird as a chiffchaff.

It was well aware that I was there, but far from beating a hasty retreat it hopped about the hedge, just out of reach, by my side and overhead, every now and again scolding me until it decided enough was enough and moved on.

I had a clear view across the top of the corn and was able to marvel at the way the swallows skimmed low across the yellow field, occasionally moving to one side as a screaming party of swifts swept past.

Other species that put in a brief appearance included rook, crow and jackdaw, and numbers of linnets. Without doubt the best sighting, although very brief, was when a hobby appeared immediately in front of me, just a few feet above the ears of corn, coming straight at me at speed.

Its black moustached face and finely striated breast were right in front of me then, in an instant, it zoomed over the hedge and was gone.

All this was within half a mile of my home. Who says you have to travel miles to see good birds.

Diary date: This Saturday, July 22. Budleigh Salterton. Meet at map ref SY073820, 10am. Led by Audrey Howard (Taunton 490428).