One of the main meditation practices we teach at Vajraloka is counting the breath. Over the course of a week in April, one of our guests counted something else too. On his daily walk, with binoculars and notepad in hand, roaming the rolling hills around Vajraloka, he counted the different kinds of birds he saw. By the end of the week, he had counted 51 different varieties! 
They were as follows : Heron, Mallard, Goosander, Common Buzzard, Red Kite (see photo) , Sparrowhawk, Red Legged Partridge, Rook, Jackdaw, Jay, Magpie, Raven, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Tree pipet, Tawny Owl, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Wren, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Pied Wagtail, Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, Swallow, Robin, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Redpoll, Siskin, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wood Pigeon, Dipper, Curlew, Reed Bunting, Peregrine, Chicken and of course our many pheasants!
