Recently, the weather has been superb for enjoying a springtime walk in the countryside, with the early spring flowers putting on some wonderful shows of dazzling colour.

The wetlands of Spennells Valley, Hurcott Pool and Blake Marsh have had some truly stunning displays of bright yellow spring colour courtesy of the blooms of the marsh marigolds and lesser celandines.

In just a week or so these yellow flowers will be surpassed as the bluebells on the reserves of Habberley Valley, Rifle Range, Spennells Valley and Hurcott Pool come into bloom.

This, combined with the unfolding of the majority of the woodland's foliage, will transform these reserves into an almost magical world that seems to exude tranquillity.

This effect is further magnified on the reserves of Spennells Valley and Hurcott as the bluebell woods on both reserves border streams, where water glistens in the sunlight and makes a wonderful bubbling and splashing noises.

Adding just that little bit more to this idyllic scene are the birds, all busily defending territories and trying to attract mates through the use of some fantastic song.

There is one bird, though, whose song rather than adding to this tranquillity seems to get right under my skin.

I am sure it is just me as my friends and colleagues find its song - if not exactly melodic - rather pleasing. The bird I'm talking about is the humble great-tit. Its a pretty enough bird which is a treat to watch on bird feeders and tables in gardens everywhere.

I even enjoy seeing them foraging among the leaf litter or staring down at me from their perches on a tree. It's just their song which grates.

In my opinion, the song sounds very much like fingernails running down a chalkboard. It is just so metallic sounding, almost like a dry saw sticking in a piece of timber as it cuts.

The great-tit seems so proud of its song that it goes to great lengths to ensure it is heard over the greatest distances possible.

It manages to do this by selecting the highest perch available to sing from.

Whenever I visit a reserve I can almost guarantee at this time of year I will be able to hear a great tit blasting its squeaky song out from somewhere hidden in the uppermost part of the tallest tree.

In the bird's defence, it is one of natures greatest opportunists.

In the wild it feeds on a bounty of insects and spiders during the spring and summer months, then makes the most of the autumnal supply of nuts and berries.

During the winter months, it either forages for fallen nuts and insect cocoons or, increasingly these days makes the most of human generosity by visiting garden bird feeders.