A loud, repetitive, staccato tick-tick-ticking comes from low down in the jumble of grasses and bindweed at the base of a large unruly stand of umbellifers.

Then, like a jack-in-the-box, up pops this little Wren to perch on the stems, legs apart and staring, with attitude, at the human who stares back.

After a few moments, judging the silent human to be no imminent threat, the tiny bird with the big voice goes on about its business of foraging for succulent titbits. And what an absolute joy it is to watch!