Yet Another Cycling Forum

Random Musings => Miscellany => Where The Wild Things Are => Topic started by: Wowbagger on 05 February, 2010, 05:16:53 pm

Title: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 05 February, 2010, 05:16:53 pm
Thursday: two collared doves mating in the walnut tree.

Yesterday: skylark soaring and singing its heart out near South Hanningfield.

Today: a primrose in flower in our garden.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 11 February, 2010, 09:57:09 pm
Pigeons flirting. Mallard pairing up. Hazel catkins. Alder catkins. Crocuses in flower, including one in our garden.

Loadsa snowdrops in the countryside.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: woollypigs on 11 February, 2010, 10:05:42 pm
Mid December 2009 : Cherry tree in blossom.

Monday : 3 ickle snow drops.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 11 February, 2010, 10:43:06 pm
Snowdrops last week

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/Bloke_on_a_bike/signsofspring2010001.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Rig of Jarkness on 12 February, 2010, 06:55:51 am
Snowdrops starting to appear in Princes Street gardens
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Snakehips on 12 February, 2010, 08:40:46 am
A pair of Great Crested Grebes doing their head shaking routine on the Thames.

And people starting to wear shorts again , and not just cyclists !

Snake

 My Library  (http://www.yudu.com/library/6690/Snakehips-s-Library)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pcolbeck on 12 February, 2010, 09:18:50 am
Shorts ! It was -6 here yesterday morning at 8:00am.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 14 February, 2010, 09:31:39 am
Black-headed gulls living up to their name.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: FatBloke on 14 February, 2010, 10:43:47 am
Hundreds of Easter eggs in the supermarket!  :facepalm:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Rig of Jarkness on 14 February, 2010, 05:29:27 pm
Black-headed gulls living up to their name.
Except they don't do they ?  They should be called chocolate-headed gulls  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: toekneep on 14 February, 2010, 05:40:45 pm
As we cycled through the lanes yesterday I was struck but the amount of birdsong we heard.  Lots and lots of snowdrops of course and daffodils making a bid for freedom from the frozen ground.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Moloko on 14 February, 2010, 08:42:39 pm

Hazel catkins.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: longers on 14 February, 2010, 10:18:46 pm
I saw some ducks acting funny yesterday, would they be doing mating stuff about now?

They were pet ducks, plain and dark but not bog standard ducks. They were waddling and trying to be as tall as possible was what I could see as we went past. The impression I got was they wanted to impress one particular duck with their tallness.

No lambs but lots of very pregnant sheep were also seen. They were taking the weight off their feet and having a good lie down.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Rig of Jarkness on 15 February, 2010, 05:48:36 pm
Crocuses in the Meadows
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Rig of Jarkness on 18 February, 2010, 05:35:42 pm
Daffs starting to appear next to the canal in Harrison Park, not flowering yet.  Give them another week I reckon...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 18 February, 2010, 05:40:11 pm
Some chap on R4 last night was saying that as most things have held back this year due to the extended cold weather, they will all set off together and very quickly when it warms up.

Should be quite spectacular.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Butterfly on 19 February, 2010, 06:11:58 pm
Some snowdrops in full bloom in St Andrews :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Moloko on 19 February, 2010, 06:15:31 pm
Sand Wedge. *swish* *swish* *swish*   :o
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: clarion on 19 February, 2010, 06:26:55 pm
Sandwich?  Yes, please! :D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Moloko on 19 February, 2010, 06:32:46 pm

One Marmite sarnie 4U.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 19 February, 2010, 08:59:34 pm
The first hoppy rabbit I've seen this year in Bingham.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 21 February, 2010, 09:27:09 pm
Daffs starting to appear next to the canal in Harrison Park, not flowering yet.  Give them another week I reckon...

I remember 20 something years ago my dad being incredulous that daffodils were in flower in time for St. David's Day. In more recent years it has become commonplace.

I will be surprised if we have any daffodils in flower n Southend by mid-March. There's no sign of any more than the tiniest shoots at the moment - and no sign of any warm weather to make them grow.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Chris S on 21 February, 2010, 10:00:55 pm
Daffs? DAFFS? No sign of Daffs in Norfolk - not even shoots. We've only just got Snowdrops.

Small birds are in fine voice, but the ice on my pond is still three inches thick, as it has been since a week before Christmas.

This winter has been quite unlike any I remember since we moved here in 1991.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Auntie Helen on 22 February, 2010, 04:21:28 pm
Our pond re-iced the other day.  Now it's melted we've had the rather sad task of fishing out the pond life that didn't survive the winter - a frog and two of our fish. Still, it looks like most of the fish have survived and that's pretty good going in a small pond with such cold weather - and lots of the fish are tiny babies that were born last summer.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: SteveC on 22 February, 2010, 08:47:06 pm
On the RSPB trip to Blashford Lakes, Ringwood over the weekend (seriously recommended reserve by the way).
Two great crested grebes beginning their courting display.
Two mute swans ditto.

S
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 24 February, 2010, 01:58:24 pm
The temperature in our garden is 10°C at the moment. That's the first time since November I reckon.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 25 February, 2010, 12:11:30 am
Riding tonight with neither hat nor gloves, and not getting cold! I could get used to this! :D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Chris S on 25 February, 2010, 11:59:40 am
Shock! There is liquid water in my pond  :o.

But all the fish are dead.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 25 February, 2010, 12:30:48 pm
Crocuses are now in flower in the park. The daffodil shoots seem to have grown about 2" in the pasts couple of days, although the ends are brown with frost damage. There are some buds appearing. Also, a pair of blue tits was making a heck of a din.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Moloko on 25 February, 2010, 12:33:34 pm
All my Narcissus are on standby. The buds are ready to bloom anytime now.
This time last year they had already bloomed.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: border-rider on 25 February, 2010, 08:06:26 pm
The primroses by our gate are just beginning to flower :)

Interesting, because this photo was taken on 2 April last year...


(http://www.bosphorus.f2s.com/primroses2.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Palinurus on 25 February, 2010, 08:42:06 pm
I wore legwarmers this morning instead of tights.

And the cat wanted out at 11pm instead of 4am.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Martin109 on 25 February, 2010, 08:44:39 pm
I rode with 2 layers instead of 3 for the first time this year, and track mitts instead of gloves! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Moloko on 25 February, 2010, 08:48:13 pm
(http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss226/SgtBikeo/primroses2-1.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Chris S on 25 February, 2010, 10:00:00 pm
(http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss226/SgtBikeo/primroses2-1.jpg)

Someone resized their picture with The Gimp - and clicked on the window with the picture on it. Sadly, the default black brush is active at the time.

I have done this. Eg:

(http://www.ivytodd.com/images/msg3.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: border-rider on 25 February, 2010, 10:01:38 pm
Someone resized their picture with The Gimp - and clicked on the window with the picture on it. Sadly, the default black brush is active at the time.

spot on :)

I just CNBA going and finding the original pic and rescaling it, re-hosting it etc.

Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Butterfly on 26 February, 2010, 10:41:19 pm
Crocuses on Wandsworth common today, to join the flock of snowdrops :D.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Moloko on 27 February, 2010, 09:56:20 am



(http://www.ivytodd.com/images/msg3.jpg)

Ever had the strong urge to sculpt that hill out of mashed potato?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Rig of Jarkness on 28 February, 2010, 12:10:00 pm
In the precious few moments of this morning's ride when my vision wasn't totally obscured by driving snow/sleet I did glimpse the odd black headed gull assuming their chocolate brown summer headgear.  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: toekneep on 28 February, 2010, 04:22:47 pm
A hint of warmth from the sun on yesterday's ride and a similar feeling this afternoon. A starling is nesting in a hole in the eave of the house opposite us. We shall be walking to the pub in daylight this evening for the first time this year. It's all adding up, won't be long now folks.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Gus on 28 February, 2010, 04:26:44 pm

Allmost all the snow are gone now  :D
I can see  patches that are green on the fields  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: JStone on 28 February, 2010, 05:46:48 pm
Frog spawn in the garden pond
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Moloko on 01 March, 2010, 04:06:18 pm

crocuses* are out.   :thumbsup:



*Reg, don't you fuckin' dare.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: clarion on 01 March, 2010, 04:08:29 pm

crocuses are out.   :thumbsup:

& proud! :thumbsup:

(saved Reg the effort) ;)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Moloko on 01 March, 2010, 04:09:36 pm


(saved Reg the effort) ;)

 ;D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pcolbeck on 01 March, 2010, 07:11:48 pm
Underneath our bird feeder spilled seed is starting to sprout.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: woollypigs on 02 March, 2010, 07:54:52 am
A butterfly two days ago
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: clarion on 02 March, 2010, 08:53:17 am
A Butterfly this morning ;)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: slowfen on 02 March, 2010, 05:27:50 pm


First goose eggs of the season (more food and drink) but a real treat
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: wooliferkins on 03 March, 2010, 10:55:37 am
Magpies rebuilding their nest at the bottom of the garden (or robbing for a rebuild)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Moloko on 03 March, 2010, 11:50:23 am
A Butterfly this morning ;)

And you don't even need a bell jar or nothin'.   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 03 March, 2010, 02:29:40 pm
Wore 3/4s yesterday. Perfectly comfortable until dashing for home just before dark, after an hour in the pub during which the temperature outside had dropped sharply, when my calves got a bit chilly.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Palinurus on 03 March, 2010, 07:15:50 pm
A setback.

It was light when I woke up (yay!) so I left early and did the long commute. Ice on the lanes, not enough to be a problem but not spring-like either.

Daffodils in the park about 2 inches high, usually grown and open by March 1st.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: spesh on 04 March, 2010, 05:36:12 pm
Underneath our bird feeder spilled seed is starting to sprout.

So which vistor to the garden has been dubbed Onan, then?  ;D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Butterfly on 05 March, 2010, 01:09:29 pm
I heard an enthusiastic woodpecker on the common today :D.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 05 March, 2010, 05:40:46 pm
More than a dozen moorhens were cavorting about on the lake today, indulging in a little displaying and some fisticuffs.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: woollypigs on 05 March, 2010, 05:44:37 pm
A massive bumble bee taking a lot of interest in my trainees very colourful lid.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Palinurus on 06 March, 2010, 10:18:11 am
The cat was chasing a fly in the bathroom the other day.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: toekneep on 06 March, 2010, 06:29:44 pm
First daffodils in bloom today.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 06 March, 2010, 09:16:52 pm
First dandelions of the year in flower today. Also a couple of daisies that were nearly open in a brief spell of sun.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 06 March, 2010, 11:12:04 pm
First daffodils in bloom today.

I saw some too, in Ewhurst, Surrey. Nothing yet in Southend though.

I had hoped to have heard a chiff-chaff today, but I didn't. I think the summer visitors tend to wait for a decent southerly wind to spring up to help them on their way, and we just haven't had one. I think it was mostly south-easterly today but still bitterly cold.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Rig of Jarkness on 07 March, 2010, 12:39:43 pm
Today, my first skylarks and first lambs.  Spring has sprung !
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 07 March, 2010, 09:40:55 pm
Heard my first yellowhammer of the year today, by Clifton Campville. Also noticed the Alder catkins in a sheltered spot by Swadlincote were just starting to dangle and, presumably, start pollinating.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Deano on 08 March, 2010, 10:19:05 pm
First daffodils in bloom today.

Really?!  I was quite pleased to see my first daffodil shoots yesterday, fighting for space amongst the yellow crocuses on the front at Middleton One Row.

I also saw my first spring lambs today, but most of all I was quite pleased today to be able to smell the sap rising, and the musty scent of the rotting leaves in Seven Woods.  With the sunshine and the relative warmth, it's starting to feel like spring.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 09 March, 2010, 09:42:09 pm
Still bloody cold here. I doubt that the shade temperature has exceeded 5°C so far this month. Isn't that below the temperature at which plants grow? O level biology was a long time ago but 42°F is a figure which sticks in my mind for some reason.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: clarion on 10 March, 2010, 01:03:42 pm
During a meeting, something dropped from one of the beams.  It was a very sleepy wasp.  It's now a dead one.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 10 March, 2010, 01:18:02 pm
Mrs P found a dead wasp in our garden the other day. Dunno how long it had been there though. It could've been the Ötzi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%96tzi_the_Iceman) of wasps.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Rig of Jarkness on 11 March, 2010, 07:01:37 am
First swallow !  Yay !!  'One reported At Sea c.190 miles due east of Peterhead past drilling rig Sedco 711 on 6th Mar'  from The SOC: migrant arrivals (http://www.the-soc.org.uk/migrants.htm)

Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: SteveC on 11 March, 2010, 08:42:20 pm
Celandines flowering on the verge on the commute home
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 11 March, 2010, 11:16:27 pm
First swallow !  Yay !!  'One reported At Sea c.190 miles due east of Peterhead past drilling rig Sedco 711 on 6th Mar'  from The SOC: migrant arrivals (http://www.the-soc.org.uk/migrants.htm)



That hardly counts! It was almost 200 miles off the coast! ;D

I'd be most surprised if any forummer sees a swallow in the UK before April.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Rig of Jarkness on 12 March, 2010, 07:10:31 am

That hardly counts! It was almost 200 miles off the coast! ;D


Well, yes, but it's a start ! :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 12 March, 2010, 06:02:47 pm
I looked at daffodils today and I reckon it will be another week before they are in flower.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Chris S on 12 March, 2010, 07:49:09 pm
YES! SIGNS OF SPRING

It didn't snow today. There wasn't a frost. There isn't any ice on the pond. There wasn't a wind off the North Sea.

Break out the shorts and the Bar-B!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: slowfen on 14 March, 2010, 08:06:55 am


First frog, unfortunately already flattened :'(
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 14 March, 2010, 08:32:42 am
There was an Essex daffodil yesterday. Just the one in 75 miles of riding.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 14 March, 2010, 11:45:29 am
11°C! In my garden! Now! Sunshine! Warmth! Rode my bike with no hat, nor gloves, nor windproof! Such joy!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 14 March, 2010, 12:16:05 pm
I can hear a lawn mower.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Andrij on 14 March, 2010, 12:31:28 pm
Me cycling in shorts.  If this keeps up I'll have to switch to sandals soon.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Rig of Jarkness on 14 March, 2010, 12:54:13 pm
Me cycling in shorts.  If this keeps up I'll have to switch to sandals soon.  :thumbsup:


Not sure about the shorts and sandals but yesterday and today I was in 3/4s and it was just about warm enough to dispense with the overshoes.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 14 March, 2010, 02:17:52 pm
Masses of new buds have appeared on the rose bushes.  :) :)
Next door kids playing on the swing.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Auntie Helen on 14 March, 2010, 02:46:16 pm
Saw a flattened newt on the kerb round the corner.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Palinurus on 14 March, 2010, 03:42:35 pm
Still haven't seen a daffodil.

But, the windows are wide open and the temperature in the flat is still in double figures. I've been down the allotment and actually stayed more than 15 minutes and come midweek..

(http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll155/Mister_Penguin/SE.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: vorsprung on 14 March, 2010, 05:44:43 pm
i just went for a ride in shorts

AND

i saw some daffodils
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 14 March, 2010, 05:57:02 pm
Walk in woods. No chiffchaff yet.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 14 March, 2010, 07:18:44 pm
Saw my first celandines in flower in the Lenches around 11.30 this morning. Spring normally arrives in that bit of Worcestershire about a week before it does in Brum. So I was impressed to see a couple more in Tanworth, only 7 miles S from home.

Or was I riding more slowly than the progress of spring from S to N  :-[ ?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Butterfly on 15 March, 2010, 03:28:08 pm
Daffodils in Wandsworth :D

An Aussie in shorts and flip flops in Clapham Junction ;D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 16 March, 2010, 10:20:10 am
Song thrush, wren and robin all in good voice. Also, another fairly subdued song I couldn't identify - possibly a dunnock.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 16 March, 2010, 12:30:40 pm
Shorts ! It was -6 here yesterday morning at 8:00am.
I am still wearing my thermal longs under my trousers. Indoors. We don't have much heating here.  :-\
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Nuncio on 16 March, 2010, 01:37:07 pm
Daffodils just beginning to bloom here near Swansea.  About 2 weeks later than usual.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: onb on 16 March, 2010, 03:02:15 pm
A couple of toads seen in the garden and  a lapwing seen last week ,an Oyster catcher this morning ,Curlews soon. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Rig of Jarkness on 16 March, 2010, 06:01:17 pm
A few dwarf daffs in flower in Princes Street gardens
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: onb on 16 March, 2010, 07:40:57 pm
Curlews  :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: I think they are great.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Deano on 16 March, 2010, 11:01:38 pm
Curlews  :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: I think they are great.

I heard a curlew on the Tees/Wear border this evening.  Marvellous birds.

I also saw my first lapwing of the year at the weekend, and there are displays of crocuses everywhere :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: clarion on 17 March, 2010, 09:19:48 am
I miss the lapwings and curlews.  One of my earliest memories is of seeing a curlew, then a lapwing up on Pendle Hill.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Regulator on 17 March, 2010, 10:14:24 am
Lots of squished frogs along the cycle tracks which run alongside the streams...

Sure sign of spring.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 17 March, 2010, 10:52:27 am
Frogspawn! Four clumps, and a large female frog.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Snakehips on 17 March, 2010, 06:13:30 pm
This little lot ...........

(http://www.yudu.com/item_files/140662/3b27e7d0f/Egyptians.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: andrew_s on 17 March, 2010, 10:19:21 pm
Round here the daffs were out on Tuesday, but not Saturday.
That's proper wild English daffs, not the bigger garden ones
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: RJ on 18 March, 2010, 09:56:59 pm
The slackliners and drummers are back in action on the Meadows during my homeward commute ...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Regulator on 19 March, 2010, 11:50:31 am
I counted 14 squished frog carcasses in a stretch of about 250 metres this morning...  :'(

I'm going to contact the Council and see if they can put up some "Frogs/Toads Crossing" warning signs.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 19 March, 2010, 07:45:41 pm
I counted 14 squished frog carcasses in a stretch of about 250 metres this morning...  :'(

I'm going to contact the Council and see if they can put up some "Frogs/Toads Crossing" warning signs.

I think there's always a problem where a road runs near/parallel to a breeding waterway. Amphibians mostly live on the land till they return to spawn in the water in spring. I recall many squished frogs on the B1000 in Hertfordshire near the River Mimram
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 21 March, 2010, 09:16:21 am
Yesterday the snow melted. We went for a walk to the forest and Mrs C heard a skylark. Yeay!  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pcolbeck on 21 March, 2010, 01:30:49 pm
Irises in our garden.

(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Photos/iris.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Really Ancien on 21 March, 2010, 03:29:08 pm
First weekend there hasn't been skiing at Yad Moss since 17th December.

http://csc.tayloredtechnology.com/ski/large.aspx?picture=Yadmoss-1-21-03-2010-10-59.jpg

Damon.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: nicknack on 21 March, 2010, 05:05:24 pm
Someone being busy in our garden the other day.

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/nicknacknick/IMG_0125.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Regulator on 21 March, 2010, 05:25:26 pm
I had a bumblebee visitor today.  First of the year (that I've seen) for our garden.

Not many flowers out for him yet.

I'm going to put a bumblebee hotel into the new garden.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: SteveC on 21 March, 2010, 05:50:50 pm
Curlews  :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: I think they are great.

I heard a curlew on the Tees/Wear border this evening.  Marvellous birds.

I also saw my first lapwing of the year at the weekend
But, but, but... ???
Curlews and Lapwings is winter birds.  (at least round here  ;D)

We know it's spring when they all leave.

Heard the first chiff-chaff of the year today, though.

S
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Palinurus on 21 March, 2010, 07:27:34 pm
I'm satisfied that it is now spring.

There's still a bit of a shortage of daffodils but I was wearing shorts on the bike today and it didn't seem like a bad idea.

And I went up a hill in the big ring.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Deano on 21 March, 2010, 11:24:58 pm
Curlews  :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: I think they are great.

I heard a curlew on the Tees/Wear border this evening.  Marvellous birds.

I also saw my first lapwing of the year at the weekend
But, but, but... ???
Curlews and Lapwings is winter birds.  (at least round here  ;D)

We know it's spring when they all leave.

Heard the first chiff-chaff of the year today, though.

S

Ah, the joys of living by the sea :)

I live in Darlington, which is valley land between the moors and the sea: lapwings and curlews moving up the Tees valley means they're heading to their nesting sites, for spring.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Snakehips on 23 March, 2010, 08:06:32 am
Blue Tits nest in my roof. Every year they tap away like woodpeckers making the hole bigger.

(http://www.yudu.com/item_files/142123/848c161ad/BlueTit1c.jpg)

which is unnecessary as they can get in and out perfectly well.

 Birdy Pics  (http://www.yudu.com/albums/items/98192)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Butterfly on 23 March, 2010, 03:57:07 pm
Cool photo :D.

I saw a tiny butterfly fluttering around the common today 8).
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Moloko on 23 March, 2010, 04:13:11 pm
Huge swarm of gnats that I passed through close to the brook. *spit* *pah!* *spit*
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: clifftaylor on 23 March, 2010, 05:51:03 pm
Just looked out the window and there's all flowers and that  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Andrij on 23 March, 2010, 07:57:50 pm
Sunday: daffodils and other flowers around Kenwood House.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: delthebike on 24 March, 2010, 04:30:16 pm
The tortoises are on the move.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Regulator on 24 March, 2010, 04:34:12 pm
I emailed the Council about the squashed frogs on my commute.  They're going to put up some more prominent "frogs/toads/newts crossing" signs, plus they've put me in contact with the local people who are doing a 'FrogWatch'.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 24 March, 2010, 05:43:57 pm
Yesterday we were digging my friend's car out of the mud he'd got stuck in, when his son said "What's that up there?" It was a white stork flying directly overhead. First of the year. And it did bring good luck - we got his car out.  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 24 March, 2010, 09:06:17 pm
It's warm here. No gloves or jacket on tonight's ride home at about 8 p.m. A jumper was enough.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: RJ on 24 March, 2010, 09:10:43 pm
The slackliners and drummers are back in action on the Meadows during my homeward commute ...

Fire-jugglers tonight.  And the cricket square's been cut ...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: clarion on 25 March, 2010, 09:56:14 am
Arriving at work this morning, I glanced round the car park (partly looking for dead rats - see post from last week) and saw that every clump of daffodils was in flower.  It was just beautiful.  As the smile spread across my face, the woodpecker hammered, and I grinned like a loon.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Moloko on 25 March, 2010, 11:01:31 am
the woodpecker hammered, and I grinned like a loon.

Where did he hammer?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: clarion on 25 March, 2010, 11:04:14 am
On a tree, you daft erbert! ::-) ;)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Moloko on 25 March, 2010, 11:08:45 am
On a tree, you daft erbert! ::-) ;)

Arabica's Herbert (http://static.tvfanatic.com/images/gallery/herbert-picture.jpg), not me.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: clarion on 25 March, 2010, 11:12:24 am
I was thinking erbert from the Beano (http://www.beanotown.com/images/58.gif) ;)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: numbnuts on 25 March, 2010, 01:05:58 pm
 Signs of Spring
yeah it's raining  :(
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: onb on 25 March, 2010, 03:41:14 pm
Inhaled and fortunately spat out a couple of flies or something like today :hand:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 25 March, 2010, 03:58:54 pm
Chiffchaffs!  :D

Heard the first one at 7.50 at Doggetts farm and three or four more at Danbury Common. I saw one of the Danbury ones.

I note from the Southend RSPB website that the first swallow was seen in Barling, which is on my usual loop. Will go out there tomorrow to see if I can see one.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 25 March, 2010, 04:51:59 pm
Never mind Spring, Summer has arrived in Aberdeen:

(http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/web/images/webcam/harbour_00001.jpg)

 ::-)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Really Ancien on 25 March, 2010, 06:41:11 pm
Never mind Spring, take a look what's forecast for the start of next week at Yad Moss.
Yad Moss 6 Day Snow Forecast & Skiing Weather for 725 m - Snow-Forecast.com (http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Yad-Moss/6day/top)

Damon.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Tewdric on 25 March, 2010, 06:43:05 pm
There's snow forecast here too!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: clarion on 26 March, 2010, 02:28:55 pm
In the square near work, the cars are starting to come out.  An Austin A30 and an MG Midget have emerged from their winter sojourn, and there's just one left to emerge ;D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 28 March, 2010, 10:09:11 pm
The year's first splatted toads on the road into town.  :(
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 28 March, 2010, 11:26:19 pm
Lots of new stuff over the last 4 days. Several chiffchaffs singing, (wild) primroses on the sunnier roadside banks, dog’s  mercury in flower, 3 wood anemones, first violets (looked like sweet violets, but proved to be without scent), hawthorn hedges showing green shoots, and even a few young bushes with open leaves, ash catkins, assorted willow catkins.

The hedge banks have suddenly turned green – cow parsley, wild arum, celandine leaves, wood sorrel, goosegrass, foxgloves, and lots of little cotyledons which look remarkably like the annual weeds I’m trying to control in remove from the garden.

The wild daffodils on the local south-facing slopes are now in full flower.

(http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/Crumbling-Nick/100_2467foryacf.jpg)

And the first spring beer was on tap at the Griffin (Church End), appropriately called Sign of Spring.

(http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/Crumbling-Nick/100_2462foryacf.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 30 March, 2010, 01:13:23 pm
Spring's on hold:

Quote
Subject: IMPORTANT Extreme Weather Event - Further advice from the PWS Advisor

Following this morning's conference with the Chief Forecaster and our forecasters in Aberdeen, we are now forecasting extreme weather for much of Scotland overnight tonight and into tomorrow.

During this evening, the weather will gradually worsen to give conditions which will not only be disruptive but could be potentially dangerous particularly in the north and east.

Northern & Eastern Scotland (including Argyll & Bute, East & West Dunbartonshire and North & South Lanarkshire)
Widespread heavy snow will affect much of eastern and northern Scotland. The heavy snow will be accompanied by Severe Gale force winds resulting in severe blizzard conditions with significant drifting especially at higher levels. At lower levels, where the snow is wetter, there could be significant effects on power lines. Visibility on roads affected by the blizzards could fall to virtually zero at times.

Glasgow & Southwest Scotland
The southwest corner of Scotland from Glasgow down through the Ayrshire's and into the western part of Dumfries & Galloway is expected to miss the worst of the severe conditions but could well still reach Flash criteria for Heavy Snow.

Eastern coastal fringes
The eastern coastal fringes will see further significant rain during today and Wednesday morning with as much as 40-50mm possible in the southeast (Fife, Lothian & Borders).


 :P
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Tourist Tony on 31 March, 2010, 06:10:30 pm
Great spotted woodpecker drumming this morning, and a Cetti's warbler singing last week at Barnes.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 01 April, 2010, 11:52:37 am
Frogspawn has now hatched in Churchill Gardens and diminutive tadpoles are present in large numbers.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Tourist Tony on 01 April, 2010, 02:27:09 pm
Never mind Spring, Summer has arrived in Aberdeen:

(http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/web/images/webcam/harbour_00001.jpg)

 ::-)
When that view was first posted, the camera was covered in rain......
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Regulator on 01 April, 2010, 05:59:51 pm
I now know for sure that Spring is here.

Shouty Man has emerged from his hibernation and is back on the Snaky Path, ranting as well as ever - the meds have obviously worn off...  :thumbsup:

This morning's rant (what I caught of it as I went past) was not about giving into the racist, blackmailing Scots - which I presumed was his commentary on the looming General Election...  ;D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: SteveC on 04 April, 2010, 04:59:27 pm
Three (at least) swallows over the new marshy nature reserve in Bude, Cornwall at lunchtime today  :D :D

S
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CountrySickness on 04 April, 2010, 08:00:48 pm
I've only just spotted the 1st Coltsfoot of the year flowering this week in Monmouthshire so is that a sign winter is only 1-2 months from being over? Mind you as the Wood anenomes have started flowering at the same time and iths over a week after our first swallow it could also be a sign that this year Mother Nature is crazy old lady shouting obscenities at us about the sins of humankind :demon:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: toekneep on 04 April, 2010, 08:40:50 pm
Swallowed a fly yesterday.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 04 April, 2010, 09:48:16 pm
Bumble bee bumbling around the garden very noisily this afternoon.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: clarion on 05 April, 2010, 10:55:34 pm
As we pitched our tent on Friday, a very large and sleepy bumble bee woke up & burrowed to the surface.  It bimbled about, and then, when the sun was shining, it could be seen flying around.  Hope the high winds & heavy rain didn't harm it.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: clarion on 06 April, 2010, 04:20:37 pm
Today, in the work car park, I saw my first butterfly of the year.  A pretty patterned reddish one.

I have to confess my dreadful ignorance on the subject of butterflies.  If it's a white one, I'll usually guess cabbage white; if red, red admiral.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Regulator on 06 April, 2010, 05:40:58 pm
I had my first mosquito bite this morning, during the commute in...  :-\
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: clarion on 06 April, 2010, 09:17:07 pm
Have you taken your anti-malarials?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Tourist Tony on 08 April, 2010, 06:03:09 pm
Chiffchaff singing in my garden. :thumbsup:
Mossie on my widow  :P
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CountrySickness on 08 April, 2010, 08:09:23 pm
1xWillow warbler (being almost drowned out by the many chiff chaffs). No dormice in any of their nestboxes though (they must know something the weather people don't).
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Auntie Helen on 11 April, 2010, 02:05:22 pm
Mossie on my widow  :P
I didn't know you were dead  :o
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Riggers on 12 April, 2010, 11:26:03 am
Swallow* flying very swiftly near mayfield yesterday.


*or it may have been a Swift. Buggers are difficult to identify when you only have a second to see it.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: woollypigs on 12 April, 2010, 01:19:47 pm
But was it carrying a coconut ?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: clarion on 12 April, 2010, 01:40:12 pm
Well, not on it's own...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: spesh on 12 April, 2010, 03:21:48 pm
There's finally enough greenery on the fuschia to enable to me to see how much of the winter-induced dead bits I can prune back.

It looks a bit sparse now, but give a couple of months...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 19 April, 2010, 06:58:31 pm
I heard a cuckoo this morning. It was on Two Tree Island and I was the other side of the creek, walking towards Leigh station. I also saw my first swallow.

When we were in Scotland, between Glenelg & Corran, I'm pretty sure I saw a house martin, but it was fleeting. That was on 5th April.

There were lots of willow warblers in Scotland. Whist we were riding along the Road from the Isles, we could hear them almost all the way. Given that willow warblers and chiffchaffs are physically so similar, I wonder why one species seems to favour the far north and the other the south? We do get the occasional willow warbler round here, but they were nothing like so common as chiffchaffs. We didn't hear one chiffchaff in Scotland.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Rig of Jarkness on 19 April, 2010, 07:22:18 pm
In Dumfries early the week before last there were good numbers of swallows and house martins over the river.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 20 April, 2010, 12:10:34 am
Our Greater Spotted Woodpecker no longer visits the bird feeder (A sure sign that winter is over) and now occasionally can be heard drumming stage garden left.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Tourist Tony on 20 April, 2010, 10:21:12 am
Walking Tara this morning, peacock butterflies and my first blackcap song of the year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Nuncio on 23 April, 2010, 07:52:50 am
I heard a cuckoo this morning.

And the first one for me this year.  Clear as a bell ringing out over the upper Clydach valley.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 23 April, 2010, 01:23:15 pm
Given that willow warblers and chiffchaffs are physically so similar, I wonder why one species seems to favour the far north and the other the south?

Good taste?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: RJ on 23 April, 2010, 01:29:02 pm
Given that willow warblers and chiffchaffs are physically so similar, I wonder why one species seems to favour the far north and the other the south?

Good taste?

... which would explain the fat tabby cat halfway up a tree with a chicffchaff in it on my way to work the other morning  ;)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Salvatore on 23 April, 2010, 08:32:02 pm
I heard a cuckoo this morning.

And the first one for me this year.  Clear as a bell ringing out over the upper Clydach valley.

I heard one this afternoon while I was snapping this bluebell

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4546413522_92214ea446_m.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnspooner/4546413522/)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pcolbeck on 25 April, 2010, 10:52:37 am
This little chap in our garden. He was next to our beech hedge and wasn't too pleased about having his photo taken. His mum was even less pleased and gave me a good scolding from atop the hedge.

(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Misc/bbird.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Salvatore on 25 April, 2010, 11:12:24 am
A fly as high as a kite on pollen trapped in the head of a dandelion. It seemed to want to get out, but every attempt to escape would result in it falling drunkenly back in.

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4548585918_9e73198bb0.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnspooner/4548585918/)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: andygates on 25 April, 2010, 02:21:07 pm
*sniff*

That was warm summer rain. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pcolbeck on 25 April, 2010, 03:44:40 pm
First thunder of the year here.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Tourist Tony on 25 April, 2010, 11:05:45 pm
Sandwich terns fishing along Brighton 'beach' by the pier.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CAMRAMan on 26 April, 2010, 08:27:21 pm
Our wintertime view of the taller towers of Warwick Castle is rapidly disappearing now the tall trees are coming into leaf. Farewell, till the autumnal leaf fall at least.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: clarion on 26 April, 2010, 08:28:28 pm
Saw a swallow this weekend in Somerset.  And a queen wasp.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Marj on 26 April, 2010, 10:22:28 pm
We have lodgers - Nest box on the gazebo now has bluetits in it  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: nicknack on 06 May, 2010, 09:24:23 pm
Heard first cuckoo today. Down on the Kemsley marshes.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: border-rider on 07 May, 2010, 03:29:24 pm
I meant to post these last week or so.

Spring comes to Chateau Volio:

(http://www.bosphorus.f2s.com/flowers.jpg)

(http://www.bosphorus.f2s.com/flowers3.jpg)

(http://www.bosphorus.f2s.com/flowers2.jpg)

(http://www.bosphorus.f2s.com/flowers1.jpg)

Probably shouldn't have let the rhubarb flower though :)

(http://www.bosphorus.f2s.com/rhubarb.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: clarion on 07 May, 2010, 03:50:51 pm
Rhubarb growing, eh?  The Beryl Burton training method, is it?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 24 May, 2010, 09:25:11 am
This was taken a month ago, so it's a bit late -

(http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/Bledlow/IMG_0171.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring 2011
Post by: Basil on 07 February, 2011, 07:12:32 pm
Time to resurrect this thread.   :)

Sorry for the crap focusing on my phone.

Snowdrops chez les Basils.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/Bloke_on_a_bike/Spring2011004.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/Bloke_on_a_bike/Spring2011003.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: woollypigs on 07 February, 2011, 07:14:39 pm
The cherry blossoms have been out in west London for a week or a bit. Should think that the frost would delay it a bit.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 07 February, 2011, 07:17:26 pm
That seems just wrong! I don't think I've ever known cherry blossom in February. Snowdrops and crocuses, yes, but not any tree blossom. But then I've never lived in west London!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 07 February, 2011, 07:40:14 pm
We have purple crocuses in the park. Haven't noticed any yellow ones yet.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 07 February, 2011, 09:44:25 pm
Bulbs are starting to come up here, but nothing's flowering.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Palinurus on 07 February, 2011, 10:09:12 pm
I was riding to work this morning- warm it was- and I thought "I wonder if there's a signs of spring thread starting over at YACF?". A few hours later I spot one.

Daffs'll be out soon then.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 07 February, 2011, 11:14:02 pm
I was riding to work this morning- warm it was- and I thought "I wonder if there's a signs of spring thread starting over at YACF?". A few hours later I spot one.

Daffs'll be out soon then.

But it didn't start - it was just recycled!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: woollypigs on 07 February, 2011, 11:15:10 pm
I was riding to work this morning- warm it was- and I thought "I wonder if there's a signs of spring thread starting over at YACF?". A few hours later I spot one.

Daffs'll be out soon then.
Yes yacf is very green :)

But it didn't start - it was just recycled!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CAMRAMan on 08 February, 2011, 09:56:30 am
We have purple crocuses in the park. Haven't noticed any yellow ones yet.

We have both coming into bloom in our back garden. The daffs are a long way from flowering.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 08 February, 2011, 11:53:34 am
Crocuses, primroses and irises in flower in our garden.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: clarion on 08 February, 2011, 11:59:46 am
On the WARTY, I noticed rows of daffodils ready to burst out, and plenty of snowdrops.  Butterfly saw some crocuses about to bloom, but I didn't.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Snakehips on 08 February, 2011, 12:07:58 pm
A pair of robins in my garden.
Several pairs of Herons at and near their enormous nests in trees on an island in the Thames at Richmond Surrey.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Ray 6701 on 08 February, 2011, 01:22:56 pm
Saw my first snowdrops of the year on the second of February on Lullington village green  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 08 February, 2011, 03:29:46 pm
Crocuses in flower in our garden.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: toekneep on 08 February, 2011, 03:41:29 pm
I have just been for a walk and noted: Purple and yellow crocuses, snowdrops galore, daffodils in bud, lots of trees and bushes in bud, birds singing in a spring like manner and warm sun on my back. Me thinks it has sprung here.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 08 February, 2011, 05:15:57 pm
Saw my first snowdrops of the year on the second of February on Lullington village green  :)

We saw the first in flower on 30th November. It's the first time I've seen them that early, although I first noticed them in December 2004 and every December since. I don't know anything about varieties of snowdrop, but they are still in flower now.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CountrySickness on 08 February, 2011, 08:41:52 pm
A single lesser celandine in full bloom by my compost bins, It will be a sea of yellow down there shortly  :thumbsup:, hopefully
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Snakehips on 15 February, 2011, 12:47:48 pm
Everything seems to be going round in pairs , even these things which normally just swarm about in great squawking  flocks .................


(http://www.yudu.com/item_files/282019/69b942c4b/I4176c.jpg)


Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 15 February, 2011, 02:16:55 pm
I happened to hear a bit of Archers yesterday in which someone mentioned daffodils in bloom.

About a month too early I reckon.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Chris S on 15 February, 2011, 02:32:00 pm
Plenty of them out round here. Yes - way too early, and frankly a Bit Odd considering there was no sign of them even poking through the ground a month ago.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 15 February, 2011, 02:35:59 pm
How odd! I don't think we'll see any daffodils in flower in Southend this month.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 15 February, 2011, 10:20:17 pm
First chaffinch in song on this morning's "commute". Was followed about 10 miles further on by the first blackbird I've heard this year.

There's a vast amount of wild arum in leaf on the verges & woodland floors. I don't recall it being so conspicuous in previous years. Is that just a sign of a failing memory?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 15 February, 2011, 10:24:01 pm
Oh, I forgot to mention the blackbird Mrs. Wow and I saw last Friday evening. Just after sunset, it was in full-throated ease.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 16 February, 2011, 12:31:08 am
Our grass needs mowing.
It was too wet for our Polish cleaner/gardener lady to do today. She tells me it's -20°C back home and her parents are amazed when she tells them of the open flowers here.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 16 February, 2011, 10:35:10 am
Our grass is at cutting length.

Blackbirds singing - tick
Chaffinches ditto.
Crocuses out - tick
Daffodil buds - tick (not seen any in flower yet).
Flowers starting to peep out on hedges - tick
Rose bush putting out new leaves - tick
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 16 February, 2011, 11:34:04 am
The black-headed gulls are beginning to live up to their name.

Three colours of crocus out in the park.

There are some daffodil buds showing (different patch from the ones I looked at yesterday).
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: spokenword on 20 February, 2011, 02:48:15 pm
Three signs of spring on today's ride to Ryton Gardens (Grow Organic).
Lambs in the field by Ullesthorpe Hotel, shivering rather than gamboling, I think.
Daffodils in full bloom in the grass verge.
Ants running across the floor in the cafe. When I rew these to the waitresses attention, she said they would have to spray them. I trust it will be an organic spray at such an institution.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: SteveC on 20 February, 2011, 05:06:49 pm
In our garden.  Purple and yellow crocuses just about in bloom.  There are some pale lilac ones next to the cherry tree which are fully open.  The hellebores are looking really nice at the moment.  Loads of daffs in bud, but no flowers yet.

On the way into Yeovil from the south west, there's a huge display of daffs.  They're different varieties and have been planted such that the first ones to bloom are on the edge of town, then the sweep of yellow moves down the hill and up past the end of the aerodrome towards my office.  Usually the earliest ones are out before the New Year and the last ones don't open until March.  This year they seem to be all opening at once!

S
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Rig of Jarkness on 20 February, 2011, 05:22:12 pm
For the past couple of weeks now my journey home has been rounded off nicely by a blackbird singing a nearby rooftop.  A tawny owl has been very vocal this week, and on Friday whilst working from home I could hear a gs woodpecker drumming. Blue tits, chaffinches, and dunnocks have also been joining in.  We don't have any crocuses out yet but we have quite a few snowdrops and a single purple polyanthus providing a little drop of colour.   
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 20 February, 2011, 05:23:26 pm
There was a daffodil in bloom somewhere near Felsted today.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: IanDG on 20 February, 2011, 05:26:17 pm
The sun's made an appearance recently
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Tail End Charlie on 20 February, 2011, 05:33:12 pm
Daffs nowhere near bloomnig, but I also heard a woodpecker drumming yesterday.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 20 February, 2011, 05:57:12 pm
When I open the shutters in the morning, the bedroom gets lighter, not darker.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 22 February, 2011, 11:12:22 am
Yesterday: a song thrush in full voice.

Sometimes these creatures get confused. I recall a few years ago a song thrush singing for a few consecutive nights around Christmas. We'd hear him when we took the dog for a walk, near midnight. After about a week the poor creature came to its senses. Yesterday's looked and sounded as though he meant it though.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Gus on 22 February, 2011, 01:00:00 pm
Signs of Spring :

Freezing cold wind from east (http://smiliestation.de/smileys/Sauer/140.gif) (http://prepaid.posterous.com/)

snow (http://smiliestation.de/smileys/Sauer/160.gif) (http://prepaid.posterous.com/)
Temperatures well below 0oC (http://smiliestation.de/smileys/Sauer/114.gif) (http://thoughts.com/prepaid/blog/)

I'm so jealous of you lot, I want spring here too. (http://smiliestation.de/smileys/Traurig/28.gif) (http://prepaid.putblog.com/)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 22 February, 2011, 01:08:00 pm
The weather has yet to give us many signs of spring, Gus. It's pretty raw outside and dull and cloudy.

Having said that, my wonderful device has recorded only two air frosts this year, which is pretty remarkable when one considers what December was like.

http://tickfield.thewalkers.org.uk/weather/NOAA/NOAA-2011.txt

That makes it look like 3 frosts, but one of them was on the night of 31st Jan / 1st Feb  so in reality was only two nights on which the temperature fell below zero.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 22 February, 2011, 09:52:19 pm
Crocuses are up in the Meadows, and this morning I inhaled my first fly of the year.  :sick:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: a lower gear on 23 February, 2011, 10:45:55 pm
The sap IS rising: lopping sycamore branches and to my surprise sap was dripping furiously from the cut branches - saw, hands, clothes, laddders, everything got wet and sticky.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 24 February, 2011, 09:39:57 pm
A squashed toad on Station Road, Wickham Bishops.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 24 February, 2011, 10:41:39 pm
Our grass needs mowing.
It was too wet for our Polish cleaner/gardener lady to do today. She tells me it's -20°C back home and her parents are amazed when she tells them of the open flowers here.
She'll get her own back in late summer and autumn, though.  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: SteveC on 25 February, 2011, 08:26:49 pm
Saw my first celandines of the year on my lunchtime pootle today

S
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 27 February, 2011, 11:46:37 am
Forsythia and frogspawn. I don't recall seeing frogspawn in Feb before. I'm sure it's all doomed.

The daffodil heads are bending over and some of them have yellow showing, but they are not properly out yet. Tomorrow or Tuesday I reckon.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: SteveC on 27 February, 2011, 05:17:53 pm
We have frogspawn in the pond. 
We've had it this early before, but it was doomed.   :(  Two years ago when we got that late snow.
And our daffs are out on the patio (where it's much more sheltered than the rest of the garden)

S
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: tonycollinet on 27 February, 2011, 05:30:22 pm
Snodrops, crocuses, catkins, and the daffs nearly out.

Love this time of  year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 27 February, 2011, 11:49:55 pm
First Celandines last Wednesday & a few more today, despite the cool, wet weather. The Warwickshire roadside verges have huge patches of celandine leaves without flowers

Dog's Mercury is now starting to flower - lots on the verges today. Carpets of snowdrops alongside the lanes, though they couldn't be bothered to open up fully in the rain. No wild daffodils yet, though the cultivated varieties are showing an occasional yellow trumpet.

The hedges are full of honeysuckle leaves - open, but still reminiscent of the buds of a week ago. Elder leaves have been around for a couple of weeks. Hawthorn buds are just bursting into leaf, providing a new subtle green tinge to the bits of the hedges that aren't already covered in moss.

Spotted a magpie flying past with a big twig in its beak. There's little time left before the nesting season is under way. Coppicing & hegding will soon have to stop until next winter.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 27 February, 2011, 11:51:49 pm
A few years ago Mrs. Wow's mother's hedge (ooerr missus!) had a blackbird's nest with babies in it before the end of February.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 02 March, 2011, 11:04:25 am
Churchill Gardens this morning. Total absence of frogs and spawn.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: spokenword on 02 March, 2011, 03:58:42 pm
Frogspawn in the garden pond today. I noticed it whilst cutting the lawn!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 02 March, 2011, 05:58:43 pm
A bumble bee bumbling around some highly-scented flowers at the foot of Brandon Hill this afternoon. Sunny day and a south facing slope, but even so I'd have thought it was still a bit chilly for bees. Well, there was only the one.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: mike on 02 March, 2011, 06:00:47 pm
loads of daffs out on the front lawn of one of the houses I ran past at lunchtime, and it definitely smells of spring out there..  (still bloody cold though, I was fooled by the sunshine and a t-shirt and ron hills wasnt enough)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 04 March, 2011, 08:05:19 pm
Several primroses were flowering on a sunny south-facing bank close to the celandine observed 9 days ago. On the south eastern approach to Solihull a couple of daffodils (cultivated varieties) were open at 845. On the way home, around midday, there were a dozen or more in flower in glorious spring sun.

Meanwhile the woodland floor(s) beside the Warwick road had carpets of snowdrops at their best. They're a bit late if it's primrose time.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 04 March, 2011, 09:40:27 pm
Some daisies on the south-facing slope of Southend sea front.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 05 March, 2011, 12:36:53 pm
There's a snowdrop out in my windowboxes!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 05 March, 2011, 02:23:58 pm
Goslings! On Whiteknights lake, in the university grounds. Offspring of a pair of exotic & extremely bad-tempered (even by the stroppy standards of geese in general) geese.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: delthebike on 05 March, 2011, 03:27:18 pm
Tortoises are moving about.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 05 March, 2011, 03:48:01 pm
Larks.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 05 March, 2011, 03:52:50 pm
The group of drinking chavs on the path behind Bournville station are back. 

No signs of broken glass yet, but it's early days.  :(
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 06 March, 2011, 07:58:14 am
I've just been out for the first time in a few days. The daffodils in and around Churchill Gardens are still only in bud, and not many of those have bent over. The blackthorn is on the point of flowering, though.

The first week of March has been far colder than the average for January and February.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: matthew on 06 March, 2011, 02:40:17 pm
There were Daffs in flower as I came past Wisley yesterday.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 06 March, 2011, 02:41:25 pm
First dead badger of the year on Thursday.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Rig of Jarkness on 06 March, 2011, 04:13:41 pm
Saw our first lambs of the year today, East Lothian.  No daffs yet but lots of snowdrops and one dandelion.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 06 March, 2011, 06:10:11 pm
Saw our first lambs of the year today, East Lothian.  No daffs yet but lots of snowdrops and one dandelion.

Blimey.  Just in time then.
You are not allowed Shrove Tuesday pancakes unless you have seen a new lamb.


Or is that just stuff that my mum made up?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Chris S on 06 March, 2011, 06:11:21 pm
I think the Black Dog is spending more time in his kennel, and less time prowling around after me.

This is probably a Sign of Spring.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Riggers on 07 March, 2011, 09:29:46 am
Ice Cream van outside the house trilling away.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 07 March, 2011, 11:17:40 am
Saw our first lambs of the year today, East Lothian.  No daffs yet but lots of snowdrops and one dandelion.

First lambs of the year yesterday, too (but not up here - south of Embra).
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: border-rider on 07 March, 2011, 12:20:20 pm
Lots of tiny lambs yesterday, and one damn big one.

Primroses have appeared on the side of our drive :)

Today is the first properly warm day of the year; it's sunny with an intense blue sky & no clouds at all and the cats are rolling about outside in ecstasy.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 07 March, 2011, 01:20:26 pm
Great crested grebes flirting. They didn't get to the dance, but they were doing the head/neck thing, & synchronised movements.

A bloody blue tit eating the buds on my blackcurrant bush. Little feathered bastard!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: delthebike on 08 March, 2011, 08:42:57 am
A Satanic Spring Rite??
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_45o2t790K90/TXXrec6tFoI/AAAAAAAAGKc/AwWCwUBoZFg/s640/p3084362.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: slowfen on 08 March, 2011, 03:46:48 pm

Goose eggs for supa :P ;D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: woollypigs on 08 March, 2011, 04:49:21 pm
Spring Ale in the pub.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: LindaG on 08 March, 2011, 05:11:01 pm
A Satanic Spring Rite??


Are those willow branches newly planted in that circle?  Or established?

Looks more like a witch thing to me.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: andyoxon on 08 March, 2011, 05:44:27 pm
Seen outside our place, a ked kite taking off with a twig in it's beak - not something I've seen before.  I guess it means they be nesting nearby.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 09 March, 2011, 12:37:46 am
Heard a first greenfinch singing as I arrived home today yesterday - only half the usual song, but unmistakable in an area without starlings.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: andrew_s on 09 March, 2011, 12:40:17 am
There were Daffs in flower as I came past Wisley yesterday.
Daffs starting here too - proper wild ones, not escaped garden ones
(this lot):
http://www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk/Gwt/Gwt.Nsf/WEBARTICLE?OpenForm&id=04EC0115C68EB3FA8025763A0039BBD8

Probably a week and a half to full bloom
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 12 March, 2011, 09:09:11 am
My mirabelle tree is in blossom.

Lots of summer jammy goodness!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 12 March, 2011, 09:36:36 am
The last few mornings I have heard a significant Dawn Chorus.

Although it sounds wonderful I would rather have been asleep.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: woollypigs on 12 March, 2011, 01:12:41 pm
The smell off BBQ being fired up
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Gus on 12 March, 2011, 06:32:29 pm
two digit temperatures.
I have just removed  1,5 inches of facial fur from my face. :-\
Now I look like my picture again.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 12 March, 2011, 06:47:53 pm
Now I look like my picture again.

Bad luck.

 ;) ;D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Rig of Jarkness on 13 March, 2011, 04:54:28 pm
Catkins and skylarks today.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: a lower gear on 13 March, 2011, 08:51:43 pm
Seen this evening: the first bat of the year.  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 13 March, 2011, 09:02:04 pm
Walking past the Bournville factory yesterday,  we noticed that there is only one footing ball pitch.  (Down from three in the winter).  The cricket square was roped off and being prepared.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 13 March, 2011, 10:16:39 pm
First frogs in the garden pond today, presumably procreating.

(http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/Crumbling-Nick/FrogsinpondP3130324.jpg)

I felt a bit guilty when my shadow fell across the amorous couple, whereupon they disengaged and dived to the bottom of the pond.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 13 March, 2011, 10:17:48 pm
Perhaps you are a prince and they got self-conscious.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 14 March, 2011, 10:03:03 pm
IIRC, a princess would have been more useful. I'm evidently not very good at being a princess  ::-) 
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Rig of Jarkness on 17 March, 2011, 07:08:52 am
Scotland welcomes its first sand martins  :thumbsup:

Appear to be about a week earlier than last year -
The SOC: migrant arrivals (http://www.the-soc.org.uk/migrants.htm)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 17 March, 2011, 11:35:50 am
It's been so cold lately that our daffodils still aren't out properly. The bulk of the heads are now bent over but the flowers are very reluctant to show - only about 30% I'd say. One warm sunny day will make a huge difference.

But - it's been very cold for March. Here are the temperatures for Jan, Feb and the first 16 days of March as measured by our weather station:

                      
            MEAN  MEAN  
 YR  MO   MAX   MIN   MEAN
-----------------------------------
2011 01    7.6   3.1   5.4  
2011 02    9.6   5.2   7.3  
2011 03    9.6   2.9   6.2  

So a lot colder than Feb so far, and barely warmer than Jan.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 17 March, 2011, 05:30:04 pm
The sun has come out and for the first time this year, when I got home the hall was so light that I thought I'd left the lights on when I went out this morning.

This makes me happy.  ;D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Gus on 17 March, 2011, 07:02:58 pm
 >:( It's snowing again >:(
I want to immigrate some place warm.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 18 March, 2011, 12:31:42 pm
Several specimens of prunus in full flower.

There are still whole beds of daffodils without a single flower out, but the heads are all bent over.

Lots of frogspawn now. My brother, inveterate raiser of froglets, is coming for lunch and afterwards will take a bucket-full of spawn to his froggery.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 19 March, 2011, 10:16:17 am
A few of the daffodils in my windowboxes are in flower now. Last week I just had one snowdrop out. Spring is here.  ;D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Riggers on 19 March, 2011, 12:32:00 pm
Tons of blossom out already down here. Lovely.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Domestique on 20 March, 2011, 12:11:54 pm
A bumble bee  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Dez on 20 March, 2011, 12:37:46 pm
From yesterday's walk in Priory Park...

Tons of blossom out already down here. Lovely.
(http://dez.yacf.net/20110319-Spring/Spring1.jpg) (http://dez.yacf.net/20110319-Spring/Spring1.jpg)

Woolly in shorts:
(http://dez.yacf.net/20110319-Spring/Spring2.jpg) (http://dez.yacf.net/20110319-Spring/Spring2.jpg)

Crocuses:
(http://dez.yacf.net/20110319-Spring/Spring3.jpg) (http://dez.yacf.net/20110319-Spring/Spring3.jpg)

A bumble bee  :)
(http://dez.yacf.net/20110319-Spring/Spring4.jpg) (http://dez.yacf.net/20110319-Spring/Spring4.jpg)

Frogspawn:
(http://dez.yacf.net/20110319-Spring/Spring5.jpg) (http://dez.yacf.net/20110319-Spring/Spring5.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 20 March, 2011, 02:47:45 pm
On yesterday's ride I saw copious daffodils, lawnmowers (plural) and the first roadkill bumble bee of the season.  I reckon that makes it official.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: slowfen on 20 March, 2011, 05:44:07 pm


Yesterday saw a brimstone butterfly. But today ice cream van
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 21 March, 2011, 12:29:54 pm
King cups in flower.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CountrySickness on 21 March, 2011, 08:09:39 pm
King cups in flower.

Ooh you beat me to it by a few hours, a single Marsh marigold in flower in the wonderful Coed-y-Cerrig nature reserve in Monmouthshire.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: spokenword on 22 March, 2011, 02:25:51 pm
A coplete al fresco erection of tents at the outdoor gear shop at Measham. Oh and a Camelia in flower.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 22 March, 2011, 02:37:05 pm
Flies in my kitchen  :(
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 22 March, 2011, 04:58:45 pm
A very nice mild spring day with sunshine and bird song.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: BrianI on 22 March, 2011, 07:23:23 pm
A ladybird sitting on a spare bit of brake outer in the shed!  Perhaps it was trying to help with my fettling?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 23 March, 2011, 06:18:43 pm
Bah! I was going to post about seeing a ladybird. Sitting on a strawberry plant this afternoon.

Bumble bees bumbling, assorted bugs seen fluttering around.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: clarion on 23 March, 2011, 06:22:04 pm
Ladybirds in the bag with our milk this morning!  No idea where they came from, though there were loads of them there last year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 23 March, 2011, 08:16:47 pm
Chiffchaff singing in Churchill Gardens.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 24 March, 2011, 05:38:46 pm
A wasp.  Not sure if I've seen  one in March before.  Can't remember.
So, how does that work?  Is it new?  Or has it somehow survived the winter?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Chris S on 24 March, 2011, 05:40:10 pm
Bumble bees. Lots of bumble bees - as big as... well... really big bumble bees.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 24 March, 2011, 05:43:06 pm
A wasp.  Not sure if I've seen  one in March before.  Can't remember.
So, how does that work?  Is it new?  Or has it somehow survived the winter?

Queen wasps survive the winter. When the weather warms up, they come out and start off their nest. They lay the first eggs and tend them themselves but once a few workers join them they don't do any more housework but just procreate.

On the walk to the park this morning, heard another chiffchaff, saw a carrion crow on its nest at the top of the tallest ash tree in the park, and heard, then saw, a pair of greater spotted woodpeckers drumming on a dead tree. They flew around together for quite a while, in the vicinity of the hole in an oak tree where GSWs nested two years ago.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Manotea on 24 March, 2011, 05:55:34 pm
Found a great big fat bumblebee lying on its back in the middle of the kitchen floor which rather begged the question of how it got there (unless Somebdy Brought Him In!) but he seemed OK so I put him on the kitchen widow sill (the outdoors side) to recuperate.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Rig of Jarkness on 24 March, 2011, 08:08:26 pm
And my first bumblebee of the year too.

Also, (not by me), 2 swallows on Islay and 2 ospreys at Gladhouse (just south of Embra)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pcolbeck on 24 March, 2011, 08:29:07 pm
A pair of starlings sitting on the phone line near where it is is fixed to our garage looking very confused. Last year they were nesting in the eves of the garage getting in through a hole in the corner where it was rotten. During the summer we had all the barge boards and facias replaced with uPVC. Sorry birdies.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 25 March, 2011, 11:08:23 am
Three greater spotted woodpeckers cavorting about noisily.

Most annoyingly, two fecking terrapins sunning themselves on the edge of the lake. I thought the one we saw several times last year was on its own. They are probably a permanent pestilential fixture now.

(http://www.clissoldpark.com/photos/gallery/terrapins_op.jpg)

shows what happens when they get out of hand. That's Clissold Park, in North London.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 25 March, 2011, 06:31:23 pm
Swan sitting on a nest beside the Kennet.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Snakehips on 25 March, 2011, 06:56:25 pm
Nine Mallard ducklings on the Hogsmill river where it joins the Thames.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: border-rider on 27 March, 2011, 10:37:42 am
Lots of Cuckoo Flower/Lady's Smock (http://www.forresthills.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/ladys-smock.jpg) on our lawn
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: spesh on 27 March, 2011, 05:40:09 pm
Even more loose cat hair than usual. (http://garfield.nfshost.com/1993/05/10/)  ;)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 28 March, 2011, 12:02:11 pm
A pair of blackbirds transporting worms.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Riggers on 29 March, 2011, 08:51:07 am
Okay, okay, I think this has been left long enough … I'll be the one that bites … in what, pray, were they transporting them 'in' Baggers?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 29 March, 2011, 08:53:38 am
Beakers.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Riggers on 29 March, 2011, 09:00:56 am
<boom-boom - top hat>

Ha, ha. Very funny.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Salvatore on 29 March, 2011, 03:18:10 pm
Rumpy-pumpy in the flower bed. Loads of them about.

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5300/5570636765_ca10c9c082.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnspooner/5570636765/)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Martin on 29 March, 2011, 09:26:14 pm
I see 1 million lambs have been airlifted into the fields over the last week;

can someone explain to a townie like me how all this is done? I assume their mums were inseminated n months ago but where have they all been up to now?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pcolbeck on 31 March, 2011, 04:51:13 pm
Lambing sheds.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: a lower gear on 31 March, 2011, 11:57:12 pm
And for the next few months they'll be bright-eyed, active, interesting creatures. Yet in twelve months they'll be blank-eyed, dopey, boring woolly-things-that-live-on-the-hills (when they're not absently wandering in front of vehicles). Must be connected to a diet of grass...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 01 April, 2011, 08:43:47 pm
A mozzie in the meeting room last night.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: a lower gear on 01 April, 2011, 10:40:45 pm
A mozzie in the meeting room last night.

Must have emerged from the same hidey-hole as the fly on our landing this evening: first one this spring.
Title: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 02 April, 2011, 11:09:58 am
A SWALLOW! At about 9.30, a mile or so north of Holbeach.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 02 April, 2011, 01:51:20 pm
A mozzie in the meeting room last night.

Must have emerged from the same hidey-hole as the fly on our landing this evening: first one this spring.

I reported on a fly in my kitchen upthread a while ago...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 02 April, 2011, 03:20:18 pm
I am sitting in the garden.  Either I am hallucinating or #2 son is cutting the grass.
Wow.
Without being asked.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 02 April, 2011, 11:35:14 pm
Two swans making up to each other, one of which hadn't gone all white yet. N suggested the other one was a paedophile.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: matthew on 03 April, 2011, 12:33:45 am
I am sitting in the garden.  Either I am hallucinating or #2 son is cutting the grass.
Wow.
Without being asked.

I am afraid I left the mowing to Dad today  :-[

I was cleaning the oven  :o
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Snakehips on 03 April, 2011, 08:37:11 am
The Sand Martins have returned to the Thames near Surbiton and , there being no sand there , seem to be starting to nest in the holes in those large interlocking steel plates used to reinforce river banks , on Raven's Ait.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 03 April, 2011, 01:06:56 pm
The blutits are building a nest in one of the nest boxes I have up. Third year running.  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: a lower gear on 03 April, 2011, 10:41:01 pm
A mozzie in the meeting room last night.

Must have emerged from the same hidey-hole as the fly on our landing this evening: first one this spring.

I reported on a fly in my kitchen upthread a while ago...

So by now your fly has procreated n times and you have  a quadrillion flies: must be you that supplies the rest of the UK with its post-winter flies. Now I come to think of it I think 'my' fly had a London postcode on it...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Butterfly on 03 April, 2011, 11:11:26 pm
Lots of violets on Pilgrims Way today :D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Snakehips on 07 April, 2011, 05:43:49 pm
I got my beige trousers out of the wardrobe.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rogerzilla on 07 April, 2011, 06:55:33 pm
(http://www.peeble.com/daisies.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: clarion on 07 April, 2011, 09:40:31 pm
Huuuuge daisies! :o
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: RJ on 07 April, 2011, 10:20:28 pm
Beware of the flowers!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Rhys W on 08 April, 2011, 11:33:39 am
I collided with a golfball-sized bumblebee yesterday, at 40km/h. Struck me on the top lip, luckily my mouth was closed at the time!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: clarion on 08 April, 2011, 11:34:58 am
We saw a huge bee at Fanny's Farm last weekend.

And, on the same ride, I was in collision with a large insect of some kind.  It hurt.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: peliroja on 10 April, 2011, 12:08:02 am
Bloody moths in our flat. I thought we'd got rid of them.  >:(
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 10 April, 2011, 02:54:53 pm
A great big fucking midge bite on my shoulder.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Rig of Jarkness on 10 April, 2011, 09:32:46 pm
Seen today - house martins, sand martins, wheatears.  No swallows yet. 
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rogerzilla on 10 April, 2011, 09:42:57 pm
The jaspers are out in force already.  They never used to be a problem until September.  There was a huge one drinking out of my parents' pond this afternoon.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: a lower gear on 10 April, 2011, 10:05:20 pm
Ejected the first honey bee of the year from the kitchen.

Wore my shorts to do the gardening (22 deg C three days in a row).

Mowed the lawns (3 inches high in places) and strimmed the rough grass.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: PaulR on 10 April, 2011, 10:19:32 pm
Orange tip and holly blue today. And a mozzie in the shed.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 11 April, 2011, 12:52:12 am
Orange tip and holly blue today. And a mozzie in the shed.

A mozzie?! There are HYOOGE SWARMS of ENORMOUS BITING THINGS under our patio canopy.

David is under strict instructions to wear insect repellant for nocturnal stargazing.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pcolbeck on 12 April, 2011, 07:41:53 am
The first housemartins have appeared. Seems very early this year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: BrianI on 12 April, 2011, 08:09:59 am
Saw some Swallows at a local nature reserve, and saw a few peewits  (aka Lapwings, aka Vanellus vanellus") flying about, and a male flashing his bum trying to attract a female...   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: clarion on 12 April, 2011, 10:00:49 am
The first housemartins have appeared. Seems very early this year.

Happy hour again?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 12 April, 2011, 10:32:10 am
Saw ...  a male flashing his bum trying to attract a female...   :thumbsup:
Outside the pub at chucking-out time?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 12 April, 2011, 03:37:34 pm
Bluebells starting to come out here in the Chilterns.  As are aqualegias.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 16 April, 2011, 10:48:25 pm
First red campions in flower on Thursday (Nature reserve at the bottom of Edge Hill).

On the ride home I spotted a cluster of 3 more on the roadside verge. I'm sure they weren't open when I rode past in the morning.

Bluebells are already carpeting the sunnier woodland edges & hedgebanks. No sign of wild garlic flowers yet, though. Lots of stitchwort on the verges, as well as primroses, violets, celandines (still not quite sure whether to open for business), dandelions, daisies, ladies smock, garlic mustard (the flowering tips are a nice salad vegetable), a few buttercups and quite a lot of cowslips. Spotted one big clump of wood anemones amongst the trees.

Heard my first skylark of the year.

Swallowed my first fly of the year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CountrySickness on 17 April, 2011, 08:27:43 am
Several Redstarts on my walk through the foothills of the Black Mts yesterday, only one let me see how spectacularly handsome he was though, the rest were just teases.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 17 April, 2011, 01:48:20 pm
Several skylarks on the golf course at Harlech.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Jaded on 17 April, 2011, 02:44:20 pm
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/first_lambs.jpg)

Spring much later up here.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: clarion on 17 April, 2011, 08:38:58 pm
Yesterday, while digging in the garden, I saw a fox poke her head out of the old compost heap.  I think she's making a den there again, so we will see cubs playing in the garden soon, so long as I didn't disturb her too much.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 17 April, 2011, 11:42:09 pm
Cuckoos and nightingales have been heard and seen in and around Southend, although not by me.

South East Essex RSPB Local Group - Latest Bird Reports (http://www.southendrspb.co.uk/sightings.htm) refers.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 19 April, 2011, 07:07:56 pm
Put this in seen today, but should have been here:

a tadpole.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 19 April, 2011, 08:18:42 pm
We went to Two Tree Island and had a good view of a cuckoo, which did its stuff for quite a long time, and heard, I think, 4 nightingales, at one point simultaneously with the cuckoo. There were also a couple of pheasants making their noise. Substitute them for quails and it was like listening to Beethoven.

I love the nightingale's song.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 20 April, 2011, 10:05:20 pm
Put this in seen today, but should have been here:

a tadpole.
We (actually Mrs. N.) fished out tadpoles from the garden pond with a jam-jar yesterday for our granddaughter. I'm not sure sure she understood that they would become frogs, when(if) they grew up :).
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 20 April, 2011, 10:06:27 pm
Well, they won't if they are in a jam jar.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 20 April, 2011, 10:24:57 pm
Well, they won't if they are in a jam jar.
Is that true for all values of jam-jar? ;)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 20 April, 2011, 10:29:12 pm
I don't think so. I raised a few tadpoles to froglets in jam jars as a teenager. They needed much love, daphnia and pondweed.

Quite a few disappeared, presumably gobbled by their sibs.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 20 April, 2011, 10:37:57 pm

Quite a few disappeared, presumably gobbled by their sibs.

That happens in the pond as well, which seems to be unduly popular with the frogs.

Popularity maybe because the frogs know that some of the neighbours have newts :-\ .
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 20 April, 2011, 10:41:57 pm
The first few flowers of hawthorn which literally opened during the day, complete with the heavy scent of may blossom. That was already attracting insects by 3 p.m.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 20 April, 2011, 11:16:49 pm
The beech hedge is finaly turning green.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CAMRAMan on 20 April, 2011, 11:22:49 pm
The rowan tree in the close is giving off a very pleasant, though occasionally overpowering scent these last few days.

It almost makes me regret chopping down the rotten one in our garden when we moved in. Almost.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: clarion on 21 April, 2011, 09:41:02 am
Yes, I noticed hawthorn blossom on Sunday as we rode along the Wandle.

The sudden appearance of massive wisteria displays, and the more cautious lilacs, tell me that spring is pretty much established, as does catching the sweet scent of some flowers after dark in the next street.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: RJ on 21 April, 2011, 01:24:25 pm
Chiffchaffs.  Swallows.  Cricketers ...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Tewdric on 21 April, 2011, 02:17:41 pm
The bluebells are out - the valley looks fantastic!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 21 April, 2011, 02:53:35 pm
Yup. We've just got back from a bluebell walk through the beech woods near Satwell (S. Oxfordshire). Glorious! There are quite a few which aren't open yet, so it'll get even better.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: border-rider on 21 April, 2011, 05:43:36 pm
A very cute lamb near Grosmont, yesterday

One of those teddy-sheep.

(http://www.bosphorus.f2s.com/cutelamb.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rogerzilla on 28 April, 2011, 10:00:41 pm
Whole fields of dandelions.

(http://www.peeble.com/lions640.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 30 April, 2011, 06:09:48 pm
Mummy or Daddy robin feeding baby robins on the garden wall. The chicks are fledged, but still being fed, & the parents have been bringing them to our bird feeder the last few days. The chicks sit on the wall a metre or so away from the food & the parent shuttles back & forth.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 03 May, 2011, 10:24:55 pm
There was a magnificent show of may blossom on the roadside hedge of the local egg factory. I commented on the splendour of it, certainly the best I've seen this year for many miles, to the proprieter. He reckoned that it's been by far the best show that he can remember. The hedge has not been attacked with the accursed flail mowers for decades, if ever. Predictably, I didn't take a camera when just riding a few miles to buy eggs...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 05 May, 2011, 08:07:32 pm
A couple of brimstone butterflies flew in front of me this afternoon. Also saw first meadow cranesbill flowers - some probably cultivated varieties, but the first few were far from human habitation, so presumably wild.

Saw & heard a young blackbird on the verge, making "feed me" noises. Cock bird hustled it back into the hedge as I approached.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rogerzilla on 10 May, 2011, 07:23:25 pm
(http://www.peeble.com/bb1.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: spokenword on 25 October, 2011, 06:17:43 pm
A complete field of oil seed rape in full flower near Kings Newham today.  Summers just around the corner then?

I could understand it if it was just a field margin sown for conservation reasons but this is much too big for that.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: border-rider on 25 October, 2011, 06:48:35 pm
There's one near us, too

I reckon it's the flowering of what grew from the seeds that escaped when the summer harvest was harvested. Usually it doesn't get a  chance to flower before the field is ploughed, but we had an early harvest and a late, warm autumn

We also have dandelions in  flower here at the moment.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 01 December, 2011, 11:36:00 am
Songthrush singing lustily in an ash tree.

A tiny green caterpillar suspended from a silken thread,

Stupid bastards.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: why1040 on 01 December, 2011, 11:40:55 am
While cantering my horse along a bridleway at the weekend, I saw dandelions just coming through!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: border-rider on 01 December, 2011, 12:01:08 pm
We've got dandelions, daisies & some anonymous umbeliferers in flower. Last week my mother, near Manchester had geraniums & roses in flower in her garden. It's been a  terribly mild autumn so far...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CAMRAMan on 01 December, 2011, 12:02:47 pm
There's a massive poppy plant in our border that's already bloomed again & getting ready for more...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 02 December, 2011, 12:04:40 am
Someone was telling me today she's got snowdrops in her garden.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 09 December, 2011, 06:43:15 pm
There were two snowdrops in flower in the park this morning. That particular patch always appears in early December.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Peter on 09 December, 2011, 06:47:33 pm
A crocus in a border at Hebden Bridge (while it snowed) today!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 29 December, 2011, 05:25:30 pm
Photo taken 25th December 2011

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/Bloke_on_a_bike/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC00713.jpg)

Bit of a difference from last year.

Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 18 January, 2012, 11:22:53 am
Crocuses in flower in Churchill Gardens. Looking back to last year's observations, I think Kirst spotted the first crocuses last year on 22nd Feb. This winter has been much warmer. ISTR from my O level biology that plants don't grow until the temperatures is above 5.5°C - they just lie dormant below that level. So far this winter we've had only one day in my garden in which the temperature didn't reach those dizzy heights: the max on 16th December was 5.4°C! The mean throughout January has been 7.4 compared to last year's 5.4.

Edit: I mentioned purple ones on 7th Feb last year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 18 January, 2012, 11:26:44 am
A crocus in a border at Hebden Bridge (while it snowed) today!

Could that have been an autumn-flowering variety? I understand that there are such things - although I'm no flower horticulturalist.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Chris S on 18 January, 2012, 11:28:23 am
There was a lot of birdsong in the sunny (but frosty) Suffolk lanes yesterday.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Palinurus on 18 January, 2012, 12:53:15 pm
Caught a whiff of dope smoke from the open window of a spoilered-up Toyota the other day.

Much earlier in the year than usual.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: LindaG on 24 January, 2012, 08:39:49 am
Crinklylion, on a train, transporting CAIK mad distances for her fellow cyclists.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 23 February, 2012, 09:31:31 am
The forecast is for 18°C in some parts of Eastern England today. It's already 13°C here.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 23 February, 2012, 11:12:05 am
Daffodils in the park have their bids beginning to bend over and show yellow.

16.6°C now and still rising.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Chris S on 23 February, 2012, 11:46:52 am
Just been outside. It's gorgeous!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: spokenword on 23 February, 2012, 03:03:22 pm
Lambs in the fields at Ullersthorpe. Quite a good size so probably been born indoors a few weeks ago.
I know that sheep are notoriously difficult to count but there were at least 21 lambs.
They had numbers painted on them.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 23 February, 2012, 09:04:43 pm
Women!  Sane-looking ones!  On bicycles!  In Birmingham!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 23 February, 2012, 09:48:12 pm
A small hawthorn bush was fairly thoroughly in leaf, despite the shade of bigger roadside stuff. It wasn't even on a south-facing bank.

My first song thrush singing, and another, and... I gave up counting at 10, but I'll swear they weren't at it yesterday. And judging from the uninspired "phrases" of the songs, I'd say they still have a lot of learning to do. Several were only producing a single note, none sang more than 2½ notes, and none repeated more than a single "phrase". The great tits are more inventive than that.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rogerzilla on 23 February, 2012, 09:51:11 pm
Our great spotted woodpecker is back and, after trashing the suet ball feeder, did a spot of drumming in the cherry tree (it's a mahoosive fully-grown wild black cherry, rather good for climbing, which probably doesn't have long left before it splits under its own weight).  Then he hopped up the entire height of the tree in little jumps and we saw him fly away.
Title: Signs of Spring
Post by: citoyen on 23 February, 2012, 10:39:06 pm
Our great spotted woodpecker is back

That reminds me - I heard a woodpecker this morning as I left the house. Didn't see it so don't know what type. Can you tell from the sound - do they have characteristic pecking styles?

d.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 23 February, 2012, 10:40:39 pm
If it was drumming, it was a GSW.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 23 February, 2012, 10:58:33 pm
Frogs are out here, hopping round the streets and getting themselves squashed.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Chris S on 24 February, 2012, 09:09:10 am
Frogs are out here, hopping round the streets and getting themselves squashed.

Yup - noticed that here this morning; the lanes are littered with squashed frogs :(
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: JayP on 24 February, 2012, 09:59:02 am
Frogs are out here, hopping round the streets and getting themselves squashed.

Yup - noticed that here this morning; the lanes are littered with squashed frogs :(
Its motorists driven to kermit murder :facepalm:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 24 February, 2012, 10:24:03 am
Frogs are out here, hopping round the streets and getting themselves squashed.

Yup - noticed that here this morning; the lanes are littered with squashed frogs :(
Its motorists driven to kermit murder :facepalm:
Is that why you call yourself JayP?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: citoyen on 24 February, 2012, 10:45:01 am
If it was drumming, it was a GSW.

I've just had a listen to the sound files on the RSPB website and I reckon it's probably a lesser spotted woodpecker - according to the site, they tend to operate higher up in the trees, and they drum in longer bursts, which seems to match up with what I heard.

But I've seen both great and lesser spotted woodpeckers in the woods next to our house (and indeed a green woodpecker is a regular visitor to our garden), so it could be either.

d.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CountrySickness on 24 February, 2012, 08:00:04 pm
Lots of frogs out on the rural lanes tonight and a garden pond full of frog spawn.  All the dragonfly nymphs in there are queuing up and waiting for the hatching to start :'(
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 24 February, 2012, 08:25:45 pm
(http://peter.chesspod.com/gallery/d/14806-1/Image0180.jpg)

Mini-daffodils, Priory Park, this afternoon.

The big ones will be blooming in a few days.

I can remember the Good Old Days when my dad, who was Seriously Welsh, was incredulous that we'd had such a mild winter that the daffodils were in bloom for St. David's Day.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 25 February, 2012, 07:57:36 pm
A little purple crocus in our gardenlet. Quite likely the builder will step on it when he next turns up.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Rhys W on 25 February, 2012, 08:59:50 pm
4 people in my club have been boasting on facebook that they've been in out in shorts today. It was 12 deg C, not 22.  ::-)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Gus on 26 February, 2012, 08:53:04 am
It must be spring, I've been out running  :facepalm:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 26 February, 2012, 10:16:19 pm
Saw a horserider with no sleeves whatsoever!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 26 February, 2012, 10:19:57 pm
Orion has now moved over much further to the west in the evening.  Always a sign tome that winter is almost over.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jogler on 26 February, 2012, 10:30:10 pm
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://wheels-and-wings.org.uk/images/Ford-Orion-RS-1600-Cosworth.jpg&imgrefurl=http://wheels-and-wings.org.uk/ford-orion-rs-1600-cosworth.htm&h=253&w=287&sz=21&tbnid=aRR5ZPSa2eI8CM:&tbnh=95&tbnw=108&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dford%2Borion%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=ford+orion&docid=57e9X9FYp60tHM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=TbJKT-f9NYX18QPShYGPDg&sqi=2&ved=0CEoQ9QEwBA&dur=3843
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 26 February, 2012, 10:33:23 pm
 ::-)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 27 February, 2012, 08:11:03 pm
Many more birds were singing today.

The skylarks were in fine form - I counted 8 during the 60 miles. Only 1 remained mute, flying up to about 20m before descending in the usual style.

There were lots of yellowhammers too - probably more than in recent years. None had the full song - the final long note was missed out & I was unsure about identification until the third one showed up on the top of the roadside hedge.

The song thrushes are starting to sound a bit more plausible.

A couple of lambs - first sighting this year - were suckling in the Vale of Evesham. There may have been more in the field, but the hedge limited the view.

No-one else was cycling in shorts.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 29 February, 2012, 10:24:20 am
Forsythia and frogspawn. I don't recall seeing frogspawn in Feb before. I'm sure it's all doomed.

The daffodil heads are bending over and some of them have yellow showing, but they are not properly out yet. Tomorrow or Tuesday I reckon.

Comparison time!

I've not seen any frogspawn yet but there are some daffodils out in the park. I would imagine that the daffodils' development is ongoing and, because January and the second half of February have been so mild, they just lay dormant for the frozen fortnight earlier in the month. Frogs, I suppose, have to be much more opportunistic.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CountrySickness on 29 February, 2012, 04:53:07 pm
Two lots of frog spawn sitting on top of different grass tussocks today, presumably squeezed out of the former Mrs Frog before she was eaten by a fox/badger/otter, a proper springtime death that ::-)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 01 March, 2012, 11:40:35 am
Now two crocussessessiiss in the garden.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Riggers on 01 March, 2012, 03:22:43 pm
2 big glops of frogspawn in pond in garden. 1 big splosh from frog in said pond. Billions of crocusuesues on lawns gong out towards universities. Brighton.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 02 March, 2012, 12:29:24 pm
A brood of 10 mallard duckings. That's a fantastic achievement: the incubation period is about 4 weeks so the mother was sitting on eggs during the harshest of weather.

I've got a photo on my phone which I'll upload in a bit.

Edit: this forum's first mention of mallard duckings last year was on 25th March by Snakehips.

https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=29530.msg896917#msg896917 refers.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Snakehips on 02 March, 2012, 07:01:16 pm
I've seen several Parakeets seemingly checking out nest holes in trees recently. Yesterday I saw a pair of GC Grebes doing their head bobbing routine.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: LindaG on 02 March, 2012, 08:01:58 pm
A jack russell terrier eating crocus flowers from his lawn  ;D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CountrySickness on 03 March, 2012, 01:31:41 pm
Primroses and Dog's mercury in flower and addding different levels of brightness to the Monmouthshire lanes this morning.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 March, 2012, 10:01:23 pm
Several bumblebees, some of them big, fat, bumbly ones and some slimmer and svelter, but no honeybees or wasps yet.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: slowfen on 04 March, 2012, 06:36:57 am

Some may blossom in cambridgeshire,also hares going mad
Title: Signs of Spring
Post by: citoyen on 04 March, 2012, 08:25:08 am

Some may blossom in cambridgeshire

...while those in Herts rarely thrive.

http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=1693

d.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 05 March, 2012, 10:43:52 am
primroses near blechingdon over the weekend  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 05 March, 2012, 11:34:26 am
A brood of 10 mallard duckings. That's a fantastic achievement: the incubation period is about 4 weeks so the mother was sitting on eggs during the harshest of weather.
Apparently there were 12 originally, 8 yesterday, 3 today. Presumably they were the three that managed to hide under the mother's wings during yesterday's vicious rain & sleet. There's a bitter NWerly today so I don't suppose those three will make it to tomorrow.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 10 March, 2012, 07:29:22 pm
7 spot ladybird this afternoon  in the front garden :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 11 March, 2012, 10:14:58 am
Masses of mirabelle blossoms. JAM later I hope...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: delthebike on 11 March, 2012, 12:57:50 pm
I shaved my head!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 11 March, 2012, 05:14:39 pm
Loadsa daisies, & easy to plant one's foot on more than seven. Birds singing like mad. A pair of great crested grebes dancing in the Kennet yesterday. Coots building a nest. Rooks collecting nest material. I dug out the bottom of the compost bin yesterday (finding a long-lost teaspoon), & cut the grass when we got back from our ride today. Sitting in a pub garden at lunchtime on a CTC ride.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 11 March, 2012, 06:20:51 pm
Frogspawn in Priory Park.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 11 March, 2012, 09:04:56 pm
Lots of celandines in the verges today, plus dog's mercury in flower, a solitary white deadnettle & a clump of red deadnettles. No primroses visible, though the first were in flower on a sunny bank near Warwick on Friday.

Surprisingly lots of wild daffodils were in flower. It's odd, since they are normally about a fortnight later than the cultivated varieties, and odder still that there were still many (probably wild) snowdrop flowers nearby.

Is it my imagination, or is spring progressing faster than usual (i.e. not just earlier) this year?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: citoyen on 12 March, 2012, 01:08:40 pm
I could be mistaken but I thought I saw some may blossom this morning.

d.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 12 March, 2012, 01:34:06 pm
Lots of celandines in the verges today, plus dog's mercury in flower, a solitary white deadnettle & a clump of red deadnettles. No primroses visible, though the first were in flower on a sunny bank near Warwick on Friday.

Surprisingly lots of wild daffodils were in flower. It's odd, since they are normally about a fortnight later than the cultivated varieties, and odder still that there were still many (probably wild) snowdrop flowers nearby.

Is it my imagination, or is spring progressing faster than usual (i.e. not just earlier) this year?
I've seen a lot of primroses here (Berkshire, S. Oxfordshire) & further south. Celandines - tick. Huge numbers of snowdrops a couple of weeks ago, now fading, but yes, wild daffodils at the same time. Crocuses a-plenty. Mrs B has commented on the sakura, i.e. cherry blossom.

It does seem to be roaring ahead.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Arch on 12 March, 2012, 08:51:40 pm
I counted 61 frogs in the St Nicks pond today, all shagging like mad. Lots of spawn, and noise!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: welshwheels on 12 March, 2012, 09:34:23 pm
the gentleman with the DUFF beer top is out from hibernation and I scalped him on the commute home me on hardtail mtb on 26x1.9 slicks him on a late 90's / 2000  colnago !!  get in there  :thumbsup:  DAVIES the bike 1  DUFF beer guy 0   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 12 March, 2012, 11:13:12 pm
I could be mistaken but I thought I saw some may blossom this morning.

d.
I thought I saw some here. Apple too.

These are no longer signs of approaching spring, spring is here.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Snakehips on 13 March, 2012, 07:47:09 pm
Road closed just outside the Ham gate of Richmond Park for toad migration   .............. and a pair of Egyptian Geese with three young in Home Park Hampton Court.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 13 March, 2012, 09:09:14 pm
That reminds me, there was a migrating toad roadsign on yesterday's ride, somewhere around Clapton.
Title: Signs of Spring
Post by: smurphboy on 13 March, 2012, 09:41:58 pm
That reminds me, there was a migrating toad roadsign on yesterday's ride, somewhere around Clapton.

I've seen those signs.

http://www.clevedon.gov.uk/pdf/January_2006_Newsletter.pdf (http://www.clevedon.gov.uk/pdf/January_2006_Newsletter.pdf)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 13 March, 2012, 09:46:13 pm
Norton's Wood, that's the place.  :thumbsup:
Title: Signs of Spring
Post by: smurphboy on 13 March, 2012, 09:57:07 pm
Can't find the signs on Streetview. Are they seasonal?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 13 March, 2012, 10:55:48 pm
Presumably, I don't remember them being there for the Tasty Cheddar. That's what the newsletter implies too.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: a lower gear on 13 March, 2012, 11:17:45 pm
The first municipal lawnmower of the season: a car park in central Swansea. Must have taken all of a quarter of an inch off. Presumably a contractual thing.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 13 March, 2012, 11:44:57 pm
That reminds me, there was a migrating toad roadsign on yesterday's ride, somewhere around Clapton.
We were installing toad fences a fortnight ago & will remove them when the migration is over. They're more effective than road signs, but depend on local volunteers emptying the toads (et. al.) out of the buckets every morning.

I find it hard to believe that anyone in the relevant Highway Authority would use resources to take the signs down once they had been installed.

Meanwhile our garden pond is nearly half full of mating frogs & nearly half full of frogspawn. It's pushed the "water" level up quite a lot.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: GruB on 14 March, 2012, 08:27:00 am
3 newborn lambs on my commute and loads of buds on bushes.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 15 March, 2012, 06:53:10 pm
There was pussy willow in flower today. I also heard a chiffchaff.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 15 March, 2012, 10:56:05 pm
There was pussy willow in flower today. I also heard a chiffchaff.
Also saw pussy willow in flower on yesterday's ride. I would have expected ours to be a week or so later than yours. What's going on?

No chiffchaffs yet, though. But the song thrushes have rediscovered the art of improvisation. Magnificent ;D .
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 15 March, 2012, 11:09:52 pm
There was pussy willow in flower today. I also heard a chiffchaff.
Also saw pussy willow in flower on yesterday's ride. I would have expected ours to be a week or so later than yours. What's going on?

No chiffchaffs yet, though. But the song thrushes have rediscovered the art of improvisation. Magnificent ;D .

I think these things vary unpredictably. This is the first time I've ridden along that road this year. I can't think of any pussy willow on my usual rides and walks.

In our local park, the daffodils still aren't out properly. There's a few, but the bulk of the beds have bent heads turning yellow. They'll be out in force next week.

We also saw celandines and violets.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Snakehips on 16 March, 2012, 10:20:41 pm
(http://free.yudu.com/item_files/493030/39eb28bc6/I5317c.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pcolbeck on 18 March, 2012, 10:05:16 am
A young hedgehog in the garden yesterday. The first one I've seen this year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 18 March, 2012, 11:21:45 am
Tadpoles! Every year I see frogspawn in Priory Park, but rarely do I see any tadpoles. There was one clump of spawn with very small black tadpoles hanging onto it, occasionally giving an experimental wriggle.

The clump of spawn in a different bit of the very slow-fowing stream looks OK with its black dots ceasing to be full stops and now changing into commas. Hopefully there will be a crop of tadpoles to watch throughout the summer!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Snakehips on 20 March, 2012, 10:10:50 pm
The Barnes Wetlands Centre are reporting Sand Martin sightings !
Seems a bit early.



 Chasing Rainbows - Paying homage to the much loved vintage bicycle poster  (http://free.yudu.com/i/ajk2)
Title: Signs of Spring
Post by: citoyen on 20 March, 2012, 10:23:28 pm
Many lambs seen this morning. Many.

d.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: simonp on 20 March, 2012, 11:33:51 pm
Cat brought in a sign of spring:

(admin note: image is a bit gross)
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 21 March, 2012, 11:01:11 am
The horse chestnut buds have burst.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Feline on 21 March, 2012, 09:22:37 pm
Cat brought in a sign of spring:

(admin note: image is a bit gross)
(click to show/hide)

I'm not sure it is so much a sign of spring but a sign that some as yet unidentified rodent has had babies in mai shed. It is a bit big for a newborn mouse so I'm thinking I will name it Roland.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Butterfly on 22 March, 2012, 07:36:50 am
Cowslips on the railway banks :).
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: lou boutin on 22 March, 2012, 08:26:15 am
I've come across two early bumble bee queens, sadly both were dead :-(.  So we've set up a few more bubble bee hides and feeders.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jogler on 22 March, 2012, 09:05:30 am
Cowslips on the railway banks :).

were the cows tongues on the railway track?

IGMC,quickly
Title: Signs of spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 22 March, 2012, 12:03:14 pm
Although I am aware that such things happen, I was not really prepared for the marvel of a sow giving birth (warning: unpleasant content)
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 22 March, 2012, 07:55:16 pm
Spat out the first inhaled insect of the year.  ::-)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 23 March, 2012, 12:16:13 pm
Lots of wriggling tadpoles in Priory Park this morning. Still very tiny and lodged in large numbers on the remains of the decaying spawn, but normally Priory Park tadpoles don't make it that far. Most years, the spawn just doesn't hatch.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 23 March, 2012, 09:59:48 pm
Wood anemones are flowering enough to see from a passing bike. Chiffchaffs are singing in Warwickshire (well a couple anyway). There are celandines everywhere, except, oddly, my favourite bit of roadside verge, which had nary a flower - presumably all over by now.

Lots of cyclists in shorts, though no-one else in sandals yet.

Yesterday we walked through a veritable carpet of primroses in Packwood churchyard. Also I encountered my first wasp, which seemed fascinated by my glasses. It seemed prudent to remove the spectacles so that I could watch the insect at arm's length, even if it was rather blurred.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 24 March, 2012, 05:10:05 am
Significant dawn chorus at 4.55 today.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: lou boutin on 25 March, 2012, 04:44:03 pm
The ducks are courting
 (http://i1150.photobucket.com/albums/o615/LouBoutin11/017.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 25 March, 2012, 06:55:57 pm
There are still tadpoles in the park. They are about a centimetre long and wriggling.

This is the best they've done for years.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 25 March, 2012, 08:38:08 pm
bluebells in the chilterns were coming into flower  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: citoyen on 27 March, 2012, 12:07:08 pm
I've been seeing magnolias in full bloom all over the place lately. Slightly on the early side?

Our bluebells aren't out yet though.

d.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 27 March, 2012, 01:26:25 pm
I saw a small number of bluebells in flower yesterday, but the massed ranks were nowhere near flowering.

There was some very spectacular activity at a badgers' sett.

Today, in the park, I saw quite a few tadpoles wriggling about.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 27 March, 2012, 08:12:39 pm
Spotted a solitary cowslip on a sunny verge today. It may have to wait a wee while before it's pollinated.

On arriving home was greeted by the sight of 2 butterflies at roof height behaving as though they were about to procreate. Absolutely impossible to identify species from below, just dark silhouettes against a bright sky. I suppose that rules out Brimstones, but not a lot else.

Yesterday's ride revealed the first bluebells - 2 weedy looking specimens in a very sheltered sunny hedge bottom.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 28 March, 2012, 07:56:50 pm
More butterflies today.

The easy one was a brimstone.

The dubious one was probably a peacock, which flew off from the sunnier side of the road as I approached. I though I saw an "eye" during its departure. Not entirely implausible, since I photographed one less than a km away in mid-April 2007.

There were a few medium brown jobs as well.

The weedy bluebells spotted on Monday had been joined by quite a few more robust specimens - roughly 5 per 10m of hedgebank. They're still a long way from carpeting the woodland floor, though - I'd guess 1-2 weeks, assuming we don't get a seriously cold spell.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 28 March, 2012, 10:05:04 pm
Butterflies, bumble bees and several thousand midges were spotted (and in a couple of unfortunate cases, swallowed) on our pootle this afternoon...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 30 March, 2012, 10:26:27 am
Three bees this week. Today's was roughly the size of a hamster.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 30 March, 2012, 01:15:17 pm
Butterflies, bumble bees and several thousand midges were spotted (and in a couple of unfortunate cases, swallowed) on our pootle this afternoon...

YOU'VE SWALLOWED BUTTERFLY?  :o
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 01 April, 2012, 08:58:26 pm
A pied flycatcher disappeared into a hedge in front of me this morning. Since it's the first one I've ever spotted (should that be espied?) I don't know if it's particularly early arriving here.

In a sunny hedgebottom, red campion & greater stitchwort in flower and yellow archangel with flower buds just showing yellow.

Our garden pond is now populated by tadpoles rather than frogspawn. There still seems to be some water as well.

Lots of oak & ash catkins around. Discovered that the green on weeping willows is due to catkins, not leaves. The sticky buds on most of the horse chestnuts have burst & green flower spikes are showing above the limp-looking leaves.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 17 April, 2012, 10:36:17 am
On the Rutland Water ride last weekend I saw my first swallows of the year and heard my first willow warblers.

It's still bloody cold today though.

Edit: I heard some blackcaps as well.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CountrySickness on 17 April, 2012, 08:24:21 pm
I heard my 1st Willow warblers yesterday and I saw my first Redstart today, Wales is officially basking in the glow of  mid, not just early, Spring ;D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 30 April, 2012, 03:50:53 pm
The first cuckoo, at Doggetts Farm.

I heard it and cuckooed back at it, but it wasn't playing ball. It wasn't all that close to me and was upwind, so it may not have heard.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pcolbeck on 13 May, 2012, 05:51:52 pm
Heard my first cricket of the year today. Didnt see the little chap though. There are always some in the grass bank below field hedge opposite our house.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: LindaG on 13 May, 2012, 10:28:11 pm
On Tuesday - heard a cuckoo.  We seem to be blessed with many goldfinches in the hedgerows hereabouts this year as well.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 11 December, 2012, 08:23:29 am
Snowdrops are poking through the soil but are not in flower yet. There is a patch in Priory Park which have flowered before Christmas every year for the last 8. Yesterday I heard a greater spotted woodpecker drumming, which is supposed to be a sign of spring, although I think it was just confused. At least, as of yesterday, sunset won't get any earlier. The sun sets at 3.51 for 5 afternoons and, on 15th, goes back to 3.52. We have to wait until new year before sunrise gets earlier though.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: ferret on 11 December, 2012, 11:09:27 am
Spring ! I'm still waiting for summer ??
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: De Sisti on 11 December, 2012, 03:15:15 pm
Spring ! I'm still waiting for this year's summer ??
FTFY
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 18 December, 2012, 10:09:53 pm
There were a number of white tipped goat willow catkin buds in Wappenbury Wood today. They'll doubtless take their time to open into pussy willow. Willows seem to be enjoying the sogginess of this year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 21 December, 2012, 10:37:12 am
(http://peter.chesspod.com/gallery/d/17956-1/IMAG0097.jpg)

The first snowdrop of the winter!  :D

Taken on my crap HTC phone.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Butterfly on 21 December, 2012, 11:31:37 am
Hurrah!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 27 December, 2012, 11:34:58 pm
Seems terribly early. Are they usually out in December in Essex?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 28 December, 2012, 12:15:21 am
No. It's an exceptional patch in a very sheltered place which just happens to get the midday sun (if it shines) even in December. I don't know of any others that flower so early, but I've watched this patch for the past 8 years and this is the latest I can remember. I have known them in flower before the middle of the month.

It may well be an early strain. I can't say I know a lot about snowdrops.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 28 December, 2012, 09:02:45 am
There's picture I took of daffs in full bloom 25/12/11.  It's one year back on this thread.  I looked at the same patch yesterday. 
All up with a big green head on them, but only one showing any sign of beginning to open.  So prolly about at least 2/3 weeks later this year.  Which in my opinion is a good thing.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 04 January, 2013, 11:01:50 am
Yesterday: a blackbird singing and a crow carrying nesting material.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 07 January, 2013, 01:36:00 pm
Buds, buds, buds. Even some blossom on trees. And birdsong.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: docsquid on 07 January, 2013, 03:06:14 pm
Lots of birdsong at the woods over the weekend.  Blue tits, great tits, coal tits, robins, song thrushes, dunnocks, goldfinches all in full spring song, and great spotted woodpeckers drumming too.  We have a few willow catkins coming out at the bottom of Betty's Wood where it is sheltered, plus the daffodils coming up.  In short, spring seems to have arrived.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 08 January, 2013, 07:03:32 am
There is a blackbird singing loudly not far from my bedroom window. He's the only one, which makes it a dawn solo.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 08 January, 2013, 05:08:02 pm
It has been seeming very springlike so far this month. I'm looking forward to a bit of proper winter before the proper spring.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 08 January, 2013, 06:07:47 pm
There's time, there's time. We could have a month or two of proper winter yet.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 14 January, 2013, 08:40:01 am
The bulbs in my window boxes are sending shoots of green up, and one of the primroses appears to be starting to flower, which seems a little ambitious for January.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 29 January, 2013, 09:20:04 pm
First Celandine of the year today on a sheltered south-facing bank in Hampton-in-Arden. It was a bit ragged, but who can blame it after being buried under a good 20cm of snow last week.

I don't remember seeing any in January before. March seems more typical.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 30 January, 2013, 06:02:00 pm
Perhaps it's fooled by today's "March wind"?  :D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: SteveC on 03 February, 2013, 03:54:38 pm
My first celandine this morning.  It wasn't open on Thursday.  There's a patch on my commute, just as I leave Yeovil, and they're usually pretty early.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 03 February, 2013, 05:17:00 pm
There were daffodils in flower at the top of Brock Hill this morning.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 03 February, 2013, 06:46:17 pm
The birds are begining to give it "tweet" at dawn.
Title: Signs of Spring
Post by: bumper on 03 February, 2013, 06:49:26 pm
The birds are begining to give it "tweet" at dawn.

They're investigating the nest boxes too Basil.

I've had a nice pair of tits poking around my hole this morning!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 03 February, 2013, 07:23:11 pm
Erm...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 03 February, 2013, 09:00:45 pm
The birds are begining to give it "tweet" at dawn.

They're investigating the nest boxes too Basil.

I've had a nice pair of tits poking around my hole this morning!

Do you hang a mackerel on the bird table if you want a shag?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 February, 2013, 09:16:18 pm
Lots of snowdrops on the banks of the lanes today. Also a very small patch of unmelted snow half-hidden under fallen leaves.
Title: Signs of Spring
Post by: bumper on 03 February, 2013, 09:22:33 pm
The birds are begining to give it "tweet" at dawn.

They're investigating the nest boxes too Basil.

I've had a nice pair of tits poking around my hole this morning!

Do you hang a mackerel on the bird table if you want a shag?

Not yet but I'm going to try it tomorrow :D
You never know, it won't be the first shag I've had on the table!*

*possibly too much info there.


Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 03 February, 2013, 09:29:10 pm
The birds are begining to give it "tweet" at dawn.

Of course, I may have noticed this because dawn used to happen after I got to work.  Now it is happening as I set off.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 07 February, 2013, 11:11:22 pm
A song thrush was in full song as I emerged from the garage this morning. It's the first I've heard this year, but since there was another about 30 seconds' ride away it seems to be time to claim a territory.

Dog's Mercury is flowering, which seems rather early.
Title: Signs of Spring
Post by: bumper on 12 February, 2013, 02:54:35 pm
I've just cleaned the nest boxes dotted around the garden ready for the prospective buyers. Two were rotten with new builds on the way to replace them and one was full of fleas!

I just placed my hand on the top of the box and had at least 40-50 on my hand. They were all very slow because of the cold so my hand and box all had a disinfecting dip!

The birds have been in and out of the boxes for a while now so they're all ready for building to begin. The blackbird that nests in the garage every year is guarding his patch already! Last year I had wrens, blue tits, blackbirds, robins and collared doves all nesting. The wrens and robins nests failed through predation, squirrel I think.

Roll on spring and then hopefully a summer!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 15 February, 2013, 10:01:17 pm
Passed a cowslip just open this morning, and a couple of flower heads nearby which looked ready to open in a day or 2. The location (bottom of Solihull bypass) is where two 50mph dual carriageways merge, so not a place where close examination is easy :o .

Something weird is going on. Not only are they too early, but they're in the middle of a daffodil/narcissus plantation (cultivated varieties, natch, so flower well before the wild ones), which are usually in full bloom before the cowslips appear. The daffs are showing signs of budding, but the buds are not very fat yet, never mind bursting into flower. The cowslips seem to have arrived naturally, and have been propagating steadily over the last few years :thumbsup:.

Meanwhile, some of the the hawthorn stems in the hedge we laid on Tuesday had produced leaves. They're rather a nice snack, with a slightly nutty flavour.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 15 February, 2013, 10:04:38 pm
There's a hawthorn near us which is in flower already!

You can cast your clouts, the may is out.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 16 February, 2013, 10:52:05 am
There's a hawthorn near us which is in flower already!

You can cast your clouts, the may is out.

Are you sure it's not a blackthorn? They come out earlier, flowers before leaves usually.

Yesterday there was something in flower in Churchill Gardens that smelt delicious. There was some evergreen flowering shrub which I think was the culprit, but I don't know what it's called.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 16 February, 2013, 08:17:59 pm
There's a hawthorn near us which is in flower already!

You can cast your clouts, the may is out.

Are you sure it's not a blackthorn? They come out earlier, flowers before leaves usually.
Could be, especially as it doesn't have leaves visible yet. It is a bit whiter than I'd expect for a hawthorn too. Though googling for images of blackthorn shows bushes, this is definitely a tree.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 16 February, 2013, 11:23:47 pm
There's a hawthorn near us which is in flower already!

You can cast your clouts, the may is out.

Are you sure it's not a blackthorn? They come out earlier, flowers before leaves usually.
Could be, especially as it doesn't have leaves visible yet. It is a bit whiter than I'd expect for a hawthorn too. Though googling for images of blackthorn shows bushes, this is definitely a tree.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=blackthorn+flower&hl=en&client=safari&tbo=d&rls=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=jxQgUcrSO8vMsgbfqoHIBA&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1276&bih=856

and

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=blackthorn+tree&hl=en&client=safari&tbo=d&rls=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=0BQgUbL4JIbNsgaOwYGYCw&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1276&bih=856

In the autumn, the blackthorn bears sloes.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: SteveC on 17 February, 2013, 02:16:14 pm
There is the old saying of a 'blackthorn winter' when there is a really cold snap while the blackthorn is in flower and people thought it looked a bit like snow.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 17 February, 2013, 02:28:59 pm
Yesterday there was something in flower in Churchill Gardens that smelt delicious. There was some evergreen flowering shrub which I think was the culprit, but I don't know what it's called.

It's one of the sarcococcae, possibly s. confusa, also known as Sweet Box (heads off for NSFW).   :P
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 18 February, 2013, 01:29:45 pm
There's a hawthorn near us which is in flower already!

You can cast your clouts, the may is out.

Are you sure it's not a blackthorn? They come out earlier, flowers before leaves usually.
Could be, especially as it doesn't have leaves visible yet. It is a bit whiter than I'd expect for a hawthorn too. Though googling for images of blackthorn shows bushes, this is definitely a tree.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=blackthorn+flower&hl=en&client=safari&tbo=d&rls=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=jxQgUcrSO8vMsgbfqoHIBA&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1276&bih=856

and

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=blackthorn+tree&hl=en&client=safari&tbo=d&rls=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=0BQgUbL4JIbNsgaOwYGYCw&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1276&bih=856

In the autumn, the blackthorn bears sloes.
As in sloe gin? I shall let you know in the autumn!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: JennyB on 18 February, 2013, 02:00:44 pm
Heard the first lawnmower today.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Rhys W on 18 February, 2013, 05:55:27 pm
I saw three riders in shorts yesterday!

Do these people have no concept of temperature? It was sunnier than it has been for a while, but the outside temperature when I left the house was 4 degrees C.
Title: Signs of Spring
Post by: bumper on 18 February, 2013, 05:59:25 pm
Signs of an early spring.

I've just had the first view of this years fox cubs, three lively balls of fluff! They've just been in the field in front of the house with their mum looking for a free snack.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 18 February, 2013, 09:58:47 pm
I saw three riders in shorts yesterday!

Do these people have no concept of temperature? It was sunnier than it has been for a while, but the outside temperature when I left the house was 4 degrees C.
Only three?

I know, it's weird, isn't it?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 28 February, 2013, 09:02:14 pm
It must be spring.  The teenage boys are loud and lairy.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jogler on 28 February, 2013, 09:10:00 pm
Rutting season is approaching
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 01 March, 2013, 01:03:33 pm
It must be spring.  The teenage boys are loud and lairy.

It sounds like the first line of a song:

The teenage boys are loud and lairy...

Suggested tune: Calon Lan.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: spesh on 01 March, 2013, 11:14:25 pm
I saw three riders in shorts yesterday!

Do these people have no concept of temperature? It was sunnier than it has been for a while, but the outside temperature when I left the house was 4 degrees C.

In a similar vein, I heard the first ice cream van of the year, earlier this week.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CAMRAMan on 02 March, 2013, 06:35:07 pm
I've had a male blackbird in the garden all winter. Very well fed he has been too. He is a feisty fellow and chases off a youngster, a couple of starlings - who give as good as they get, a robin or two and has even had a go at a timid wood pigeon.

Anyway, just lately a female has appeared on the scene and they seem to be getting on well, so hopefully there'll be a nest nearby. The privet hedge I planted four years ago is quite a way from being bushy enough, but there are ample other local spots.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 03 March, 2013, 09:58:42 am
The roadies seem to have come out of hibernation.

First insect/mouth interface of the year.

Golf twats practicing at Nigg bay in the evening.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 03 March, 2013, 12:33:58 pm
A pair of magpies checking out an old nest in a neighbouring tree.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jogler on 03 March, 2013, 02:28:38 pm
Snow drops on the roadside verge in Hatton
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CAMRAMan on 05 March, 2013, 03:42:15 pm
Tutbury/Hatton not Warwickshire Hatton, I take it? Nice part of the world...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 05 March, 2013, 04:53:24 pm
The warmest day for 4 months and pretty well unbroken sunshine.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hbunnet on 05 March, 2013, 05:24:12 pm
Tutbury/Hatton not Warwickshire Hatton, I take it? Nice part of the world...

Snowdrops on verge in Aberdeenshire Hatton
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 05 March, 2013, 05:30:41 pm
Sign of spring. 
First time this year with no lights on both legs of commute.
And first evening ride sans jacket.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jogler on 05 March, 2013, 05:40:40 pm
Tutbury/Hatton not Warwickshire Hatton, I take it? Nice part of the world...

You take it correctly
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CAMRAMan on 05 March, 2013, 07:13:06 pm
My cotoneaster is sprouting leaves, so I'm looking forward to an influx of bumble bees once the flowers are out.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 05 March, 2013, 10:44:46 pm
Honey bees are also partial to cotoneaster. When I kept bees, a lovely way to spend half an hour on a warm evening was to watch the bees working the cotoneaster.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CAMRAMan on 06 March, 2013, 07:36:18 am
That's what I do Wow. The bush is right next to a garden bench and I have my morning coffee and watch the bees flit from floret to floret. It always makes me feel rather unindustrious.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 06 March, 2013, 11:38:31 am
Two blue tits squabbling yesterday. The winter truce is over.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: JennyB on 06 March, 2013, 12:00:58 pm
First daffs.   :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CAMRAMan on 06 March, 2013, 04:04:01 pm
Dunno its name, but a bush that flowers before leafing is getting started. Bright yellow flowers for a few days. :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 06 March, 2013, 06:10:12 pm
It's a bush that goes on and on.

The forsythia saga.

Sorry. Couldn't resist.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 07 March, 2013, 10:45:28 am
Frogs & toads crossing the obvious, on our ride last night. Some quick, & some dead.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: tiermat on 07 March, 2013, 11:31:54 am
Crocuses in the garden, as well as snow drops.

The cherry tree is in bud.

Blackbirds carrying nesting material.

It is light when I get the train home, winter must have ended! :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 08 March, 2013, 12:48:42 am
Squashed toads on the road to school.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wombat on 08 March, 2013, 08:08:34 am
Swans on the pond across from the office engaging in courtship rituals.  They don't seem fussed about me taking lots of pics of them, though.  They still wait till my back is turned before they take off, as does the elusive little egret which I have trying to get a decent pic of for the last few months.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 08 March, 2013, 09:26:20 pm
Squashed toads on the road to school.

Did you?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 11 March, 2013, 11:51:42 am
I think we can count today's and yesterday's high winds as signs of spring.

Squashed toads on the road to school.

Did you?
Of course not - they're far too fast for me.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 15 March, 2013, 03:43:32 pm
Frogspawn in Priory Park. It had been there some time by the look of it.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 16 March, 2013, 04:37:34 pm
And lots more, still being produced, in Churchill Gardens. A pretty grim day though.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jogler on 16 March, 2013, 05:42:02 pm
Daffodils in the back garden
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: andyoxon on 23 March, 2013, 09:13:45 am
Have the mid-winter/spring fusion going on...  freezing temperatures, snow, snowdrops, dafodils, birds gathering nesting materials.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 23 March, 2013, 10:43:47 am
I suppose one good thing about this current weather is that we'll probably get one of those 'explosive springs' when it finally warms up a bit.
All the stuff that is holding back due to the prolonged winter will all come out together in a spectacularly colourful but brief celebration.  :D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 23 March, 2013, 11:29:46 am
I suppose one good thing about this current weather is that we'll probably get one of those 'explosive springs' when it finally warms up a bit.
All the stuff that is holding back due to the prolonged winter will all come out together in a spectacularly colourful but brief celebration.  :D

Then it will snow again.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 23 March, 2013, 12:59:49 pm
Sudden death allergy attack?  Marvellous...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 27 March, 2013, 03:09:28 pm
You can tell the weather's getting better.  Bloody Biggles is out and about again.  Noisy bastard!  >:(
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 27 March, 2013, 03:19:01 pm
I suppose one good thing about this current weather is that we'll probably get one of those 'explosive springs' when it finally warms up a bit.
All the stuff that is holding back due to the prolonged winter will all come out together in a spectacularly colourful but brief celebration.  :D

Then it will snow again.
Already happened here. At least twice, I think three times. All the crocuses and such in our garden came out and then died a couple of days later in the snow.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Feline on 27 March, 2013, 03:24:34 pm
Well, I gave my dog his spring hairdo last weekend (AKA clippered off all his fur). I have actually never seen Google be cold before, but he is shivering inside the house  :facepalm:
I have just ordered him a knitted argyle jumper from Amazon. I suspect Simon will refuse to walk him wearing it  ;D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Chris S on 27 March, 2013, 04:01:10 pm
I suspect Simon will refuse to walk him wearing it  ;D

I'm sure Simon will look very fetching.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: tonyh on 27 March, 2013, 08:06:53 pm
I have just ordered him a knitted argyle jumper from Amazon

Has it got roses on it?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roses-For-Harry-Mini-Treasure/dp/0099281767
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Feline on 28 March, 2013, 02:50:30 pm
Well, I gave my dog his spring hairdo last weekend (AKA clippered off all his fur). I have actually never seen Google be cold before, but he is shivering inside the house  :facepalm:
I have just ordered him a knitted argyle jumper from Amazon. I suspect Simon will refuse to walk him wearing it  ;D

He doesn't like it! (Google that is, Simon hasn't yet seen it)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8249/8597042033_14337bcc50_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/felinelara/8597042033/)
Embarrassed (http://www.flickr.com/photos/felinelara/8597042033/) by Lara Feline (http://www.flickr.com/people/felinelara/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: nikki on 02 April, 2013, 04:05:03 pm
An actual cat basking in an actual patch of actual sunshine!

There's still snow on the ground, mind, but pleeeeeease let Spring not be too far off.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Tomsk on 02 April, 2013, 04:23:02 pm
Violets and primroses in full bloom...I swear they were shivering, though  ;D

And our first visit to a nursery this year, for a couple of bay trees, or maybe an olive, but too expensive so we came away with golden bamboo  :-\
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 02 April, 2013, 05:42:55 pm
The temperature in the garden is 6°C. The temperature in the hot water tank (entirely solar heated) is over 50°C.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 04 April, 2013, 11:27:23 pm
Things are happening, albeit slowly. On Tuesday, near the end of my 'commute', was a green grass verge. When I returned it had a moderate sprinkling of celandines. Today (going N. against one helluva headwind)  there were 3 primroses on a S. facing bank in the morning. On the way home (yes there was a tailwind ;D) there were several flowers open on each of the 3 plants. Judging from the total absence of insects while we were working, they'll all have to wait a bit longer before they're pollinated.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 05 April, 2013, 01:01:35 am
There were plenty of primroses out in Bath at the weekend.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: clifftaylor on 07 April, 2013, 07:58:42 am
There's all flowers and that in the garden  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: L CC on 07 April, 2013, 09:14:12 am
Daffodils, violets & primroses in the Test Valley.
Somewhere in Hampshire: A butterfly. One of these:
(http://www.surfbirds.com/media/gallery_photos/20040614025212.jpg)
It was freezing first thing, but after about 9:30 it really felt like spring.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wascally Weasel on 07 April, 2013, 09:59:30 am
Sudden death allergy attack?  Marvellous...

Yes, I was pondering this.  Expecting sudden onset of hayfever shortly as the plants go crazy.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: slowfen on 07 April, 2013, 11:05:39 am


Goose egg in the frying pan   :D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 07 April, 2013, 11:19:50 am
Violets and primroses in full bloom...I swear they were shivering, though  ;D

And our first visit to a nursery this year, for a couple of bay trees, or maybe an olive, but too expensive so we came away with golden bamboo  :-\

If you want a bay tree, just let me know. There's a public garden round the corner from us where the buggers self-seed. The council just grub them up with the weeding.

I may have one in a pot in the garden. I'll check.

Edit: no, no potted bay trees. I've got a walnut and something else in that I can't identify - an oak, I think - but no bay trees.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 07 April, 2013, 12:17:53 pm
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8538/8624139839_4a4c1a067e_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/8624139839/)
IMG_1337 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/8624139839/) by The Pingus (http://www.flickr.com/people/the_pingus/), on Flickr

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8390/8625241730_c250c1f71d_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/8625241730/)
IMG_1339 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/8625241730/) by The Pingus (http://www.flickr.com/people/the_pingus/), on Flickr

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8546/8625236556_b3be7ca1c5_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/8625236556/)
IMG_1340 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/8625236556/) by The Pingus (http://www.flickr.com/people/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 07 April, 2013, 12:20:28 pm
No ducklings in the park yet, nor any sign of moorhens' nests. I haven't heard a chiffchaff either.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: L CC on 07 April, 2013, 12:29:19 pm
We saw a swan sitting on a nest yesterday. It's coming, I tell you.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 07 April, 2013, 12:44:54 pm
The first duckings last year were in the first week of March. The eggs have a 4-week incubation period so it was amazing that the mother managed through the awful cold in the first week of February. All the ducklings died, of course. I expect to hear chiff-chaffs in March. I don't think they are counted as summer visitors any more (I always regarded them as such when I was young) but their song is very seasonal. I imagine that quite a few of them do migrate, and the wind has just been against them for an entire month.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jogler on 07 April, 2013, 02:06:25 pm
I'm spending time doing odds&sods in the garden.I've even been to a garden centre this morning :hand:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: L CC on 07 April, 2013, 04:58:34 pm
Ducklings in the village. I'll get a photo tomorrow on my way past.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 07 April, 2013, 06:10:41 pm
Just heard an ice cream van...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 07 April, 2013, 06:31:53 pm
Just heard an ice cream van...

Did all the students come piling out of their houses and skip and shriek up the road after it?

(Not quite sure why I pictured that - but I did.)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 07 April, 2013, 06:43:02 pm
Just heard an ice cream van...

Did all the students come piling out of their houses and skip and shriek up the road after it?

No, they've all gone home for Easter.  We have parking spaces and everything.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Butterfly on 07 April, 2013, 07:48:12 pm
Just heard an ice cream van...
Our local one came round yesterday and stopped just down the road and today he actually stopped outside the house. I think he's looking for me  :(. I hope he doesn't go bust from my lack of custom before June :o.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 07 April, 2013, 08:29:31 pm
Ducklings in the village.
Why did I read that as duckings, & have a sudden vision of revived ancient practices?

I heard a skylark, near Ibworth, a little west of Basingstoke.

Yesterday I was gardening with my shirt off, & my back changed from deathly white to slightly pink. Today, I slapped sun cream on my face before going out on a ride, but my nose still changed colour.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pcolbeck on 08 April, 2013, 12:25:02 pm
A wpod pigeon building a nest in the holly tree in the garden and the sound of lambs from the next field but one to our house. It must finally be spring now.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 08 April, 2013, 03:06:12 pm
It must have been 11 or 12 years ago that my daughter and I did a few day's chess teaching at a school in Chelmsford. I remember well it being 8th April (my niece's birthday) and the temperature reached 80°F.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 08 April, 2013, 04:17:08 pm
My pea plants have suddenly started looking like pea plants!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 08 April, 2013, 06:02:59 pm
There appears to be an outbreak of Bromptons on the pav^H^H^Hstreets of Birmingham.  A couple of years ago they were a rare sight, even in summer.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 09 April, 2013, 06:47:25 pm
A mosquito. In my house.  :-\
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 12 April, 2013, 07:06:50 pm
I have heard some blackbirds singing lately. Still no chiffchaffs though. Nor ducklings.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 14 April, 2013, 01:55:41 pm
Chiffchaffs and a swallow.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 14 April, 2013, 09:10:06 pm
the leafs on my apple tree are coming out  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 14 April, 2013, 09:28:07 pm
A bumblebee.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 14 April, 2013, 11:00:38 pm
oh and 2 brimstone butterfly's near henley this afternoon  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 15 April, 2013, 10:39:18 am
A bumble bee at my window (Reading) this morning, & a brimstone butterfly yesterday, near Aldermaston. I saw a comma last week, on the allotment.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: nikki on 15 April, 2013, 11:27:41 am
Big Clean in anticipation of being able to use the lounge again.
(Includes laundry in parallel but don't worry: I'm not planning on putting stuff out to dry on the line, so the Birmingham area shouldn't be subject to rain like yesterday (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=70542).)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Palinurus on 15 April, 2013, 12:49:03 pm
I didn't need to go to the Launderette to use the dryer yesterday.

That's spring enough for me.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 15 April, 2013, 12:51:18 pm
Several hundred nesting black-headed gulls at the lagoon on Two Tree Island.

No avocets.

A few whitethroats.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 15 April, 2013, 01:25:06 pm
A magpie is trying to build a nest near work.  I'm guessing that it's its first year as it is not very good at it.  Keeps flying into the tree with twig, drops the twig into place which then promptly falls to the ground.  Magpies ignores the now large quantity of twigs under the tree and flies off, returning with a new twig.  Repeat.

Number of twigs in place so far - nil.
Number of twigs on the ground under the tree - loads.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 15 April, 2013, 08:53:15 pm
The flowers are appearing, in a mad rush to make up for lost time. The verges are carpeted with celandines, a bank at the bottom of the hill beside Hatton locks had the best show of primroses I've ever seen there. A couple of clumps of dog violets and several large patches of wood anemones were covered in flowers.

Chiffchaffs have arrived in Warwickshire. I heard 3 singing this morning.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 16 April, 2013, 09:56:32 am
A magpie is trying to build a nest near work.  I'm guessing that it's its first year as it is not very good at it.  Keeps flying into the tree with twig, drops the twig into place which then promptly falls to the ground.  Magpies ignores the now large quantity of twigs under the tree and flies off, returning with a new twig.  Repeat.

Number of twigs in place so far - nil.
Number of twigs on the ground under the tree - loads.

Hoorah!  Progress at last.  Persistence has paid off.  There are just a few twigs in place today. 
He's under pressure now though, as every time he arrives with a new twig (some of which still fall straight to earth) he is accompanied by another bird who just looks on critically.

Interestingly, although there are now lots of good sized twigs under the tree, these are being ignored.  Presumably as they “don’t work”.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 16 April, 2013, 11:48:37 am
A magpie is trying to build a nest near work.  I'm guessing that it's its first year as it is not very good at it.  Keeps flying into the tree with twig, drops the twig into place which then promptly falls to the ground.  Magpies ignores the now large quantity of twigs under the tree and flies off, returning with a new twig.  Repeat.

Number of twigs in place so far - nil.
Number of twigs on the ground under the tree - loads.

Hoorah!  Progress at last.  Persistence has paid off.  There are just a few twigs in place today. 
He's under pressure now though, as every time he arrives with a new twig (some of which still fall straight to earth) he is accompanied by another bird who just looks on critically.

Interestingly, although there are now lots of good sized twigs under the tree, these are being ignored.  Presumably as they “don’t work”.

It's an inspector from the National Association of Nest Builders.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 16 April, 2013, 03:21:35 pm
CPC are having a heater sale.  I think that makes it official.

And I need to trim the Hedge before the $small_noisy_birds that are eyeing it up build a nest in it.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 16 April, 2013, 09:51:28 pm
Swallows arrived  today. Actually 2 were house martins, confirmed by other vols. plus one bird that seemed to have long tail streamers, but no-one else saw. This was at Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve, which has a fair amount of wetland (i.e. insects) & is probably a good refuelling stop for migrants heading further north.

But one swallow doesn't make a spring ;).
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Deano on 16 April, 2013, 09:54:08 pm
The sheffield stands at work were full today - it's officially spring.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 16 April, 2013, 10:48:58 pm
I heard a chiffchaff in the park today but still no ducklings. There are mallards of both sexes a-plenty but they seem to have taken a vow of chastity.

A couple of moorhens were displaying amusingly though - stylised swimming alongside each other with their necks outstretched and their beaks only just above the water.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jane on 17 April, 2013, 08:39:36 am
On my way to work this morning
(https://photos-2.dropbox.com/t/0/AACEUG1BftXejM9xAtukJoc5NWvWpjJ2rPVpfvQTnrqslQ/12/37941632/jpeg/32x32/3/_/1/2/2013-03-25%2006.32.08.jpg/79gD91skXAbjy0nDevncbLq4zlqqIbdVGb8uCxEr1gw?size=1024x768)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: RJ on 19 April, 2013, 01:18:53 pm
Heard and smelled today from the bike, rather than seen:  chicffchaff and blackcap; wild garlic (respectively).
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 20 April, 2013, 03:27:00 pm
Larks, lambs, yellowhammer and swallows!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 20 April, 2013, 06:06:20 pm
Just before we reached the Humber Bridge this morning, a pointy-winged raptor which I think was a hobby.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: nikki on 20 April, 2013, 06:44:38 pm
1. Went for a ride this morning and got a fly stuck in my eye.

2. Went for a wander around the park this afternoon, sat down on a bench and then got confused as I realised there were abnormal amounts of Bits Of Stuff landing around my feet and in the water for a radius of a few metres.

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8247/8665157433_13c5dfb675.jpg)

I looked up and there was a squirrel right above me having a good ol' feast, so there are - or at least were - a good supply of tasty green leaf shoots up there!

You can just about make it out in the middle of this photo.

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8264/8666256504_0c9f34f066_z.jpg)

The discarded outer leaves were raining down and bouncing off the branches in an impressive Bagatelle stylee :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 20 April, 2013, 09:14:52 pm
More lambs:

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8243/8665224377_4a8be79e20_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/8665224377/)
IMG_1407 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/8665224377/) by The Pingus (http://www.flickr.com/people/the_pingus/), on Flickr

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8265/8665221975_2321a3195a_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/8665221975/)
IMG_1408 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/8665221975/) by The Pingus (http://www.flickr.com/people/the_pingus/), on Flickr

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8260/8666316574_5a2ffc3586_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/8666316574/)
IMG_1409 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/8666316574/) by The Pingus (http://www.flickr.com/people/the_pingus/), on Flickr

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8266/8666313350_cb0a1a155e_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/8666313350/)
IMG_1410 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/8666313350/) by The Pingus (http://www.flickr.com/people/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: a lower gear on 20 April, 2013, 09:56:38 pm
Saw the first bat of the year this eveing, zooming around our garden when I went out to take the daily weather station readings (1 to 16 deg C; 1 SW; nil precipitation - just in case you were wondering)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 21 April, 2013, 11:16:01 pm
We have bluebells, at least NE Worcs does, plus cow parlsey in flower, white & red deadnettles, a few clumps of cowslips, forget-me-nots, lots of coltsfoot and a patch of sweet violets (white, so easy to identify).

The celandines and primroses are having s truly spectactular year, though it's a bit odd that they're out together rather than sequentially.

Second swallow of the year flew through the middle of our CTC group at the meet point for the day's ride (Hollywood), at head height ;D  ;D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 22 April, 2013, 11:17:24 am
I've not seen any bluebells here yet, & I was in prime bluebell country yesterday. Just leaves.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 22 April, 2013, 07:29:01 pm
i have not seen any in the chilterns over the weekend either. plenty of daffodils and primroses though  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 22 April, 2013, 08:05:27 pm
I saw a bee today in the Canongate - first one of the year. Then I saw one in the Pleasance later. I don't know if it was the same bee.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 23 April, 2013, 10:57:46 pm
I've not seen any bluebells here yet, & I was in prime bluebell country yesterday. Just leaves.
I'm surprised. The few I saw were all on sheltered S. facing banks, but I'd normally expect our spring to be a couple of weeks later than yours.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 23 April, 2013, 11:34:35 pm
This week is normally time for cuckoos to start cuckooing. We have been in the vicinity of several likely during the past two or three days but without any sign of cucking and ooing.

They have definitely become less numerous over the past few years, but for some reason I would expect them to do what nightingales have done, i.e. limit their range to SE England rather than the rest of the country. Last year I saw several in Scotland and a few in Wales as well.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 24 April, 2013, 12:23:07 am
This week is normally time for cuckoos to start cuckooing. We have been in the vicinity of several likely during the past two or three days but without any sign of cucking and ooing.

They have definitely become less numerous over the past few years, but for some reason I would expect them to do what nightingales have done, i.e. limit their range to SE England rather than the rest of the country. Last year I saw several in Scotland and a few in Wales as well.
I had always thought that nightingales were primarily a bird of the SE. They were familiar to my dad, who came from Surrey, and that's the only place I've heard them. We never encountered any in the midlands. I'd have expected climate change to move their range further north, but am still waiting... btw I don't even know what they eat :o .

I think cuckoos might have different problems, though the decline in their numbers in the midlands has been (IME, so anecdotally) rapid over the last few years.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 24 April, 2013, 12:30:43 pm
First insect bites yesterday :o
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 25 April, 2013, 10:08:00 am
I've not seen any bluebells here yet, & I was in prime bluebell country yesterday. Just leaves.
I'm surprised. The few I saw were all on sheltered S. facing banks, but I'd normally expect our spring to be a couple of weeks later than yours.
What's your altitude? The not yet flowering bluebells which I've been cycling past are in Chiltern beech woods, mostly above 100 metres. There are plenty of other flowers out on sunny sheltered banks, but I've still not seen any bluebells.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: JennyB on 25 April, 2013, 12:47:32 pm
Cows in the fields at last.  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 25 April, 2013, 01:06:34 pm
A fly flew into my mouth yesterday  :sick: and I saw a butterfly  :D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 25 April, 2013, 07:25:19 pm
My back has gone red. I was planting seeds with my shirt off. I didn't think it was for long enough to need suncream.  :facepalm:

A bit warm feeling, but not sore. I'll live.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 25 April, 2013, 09:48:59 pm
I've not seen any bluebells here yet, & I was in prime bluebell country yesterday. Just leaves.
I'm surprised. The few I saw were all on sheltered S. facing banks, but I'd normally expect our spring to be a couple of weeks later than yours.
What's your altitude? The not yet flowering bluebells which I've been cycling past are in Chiltern beech woods, mostly above 100 metres. There are plenty of other flowers out on sunny sheltered banks, but I've still not seen any bluebells.
Most of my bit of the midlands is around 100m, though our house is 130m. Location of Sunday's observation is a bit vague, but would have been around 100m. However I've observed that that part of Worcestershire has a warmer climate & earlier spring than the country nearer home e.g. it has mistletoe & we don't. Nevertheless, both yesterday (walking) & today, in local Warwickshire I noticed one or two bluebells opening up (though not full flowers like Sunday's) in the sunnier hedgebanks.
The woodland flowers are still nowhere to be seen. We may wait a week or 2 before we see the characteristic blue carpet. I suspect it'll be well worth waiting for.

Meanwhile the wood anemones are a sight to behold just now. It is already an unforgettably good spring for ground flora ;D

Must go out tomorrow to look for the wild daffodils around Meriden. Sadly, the light is unlikely to be good for photography.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: nicknack on 25 April, 2013, 10:48:10 pm
First cuckoo. Down on the marshes yesterday.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 25 April, 2013, 10:53:40 pm
First cuckoo. Down on the marshes yesterday.
Where's the smiley for envious  ;) .
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: nikki on 27 April, 2013, 04:11:34 pm
DUCKLINGS!



(Spotted on the canal near Bournville station)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: mike on 27 April, 2013, 04:13:35 pm
DUCKLINGS!



(Spotted on the canal near Bournville station)

yes, in cambridge too!  (although these were 1/2 mile from the river, on a pavement outside a hotel. With crowds of tourists taking photos and stopping them walking onto the road).
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: nikki on 27 April, 2013, 04:30:13 pm
DUCKLINGS!



(Spotted on the canal near Bournville station)

yes, in cambridge too!  (although these were 1/2 mile from the river, on a pavement outside a hotel. With crowds of tourists taking photos and stopping them walking onto the road).

Thank goodness for that! I couldn't bear to watch another video like this (http://youtu.be/mGMzGxeO1wQ) again!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 27 April, 2013, 04:32:51 pm
DUCKLINGS!



(Spotted on the canal near Bournville station)

I saw them this morning1, except they were goslings, not ducklings.


1  What?  Basil cycling on the tow path?  With no-one holding a gun to his head?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: nikki on 27 April, 2013, 04:47:28 pm
Well, I'm not going back to double-check!
I'm saving myself for the grebe chicks in Moseley Park. I likes a grebe, me.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 27 April, 2013, 04:52:33 pm
Well, I'm not going back to double-check!
I'm saving myself for the grebe chicks in Moseley Park. I likes a grebe, me.

Sorry nikki, I wasn't suggesting that yours weren't ducklings. 
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: nikki on 27 April, 2013, 05:03:52 pm
No prob.
I'd just come off the ramp and under the bridge. There was quite a melange of waterfowl going on - was mostly concentrating on not falling in the cut! ;)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 27 April, 2013, 05:06:40 pm
I saw them this morning1, except they were goslings, not ducklings.

Ah good.  The geese will be in full-on attack mode for a while, then.


Quote
What?  Basil cycling on the tow path?  With no-one holding a gun to his head?

How about a lifebelt?   ;D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 27 April, 2013, 11:10:47 pm
I forgot to mention the ducklings that have been in Priory Park for a week or more. I think there have been about 3 broods of varying sizes and designs.

Unfortunately, the first duckling I saw was a corpse.

One day last week we witnessed a mother duck take her brood for what appeared to be their first visit to the water. They stayed very close to her - so close that I couldn't count them. There were about 10 I think. When they are a few days old they get a lot more confidence and sometimes the mother can lose the odd duckling when it gets separated fro the crowd.

I'm looking for moorhens' nests now, and mating carp. The latter were very spectacular last year. One morning we did notice some clearly diseased fish (nasty red lesions on the skin) and some dead ones.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: delthebike on 28 April, 2013, 04:41:39 pm
Swifts at the northern end of Hanningfield reservoir.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 28 April, 2013, 06:22:53 pm
Goslings, young rabbits.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 01 May, 2013, 06:21:02 pm
Spring? It's summer today!  8)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: RJ on 02 May, 2013, 09:47:04 pm
Cricket in Roseburn Park; slack-liners and barbecues on the Meadows.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: a lower gear on 05 May, 2013, 10:58:24 pm
Sound of the first grasshopper of the season today.  :)

Watched the first ladybird of the year emerge from some rugged tree bark.   :D

And also saw the first wasp of the year.   :-\
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Riggers on 07 May, 2013, 08:49:02 am
Housemartins – seen.

Wasp – seen.

Cuckoo – heard. Near Framfield, Sussex.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 07 May, 2013, 08:57:17 am
I heard willow warblers and whitethroats (had a good view of one of the latter) in Rutland over the weekend. Still no sign of cuckoos round here.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 28 May, 2013, 10:53:48 pm
I'm embarrassed to admit that I can't recognise a whitethroat's song.

But we've had cuckoos. The first was in The National Forest ("Conkers", near Moira) & woke up Mrs. N. every morning of a 4-day visit. The second was on Sunday's CTC ride to the Monkey House: intriguingly he managed to cut through the noise pollution from a nearby party/barbecue. The third was yesterday, while Mrs N & I were wandering through Hay Wood, enjoying the misty carpets of bluebells & swathes of stitchwort. The last was closer to home than any previous cuckoos. I don't think I've heard as many as 3 cuckoos in one year for more than a decade.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 30 May, 2013, 02:12:31 pm
As I was leaving the house for the quiz last night, I could hear that one of the House Martin nests on the front of our house seemed to be occupied.  No sighting yet, but someone was in there sounding exited.
Hooray :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 16 November, 2013, 09:06:49 pm
Today, at about 2.30pm, a very confused song thrush was trying to pretend it wasn't November in a garden in Chrishall. A lovely song, and very welcome even if the voice's owner wants its head examined.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 17 November, 2013, 11:57:43 am
And this morning, our walk round the park revealed not just hawthorn in flower but also a snowdrop.

I regard the hawthorn, which was just one branch of one tree, as an aberration. The snowdrops have been getting earlier and earlier but I have never seen them in November before. Last year the first was about 20th December, from memory. (Edit: 21st. https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=29530.msg1381525#msg1381525)

Photos to follow.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 17 November, 2013, 12:00:42 pm
There are still lots of green leaves on almost all the trees here. It looks like September at the latest. In fact the only tree that has lost all it's leaves is our rowan, which spends most of its time in the shadow of the kitchen.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 20 November, 2013, 02:42:17 pm
Leaves on birches and beeches by hospital finally going yellow. It's a south-facing bank so that probably keeps it green longer.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 20 November, 2013, 04:00:17 pm
I was digging over a border at the w/e.  I'd forgotten there were snowdrops in there.  They weren't showing above ground, but when I accidently dug them up I saw that the whole clump had good strong green shoots bursting out of them.  I apologised profusely to them and re-buried them to their original depth.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 08 January, 2014, 12:12:11 am
Hazel catkins open & dangly today in a sheltered valley - Finham Brook fwiw. It's a tad early, but December was well above average temperature & the Midlands have missed the worst of the extreme weather so far.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Jasmine on 08 January, 2014, 09:45:07 am
Can I count lambs as a sign of Spring?  One of the farms here was lambing at the beginning of December.  The farm where I'm renting a shed/yard for my cows over winter has several hundred lambs in the barns & fields that were born between Xmas and New Year.  They are super cute.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 08 January, 2014, 10:29:54 am
Crocus shoots showing and well established in Welsh garden
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 08 January, 2014, 09:45:34 pm
A magpie shifting nesting material today. Also, catkins. As per Crumbling Nick in the West Midlands, we have had a very mild "winter" so far. The mean temperature for December was 7.4°C in which there were 17 days with a maximum temperature in excess of 10°C. So far for January the mean has been 9.4°C and every day has been above 10°C. Long may it continue: for every day it's mild, that's one day fewer on which snow is likely to be a problem.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: bumper on 08 January, 2014, 09:50:30 pm
A magpie shifting nesting material today.

Bluetits and blackbirds have been scouting their nest sites in my garden this week too. I also saw a pigeon with a beak full of twigs but they'll breed anytime, anywhere!

I just hope we have a mild winter/spring and they have a good year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Morrisette on 09 January, 2014, 09:26:08 am
Ducklings on a village pond  :-\ very tiny fluffy ones. Bit too early, I think! They won't like the Polar Vortex  :(
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 09 January, 2014, 09:28:05 am
It always makes me happy when this thread starts to poke its head up though the leaf litter.

Anyway, I’ve just noticed the daff shoots are beginning to show in Brum.  They've probably been there for a while but I wasn't looking for them.  I hope we don’t get to severe a late cold snap.  Last year really knocked them about.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 06 February, 2014, 09:39:40 pm
Lots of leaves in the road verges today. The wake up call was a clump of wild arum this morning. It eventually registered that the cow parsley leaves have been visible for several weeks. This evening I noticed a long swathe of little celandine leaves in a place I hadn't noticed flowers in previous years.

Passed a clump of snowdrops in flower on Tuesday & again today. They're on the fringes of a nature reserve (Temple Balsall) that has a lot of wild snowdrops, but those by the road might be a cultivated variety. Must ride back & visit the reserve soon to see how the woodland snowdrops are progressing - it's less than 5 miles from home.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 07 February, 2014, 09:04:18 am
Snowdrops on ncn4 near Windsor leisure centre  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: woollypigs on 07 February, 2014, 09:12:52 am
A cheery tree in near full blossom at Airedale hospital on the 8th of Jan. Ok surrounded on four sides by warm hospital walls.

Snowdrops have been out and about for over a week now in our local ginnel.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Ruth on 07 February, 2014, 09:48:21 am
I've got snowdrops in my front garden  :)

The other bulbs I planted are coming up in little green spikes, so that cat has taken to pooing on the grass instead of teh flower bed. 

Still, I'm looking forward to the daffodils blooming.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: BrianI on 07 February, 2014, 03:18:38 pm
Saw my first house fly today!   :thumbsup:

had a fly cemetery with my coffee this afternoon to celebrate!   ;)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Gus on 07 February, 2014, 03:34:48 pm
frozen ground turns into 5" deep mud. well it's still winter but 7oC   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 07 February, 2014, 03:46:05 pm
A butterfly  ???  I think it was Painted Lady, but I didn't get close enough to be sure.  Poor thing, I doubt that it will survive long enough to mate.

And another sign of spring, I notice that the cricket square in Llandysul has been roped off.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 07 February, 2014, 04:12:47 pm
Violets in flower at the Museum of Kent Life, Maidstone.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 07 February, 2014, 11:50:22 pm
Snowdrops, cherry blossom, a crocus & a couple of daisies.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 08 February, 2014, 08:07:19 am
Snowdrops here.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 13 February, 2014, 09:26:32 pm
Saw celandines in flower today on the sunny bank where the earliest ones usually appear. On the morning "commute" there was a clump with more than a few expectant yellow balls on the flower stems ;). On the way home a few had opened up, and there was another flower half a metre away that I'd missed in the morning: it had evidently been open for longer than just today.

A couple of miles further on towards the day's work, a skylark was singing. It took a wee while to identify positively - the straight mile to Meriden is pretty noisy at 9 a.m. - but spotted the bird & watched him descend to a roadside field. Aren't they supposed to be the sound of summer?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 13 February, 2014, 09:37:54 pm
A skylark in Feb?  Wow.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 13 February, 2014, 10:37:31 pm
A skylark in Feb?  Wow.

I completely failed to mention a couple of skylarks I saw and heard singing about three weeks ago.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wascally Weasel on 14 February, 2014, 12:09:21 pm
Snowdrops out in St James's Park - daffs clearly coming up too.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 14 February, 2014, 12:29:07 pm
The daffodils are well into bud in Priory park. Their heads are beginning to bend and there is a hint of yellow about them.

Bloody horrible morning though. Windy, leaden and with a stinging drizzle - the sort of weather described so well by George Orwell when he's at his most depressing.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 16 February, 2014, 01:25:41 pm
Daffodils in my garden are open.
Ice cream van chimes in the street.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 16 February, 2014, 01:53:52 pm
Daffodils in flower near Mashbury.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 16 February, 2014, 03:17:11 pm
Did anyone else hear the chaffinch on R4's Tweet Of The Day this morning?
I was wondering why it was making me feel so good when I realised that although they are abundant in our garden all through the winter, they keep pretty quiet until about now.
Once you start hearing the male chaffinch song you know that spring is just around the corner.
A feel good sound if ever there was one.  :D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: PaulF on 16 February, 2014, 03:53:55 pm
Snowdrops been out for a week or so round here! Saw some new born lambs on the way to Lambourne.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 16 February, 2014, 07:09:41 pm
Very punny!
A bluebottle in the kitchen.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 16 February, 2014, 08:24:45 pm
First afternoon icy puddle of the season.

(Winter is the new Spring)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 16 February, 2014, 09:05:30 pm
There were some primroses in flower by Highwood church. Lots of birdsong: mostly song thrushes but I think I heard one goldcrest and definitely a skylark.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 19 February, 2014, 12:02:54 am
I didn't manage to investigate the woodland snowdrops in the reserve, but today's ride made it a bit irrelevant.

There were snowdrops in gardens, snowdrops in odd patches on the roadside verges and glorious carpets of snowdrops in tiny bits of woodland that I've been riding past for more than a decade and never even noticed the ground flora. ;D

The great tits were hard at it ;) . The textbook song has mutated into the annual propagate or decline competiton. Improvisations on the "2 note motif" that they repeat into a phrase are getting inventive.

Blue tits have been demonstrating the resounding voices that earned the label Tomtits.

A few chaffinches singing.
Did anyone else hear the chaffinch on R4's Tweet Of The Day this morning?
A feel good sound if ever there was one.  :D
Yes  :) .
The local birds are still hestitant, but are now a song that says spring is just around the corner.

I spotted a primrose in flower yesterday on the same sunny bank as the celandines. It's hard by the churchyard in Hampton-in-Arden, so may have escaped from the cultivated memorial flowers. Withal they were a sign of things to come. The celandines meanwhile, were no further on than they were 5 days ago.
 
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: JennyB on 19 February, 2014, 12:50:13 am
CROCUS!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: L CC on 19 February, 2014, 08:42:08 am
Flies. Great big disgusting swarms of foul flying things.

And I was on a solo, so no nice big pilot fairing to catch all of them. And uphill, so I had my mouth open, with inevitable consequences.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Ray 6701 on 19 February, 2014, 12:55:48 pm
CROCUS!  :thumbsup:

Me too  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jane on 19 February, 2014, 03:28:17 pm
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/gu5ggv6kl2n29az/2014-02-19%2015.20.53.jpg?dl=1&token_hash=AAEbI8FSpdzh5Yud0quevRen7aOpAzU_BqN1Ex4PAq_A5Q)
Took this on our Sunday ride
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 19 February, 2014, 08:47:22 pm
A pair of crows looking like they were interested in nesting, watched over by a magpie.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Palinurus on 22 February, 2014, 04:42:55 pm
Dried my clothes in the yard rather than at the laundrette today.

Am currently sitting in the yard drinking tea and listening to the birds singing. Not too cold.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: SteveC on 22 February, 2014, 07:16:49 pm
Worked out in the garden for most of the day (until the Rugby took over--I really wasn't going to watch the Scotland/Italy match, honest, but as I wondered through the house it seemed such an interesting contest...)
We have crocuses in bloom. Last weekend you could barely see they were coming up.
All the fruit trees have buds which are just beginning to open.
Nice to get back outside.

Tomorrow, when we're going birdwatching assuming we can find a bit of the Somerset levels which is not under water, unfortunately does not look as good.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 22 February, 2014, 09:33:39 pm
A couple of blackbirds in a tree near my house  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Steph on 23 February, 2014, 04:50:55 pm
As said on another thread, drumming GSW thus morning.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CAMRAMan on 23 February, 2014, 05:17:03 pm
Having started work as a postie in early January, I've not only seen plenty of rain on my posh suburban round, but also seen the approach of spring through the blooming snowdrops, emerging daffs and now I've seen the start of the bluebells growing in my back garden. That's a tad early, so I hope they don't suffer from the inevitable frosts we'll have.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 24 February, 2014, 12:18:34 pm
It's a marvellously warm, calm, sunny spring day today. Crocuses and daffodils in flower, a magnolia with its buds bursting, and different species up and doing. No sign of any frogspawn in the place it normally turns up.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: bumper on 24 February, 2014, 12:27:35 pm
A magpie is building a nest in a large tree behind the house. Just need a few weeks of nice weather to bring on spring for me.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: JStone on 24 February, 2014, 12:46:48 pm
... No sign of any frogspawn in the place it normally turns up.

I'm sure it won't be long - this pair have been hard at it all morning in the back garden - with lots of splashing as No3 tries to join in.

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-CLKTUJ9jcdM/Uws7gPSS0LI/AAAAAAAAHQs/SCiQIREWEUE/s640/DSC01465.JPG)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Jasmine on 24 February, 2014, 02:18:32 pm
At the farm where my cows are overwintering, the owner has some roses growing up a wall.  One of them was blooming at the weekend!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: woollypigs on 24 February, 2014, 02:54:58 pm
Lunch in the back garden :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 24 February, 2014, 06:45:19 pm
Plum tree in neighbouring garden in full blossom.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pcolbeck on 24 February, 2014, 07:51:49 pm
At the farm where my cows are overwintering, the owner has some roses growing up a wall.  One of them was blooming at the weekend!

We has a single rose flower for a couple of weeks then the storms put paid to that.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CAMRAMan on 25 February, 2014, 02:52:23 pm
The cherry blossom trees on part of my round are showing signs of bursting into flower. Magnolias too.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 25 February, 2014, 07:02:42 pm
Crocuses and daffodils today .daffs only just open though  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: L CC on 26 February, 2014, 01:14:30 pm
Signs of frog carnage on the roads yesterday. I think that's very early, isn't it?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 26 February, 2014, 09:54:58 pm
Crocuses and daffodils today .daffs only just open though  :)
Crocuses/croci are now looking splendid. It's only taken a few days for the few hopeful buds to turn into great patches of colour.

Daffs seem to behaving oddly. Occasional patches are in full flower, but most seem to show no more than the odd yellow bud. I took the pretty way home today to check out a couple of local fields of wild daffodils, which are usually a few weeks later to flower than the cultivars. One had a couple of yellow buds.

Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 26 February, 2014, 10:50:12 pm
Signs of frog carnage on the roads yesterday. I think that's very early, isn't it?

Usually close to 1 March on the B1000 in Hertfordshire so not really.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 26 February, 2014, 11:49:57 pm
Four bits of hawthorn hedge today had leaves.

It is still a spectacular year for snowdrops ;D. Meanwhile the celandine flowers are still very few.

Judging from the carpets of little leaves in today's workplace, the woodland celandines are a week or three away. One of our experts pointed out clumps of greater stictchwort leaves as well.

Bluebell leaves are now carpeting ancient woodlands. So are the leaves of wild garlic if you know where to look. Today I didn't recognise the difference :-[ before getting to work on some best-before-decade hazel coppice stools. Hazel never smelt that good ;). It's almost always an act of faith that trampling on the young growth while coppicing "trees" to let in sunlight to regenerate the ground flora is beneficial in both the medium & long term.

Meanwhile the hazel catkins are having a particularly good year.  Wherever I ride they are still the best green bits of hedges & scrubland.

We have frogspawn in the pond, though not a lot. There are probably one or two frogs there, judging by the reaction to my inspection tonight.

Saw red deadnettles & white deadnettles in flower. Have they been flowering all through the "winter"?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 27 February, 2014, 04:56:58 am
As I carry out my lonely vigil I can hear a Maidstone Blackbird hard at it at least 90 minutes before dawn.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: bumper on 28 February, 2014, 08:46:01 am
The bluetits have been inspecting the nest boxes this morning :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 28 February, 2014, 12:11:25 pm
Signs of frog carnage on the roads yesterday. I think that's very early, isn't it?

Usually close to 1 March on the B1000 in Hertfordshire so not really.
I met some frog, toad and newt searchers on Wednesday evening, they said it was still a bit cold for them.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Colin. on 28 February, 2014, 06:58:48 pm
Today : Rooks starting the first day of nest building.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Vince on 01 March, 2014, 11:14:51 pm
The beach side cafes are being assembled in Scheveningen

(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t140/VinceHall/CyclingStuff/20140301_132856_zpsgr5q2va7.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 01 March, 2014, 11:16:26 pm
It's goggle season again. Lots of little flies in my eyes.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 March, 2014, 09:29:24 am
Hedge strimming in part of the playground this morning.
"The smell of two-stroke, the smell of summer."
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 03 March, 2014, 01:05:41 pm
Cetti's warbler this morning on two tree island, and another bird I think was a warbler of some kind. I didn't see either, but heard them both. The Cetti's warbler almost knocked me over with its wall of sound.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 03 March, 2014, 03:07:01 pm
Hedge strimming in part of the playground this morning.
"The smell of two-stroke, the smell of summer."

I have a strong psychosomatic sneeze reaction to the smell of two-stroke oil.  It makes sense, given my hayfever, but I've been known to get it in reaction to mopeds, outboard motors and the like.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 March, 2014, 03:17:38 pm
Hedge strimming in part of the playground this morning.
"The smell of two-stroke, the smell of summer."

I have a strong psychosomatic sneeze reaction to the smell of two-stroke oil.  It makes sense, given my hayfever, but I've been known to get it in reaction to mopeds, outboard motors and the like.
For me, it's part of the memory of summer - when the grass was cut on the (infants') school playing field and lunchtimes were a mix of grass and two-stroke. Ah, nostalgia!

But does the smell of beer make you sneeze? No reason it should, just that line is from a song by the Daintees "The smell of beer, smells of summer" - I think it's Me & Mathew and probably not every version, but it's stuck in my mind! And it is, in its way, a sign of spring.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Ruth on 03 March, 2014, 07:51:28 pm
Daffodils blooming in my hanging baskets.  They look pretty  :D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: mcshroom on 03 March, 2014, 08:49:53 pm
First Spring Lambs :D

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hWu-z8U3Ltk/UxTe3t9gFwI/AAAAAAAAEkY/lg4uiLCk8ik/w736-h553-no/IMG_20140303_171339.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: spindrift on 04 March, 2014, 07:06:30 pm
Frog spawn in the pond, checked the diary, two weeks earlier than last year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 04 March, 2014, 07:30:20 pm
Geraniums in the hanging basket are opening out, many trees in blossom in London.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: tiermat on 05 March, 2014, 09:52:14 am
The climbing rose outside the back door at the digs is putting out new shoots.

My cherry tree, at home, has leaf buds on it, better not get a hard frost in the next few weeks!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 05 March, 2014, 11:16:57 pm
A carpet of primroses on the usual "earliest" site at the bottom of Hatton Bank.

An isolated cowslip-ish flower at the SE end of Solihull bypass. The flowers looked too big for proper cowslips, but oxlip, false oxlip & garden escape all look equally improbable ??? .
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Morrisette on 06 March, 2014, 09:15:19 am
Daffodils everywhere.
Rook/crow/whatever-they-are nests appearing (including renovations to a MASSIVE nest in a tree behind a pub on my commute. It's the Buckingham Palace of nests. It has a lobby area. Seriously - it's huge)
A bumble bee - erm - bit early for that.
Blossom on next door's plum tree.
Pigeons perched on the fence doing that ducking and bobbing thing that means they're about to mate.
Spring is here!!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 06 March, 2014, 10:02:00 am
I saw primroses daffodils and snow drops at dorney court yesterday. Also some very tiny low blue flowers on a bridge embankment near Windsor leisure centre . :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 06 March, 2014, 01:07:29 pm
Bumblebees yesterday. Crocuses all out in our garden.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 06 March, 2014, 07:02:02 pm
You just reminded me I saw a solitary bumble bee yesterday  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Chris S on 06 March, 2014, 09:05:52 pm
Yup. There have been Bees here too.

And Lady Blackbirds with beaks full of Stuff. Presumably nest-making Stuff.

There was a Peacock butterfly fluttering by as I was walking yesterday.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 06 March, 2014, 11:01:39 pm
Seems a nesting bird caused a conflagration...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-26464789 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-26464789)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: SteveC on 07 March, 2014, 06:37:39 pm
Large bright yellow butterfly (brimstone?) seen on today's warm lunchtime ride.

Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 08 March, 2014, 03:50:58 pm
Uh oh.  The grass is beginning to grow.  Looks like I'll have to start mowing the lawn in a week or two.
Bugger.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: falcon on 08 March, 2014, 05:59:24 pm
First smell of cut grass on my ride out this morning......means I'm going to have to think about doing mine sometime soon.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 09 March, 2014, 12:33:14 am
I suppose this means I'm going to have to start thinking about cetirizine at some point.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 09 March, 2014, 12:51:44 am
I suppose this means I'm going to have to start thinking about cetirizine at some point.

Sympathies!

Gardener cut my grass last Wednesday.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 11 March, 2014, 11:47:49 am
"Hey ho!" said Roly.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 11 March, 2014, 12:48:22 pm
Grass was being cut in Hill (the name is misleading) on Saturday. With a ride-on mower. Oh, the nostalgia, took me right back to infants' school!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 11 March, 2014, 12:50:56 pm
"Hey ho!" said Roly.

Bit of frog wooing going on?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 11 March, 2014, 01:26:24 pm
"Hey ho!" said Roly.

Bit of frog wooing going on?

Frogs' porn a-plenty.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: andyoxon on 15 March, 2014, 07:44:44 pm
"Hey ho!" said Roly.

Bit of frog wooing going on?

Frogs' porn a-plenty.

Our pond getting busy...

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NUnmgkZjOhM/UySpmmnsU3I/AAAAAAAAFCA/6xsDz3-S7eM/w1200-h901-no/P1210972.JPG)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 15 March, 2014, 08:49:56 pm
The re-appearance of yoofs with their bottles of cheap vodka on the flat cut back from the pub.  The bottles will be amusingly smashed on the path later tonight.
Also evidence of the return of bastard Canada bastard geese bastards.   :(

When are the going to be declared "vermin"?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pcolbeck on 17 March, 2014, 03:43:20 pm
The daffodils are flowering in the garden !
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 18 March, 2014, 12:26:22 am
The daffodils are starting to 'turn over'. :(
Next door's magnolia trees, one white, one pink, are in full flower.
There was an ant in my kitchen yesterday.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pcolbeck on 18 March, 2014, 10:40:16 am
You must be further south or lower down than us as our daffs only started flowering at the weekend.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Peter on 18 March, 2014, 02:44:54 pm
Same here, pc.  Blackthorn is the bloom of the moment!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CAMRAMan on 18 March, 2014, 06:12:02 pm
Blackthorn out here too. That yellow bush that flowers before leafing is in full bloom in our garden too. The grass badly needs a second cut too...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jacdaw on 18 March, 2014, 07:09:11 pm

Forsythia?

Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CAMRAMan on 18 March, 2014, 09:07:23 pm
That's the one, thanks.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 18 March, 2014, 11:33:58 pm
You must be further south or lower down than us as our daffs only started flowering at the weekend.

Well, Outer London is south of North Yorkshire.
I think.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: andrew_s on 19 March, 2014, 10:13:54 pm
Our daffs are out nicely
(https://www.dropbox.com/s/efqpn253kv072j0/DSCF0280_zps82b9f20d.jpg?raw=1)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: JennyB on 23 March, 2014, 08:39:33 pm
Ice cream chimes (Daisy, Daisy)!  ;D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: woollypigs on 23 March, 2014, 08:41:24 pm
First kid of the year on roller blades.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Ruth on 23 March, 2014, 08:50:35 pm
I watered my container garden today, first time this year.  Too late to save some of the pansies though, oops

And I sat outside in my jammies eating my breakfast and drinking coffee, and could smell the wallflowers, and there was a bumbly  :D  and I wasn't cold, not even a teeny bit.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Riggers on 24 March, 2014, 01:20:20 pm
Daffodils in my garden are open.
Ice cream van chimes in the street.


Whoa!! That's got to be one of the earliest yet, hasn't it? Perhaps it over-wintered here? How far South was it sighted?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Vince on 24 March, 2014, 01:36:01 pm
Bloody birds waking me up at stupid o'clock in the morning
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 24 March, 2014, 04:57:39 pm
A chiff-chaff this morning.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: nicknack on 24 March, 2014, 05:31:57 pm
Daffodils in my garden are open.
Ice cream van chimes in the street.


Whoa!! That's got to be one of the earliest yet, hasn't it? Perhaps it over-wintered here? How far South was it sighted?

They've been going all winter here. So perhaps they only migrate as far as Sheppey.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 24 March, 2014, 06:12:56 pm
Daffodils in my garden are open.
Ice cream van chimes in the street.


Whoa!! That's got to be one of the earliest yet, hasn't it? Perhaps it over-wintered here? How far South was it sighted?

My Latitude is 51.597o...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 24 March, 2014, 06:54:39 pm
Leaves coming out on the horse chestnut trees.  :thumbsup:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/Bloke_on_a_bike/1395664362_zpsa082d157.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Bloke_on_a_bike/media/1395664362_zpsa082d157.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Ruth on 24 March, 2014, 06:57:48 pm
Soon be candle season  :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 27 March, 2014, 03:46:00 pm
Mozzies gathering under the kitchen awning.

I wondered why I was itching a couple of days ago!

Culex molestus how I love you.

NOT
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: ferret on 27 March, 2014, 08:47:39 pm
signs of spring bah humbug!! my last job today was mowing a lawn, in hail, rain and snow in that order hurumph!!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 28 March, 2014, 12:22:38 am
Passed a clump of what looked a bit like wood anemones on the commute this morning. They were dangling bell-shaped flowers with a distinctly pink colour. It was a bit cold for spring flowers to open fully, so I planned to check on the way home. As it happened I returned by a different route & passed a clump of very pink looking flowers in Kenilworth & several clumps of anemones where I'd seen them last year. They weren't very open, but after the hailstorm (complete with thunder & lightning) I'd ridden through, I can't blame them.

First cowslips were emerging this morning in the usual sunny spot - not properly open yet.

Many spring lambs out in the fields. There were ewes & lambs in the next-door field today: one of our jobs was to rebuild the fence that separated them from our field. One of the locals is a collie who's not very bright that tried to play sheepdog with one of the ewes. It was something of a role-reversal to see the mother of 2 very young lambs facing down the dog & chasing it away from her offspring.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 01 April, 2014, 09:53:43 pm
On Sunday, on the way to inspect these

(http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/Crumbling-Nick/100_3745foryacf.jpg) (http://s200.photobucket.com/user/Crumbling-Nick/media/100_3745foryacf.jpg.html),

I spotted the following in flower for the first time (for me) this spring:
Hogweed
Cow parsley
Speedwell - don't know which one
Forget-me-not
Greater stitchwort
Strawberry - probably barren
Red campion
Dog's mercury

Spring is happening in a hurry :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 03 April, 2014, 09:12:54 pm
Swallows! A mixed flock of about a score of swallows & martins over the Avon in Barford this morning. It's a bit early.

Also saw a couple of bluebells opening up, though not properly open yet.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Chris S on 11 April, 2014, 08:46:32 am
Diss Mere this morning:

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7079/13774200015_a397362bee_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/mZbnMa)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: woollypigs on 11 April, 2014, 10:41:01 am
The smell of a bbq starting up.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: delthebike on 11 April, 2014, 06:55:34 pm
A swallow sighted at Canewdon on an early afternoon ride.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Vince on 11 April, 2014, 09:53:19 pm
African or European?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Colin. on 13 April, 2014, 09:49:29 am
I have seen my first Barn Swallow ( Hirundo rustica ) of the year on my early morning ride today  ;D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 13 April, 2014, 10:50:10 am
Mrs Cudzo found a ladybird in the bathroom yesterday morning. It had, if we counted correctly, 16 spots. Seems a lot!

Also, we need to open the windows to let the warm air in.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Bledlow on 13 April, 2014, 06:14:45 pm
Numerous house martins around Reading, & yesterday near Aylesbury.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 18 April, 2014, 08:14:39 am
A cuckoo this morning, heard but not seen. In fact, I think there were two as both were some way off and one was to the south and the other to the north.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 18 April, 2014, 08:55:17 pm
Daffodils in my garden are open.
Ice cream van chimes in the street.


Whoa!! That's got to be one of the earliest yet, hasn't it? Perhaps it over-wintered here? How far South was it sighted?

We now have three ice cream vans chiming in our streets at different times of day. David HATES those chimes!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Gus on 19 April, 2014, 06:45:57 pm
Me in shorts and the first  bbq this year with friends tonight
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: woollypigs on 20 April, 2014, 08:23:09 pm
Well not really sign of spring more sign of summer - a kid with a water pistol.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 20 April, 2014, 08:27:43 pm
Are the bluebells coming on much earlier this year?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 20 April, 2014, 10:42:48 pm
I reckon the bluebells are a week or 2 earlier than last year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Ruth on 20 April, 2014, 10:44:36 pm
Wild garlic in full bloom/aroma  :D :D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: phantasmagoriana on 20 April, 2014, 10:50:24 pm
Ooh - must have a look for some round here. That's quite a bit earlier than last year, I think.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 20 April, 2014, 10:52:10 pm
Wild garlic in full bloom/aroma  :D :D

Got a noseful of that on the local Sustrans route last week...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: mcshroom on 22 April, 2014, 09:47:48 pm
Just went outside to put something in the bin and could hear all the lambs and ewes calling to each other from a nearby field. :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: PaulR on 22 April, 2014, 10:48:09 pm
Met this lady out sunning herself
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7358/13994914993_0656fdee2f.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/njFADP)adder3 (https://flic.kr/p/njFADP) by PaulRide (https://www.flickr.com/people/62297839@N05/)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7403/13971726392_694fc568ea.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nhCKum)adder2 (https://flic.kr/p/nhCKum) by PaulRide (https://www.flickr.com/people/62297839@N05/)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7164/13951826666_85e9be2d48.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nfSKZC)adder1 (https://flic.kr/p/nfSKZC) by PaulRide (https://www.flickr.com/people/62297839@N05/)

[edited in the light of advice from resident herpetologist]
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 22 April, 2014, 11:00:27 pm
That's rather good! I haven't seen an adder for years. Whereabouts was he?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: PaulR on 23 April, 2014, 07:24:20 am
He/she was up on the north-western flank of Cleeve Hill, overlooking Winchcombe.  Certainly the largest adder I've seen, and the most camera-friendly one as well.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Ruth on 23 April, 2014, 09:22:47 am
Lovely pics Paul.  What a handsome adder.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 25 April, 2014, 01:08:40 am
That's a magnificent reptile & nice pics. I haven't seen an adder for five & a half decades. I'm not sure if there are any left in Warwickshire.

Cleeve Hill holds a lot of personal memories...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: PaulR on 25 April, 2014, 09:28:01 am
Cleeve Hill holds a lot of personal memories...

Likewise - I grew up at its foot, and used to ride over to Winchcombe to visit grandparents, it was our sledging place, treasure hunt place, kite-flying place, mushroom-gathering place, walking with girlfriend place etc.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pcolbeck on 30 April, 2014, 03:25:50 pm
Saw my first house martin or possibly a swallow (it shot past too quick to be sure) of the year today.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 30 April, 2014, 05:53:52 pm
An excess of bikes over parking in the Jamaica St/Stokes Croft triangle.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 02 May, 2014, 06:25:14 pm
A swallow. Not quite summer yet.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 02 May, 2014, 10:02:14 pm
Mrs. Wow and I took our grandson for a stroll along the very derelict Thames & Medway Canal, to which I was introduced a year or so ago by Mr. Legg-Bandage, on an especially wonderful ride to Whitstable. Last year there were marsh frogs, a nightingale, a cuckoo and some skylarks. This year there were several reed warblers. They have an especially comic song. You could almost imagine them playing a ukulele.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Steph on 04 May, 2014, 12:00:23 pm
At the moment I am having two duets as I go to and leave work. On the Sussex side, there are two blackcaps singing at each other. On the Surrey side, two chiffchaffs.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 28 October, 2014, 12:34:35 pm
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B1CEryVIYAAFJbn.jpg:large)

Snowdrops in flower. Today. Priory Park. IIRC that beats last year's record by 30 days.

IDNRC. 20 days. Last year, itself a record so far as I am concerned, was on 17th November.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 04 November, 2014, 06:00:45 pm
There are now 7 snowdrops in flower and loads of shoots appearing. By this time next week it will be February so far as they are concerned.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 27 December, 2014, 01:21:17 pm
December 27th 2014.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/Bloke_on_a_bike/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20141227_130719_zpsf70ed63f.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Bloke_on_a_bike/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20141227_130719_zpsf70ed63f.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 27 December, 2014, 04:52:38 pm
That's blooming ridiculous, Basil.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: JennyB on 02 January, 2015, 07:06:44 pm
Two pair of  twin lambs out in the fields    :o :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CAMRAMan on 18 January, 2015, 08:13:16 pm
Yesterday, whilst out on my round in Kenilworth, I heard a bumble bee buzzing and saw a butterfly flitting in the space of less than five minutes. It was very sunny at the time, but still...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 18 January, 2015, 10:31:06 pm
There have been crocuses in flower in the park for a week or more.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Otto on 19 January, 2015, 06:59:41 am
Had some nice tulips comming through in the garden .... until the chickens pecked them to death
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 25 January, 2015, 01:13:16 pm
Well there we go.  Down here we have snowdrops out, some, but by no means all, daffodils out,  sweet ickle baa-yams in the field next door and now very noticibly lengthening days.
But of course we are still waiting for the one true sign of spring.  Teethgrinder banging out consecutive >250 mile days.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: runsoncake on 03 March, 2015, 06:57:31 pm
Convinced I heard skylarks singing when I riding out near Brawdy airfield on Friday, or it may have been random harmonics set up by the wind vibrating my earwax.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 03 March, 2015, 09:53:10 pm
There was a lark singing over my works car park y'day morning.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 03 March, 2015, 10:07:59 pm
Bournville. 
Not my photo.  Off of that twitter.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/Bloke_on_a_bike/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20150303_201312_zps7a4c34ec.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Bloke_on_a_bike/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20150303_201312_zps7a4c34ec.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Deano on 03 March, 2015, 10:42:49 pm
Oodles of snowdrops, and even some crocuses in Northumberland on Sunday (March 1st). Also, some daffodil shoots.

More importantly, the first definite hare* of the year, giving me a Look before bounding off across the field.

*There was a possible hare last week closer to home, but it was too far away for me to be certain.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: graculus on 04 March, 2015, 08:11:44 am
Frogspawn appeared in our pond on Monday.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: L CC on 04 March, 2015, 04:41:32 pm
More importantly, the first definite hare* of the year, giving me a Look before bounding off across the field.

*There was a possible hare last week closer to home, but it was too far away for me to be certain.
Do hares hibernate? I think I've been seeing them all winter?
There are a lot round here though.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 04 March, 2015, 04:54:57 pm
I'm sure I've seen hares in the winter in Poland (where there are also a lot of them - but no wild rabbits). Maybe they just wake up on occasional days though, rather than being active all year? I'm not sure.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 05 March, 2015, 10:57:37 pm
It's taken a long time since the first reports of snowdrops, but by now there are glorious carpets in our woody areas.

First blackbird singing last Saturday on my way from Rugby station to Crick. There are more by now.

A few lesser Celandines flowering at the wet bottoms of the ridge & furrow at Loxley Church Meadow yesterday. I haven't checked my usual site for earliest celandines (Hampton-in-Arden); I went past on Tuesday, but was driving (car) so didn't have a safe opportunity to look.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 06 March, 2015, 12:07:07 pm
A fecundity of fornicating frogs.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 06 March, 2015, 08:47:10 pm
[pedant] How did you identify their marital status?[/pedant]
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Deano on 06 March, 2015, 09:08:10 pm
More importantly, the first definite hare* of the year, giving me a Look before bounding off across the field.

*There was a possible hare last week closer to home, but it was too far away for me to be certain.
Do hares hibernate? I think I've been seeing them all winter?
There are a lot round here though.

I thought they did - anyway, they're more active in spring, and that's when I see 'em most.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 06 March, 2015, 09:18:40 pm
Primroses at the bottom of Hatton bank.
(http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/Crumbling-Nick/IMAG0047.jpg) (http://s200.photobucket.com/user/Crumbling-Nick/media/IMAG0047.jpg.html).
I hadn't been that way since early February, so don't know how long they've been in flower.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 06 March, 2015, 10:10:52 pm
More importantly, the first definite hare* of the year, giving me a Look before bounding off across the field.

*There was a possible hare last week closer to home, but it was too far away for me to be certain.
Do hares hibernate? I think I've been seeing them all winter?
There are a lot round here though.

I thought they did - anyway, they're more active in spring, and that's when I see 'em most.

Hares do not hibernate.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Deano on 06 March, 2015, 10:19:54 pm
Yes, I googled it.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 20 March, 2015, 05:06:26 pm
All the bike racks on both sides of the road in front of Sainsbury's were full.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 21 March, 2015, 02:29:07 pm
Pete's been rolling on his back on the floor in patches of sunlight, showing off his furry tummy.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: woollypigs on 22 March, 2015, 07:12:07 pm
Two cyclists in shorts.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 22 March, 2015, 08:06:03 pm
Young rabbit on the verge of the lane near Burnham this afternoon  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 22 March, 2015, 08:07:37 pm
Two cyclists in shorts.

Same here.  I was in full winter kit, and had a conversation with one of them to the effect that neither of us were at a comfortable temperature.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: JennyB on 22 March, 2015, 09:27:12 pm
Two cyclists in shorts.

Same here.  I was in full winter kit, and had a conversation with one of them to the effect that neither of us were at a comfortable temperature.

On a 100k last Wednesday, tea-inna-thermos and my first ice cream of the year!   ;D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 24 March, 2015, 07:18:27 am
On Saturday, a wheatear on Pen y Fan, my first sighting of a summer visitor this year. On Sunday, plenty of chiff-chaffs chiff-chaffing along the Brecon and Monmouth canal.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 24 March, 2015, 02:58:20 pm
Loads of bees buzzing around the Pulmonaria in the garden on Sunday afternoon.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 24 March, 2015, 07:06:02 pm
Cherry blossom near Windsor today :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: interzen on 24 March, 2015, 09:05:29 pm
Being dive-bombed by lapwings on the rural bits of my round-the-village walk.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: mcshroom on 24 March, 2015, 10:21:18 pm
There were lambs everywhere on the Fountains Monk'y Business on Sunday. Piglets too at one point :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 25 March, 2015, 07:20:54 am
And today three hares in the field behind us, resplendent in their summer orange-brown coats after a winter of grey colouring. Not seen any "boxing" yet tho.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wombat on 25 March, 2015, 01:35:38 pm
Ooh, I'd better go and lie on the fields near my chosen place with my 500mm lens watching for hares, then.  I am determined to get a hare photo one day! 

My spring news is that Baggins has taken to thundering up and down the hallway like a spring lamb, all bouncy and silly.  He is 13.... (and he passed his MOT with flying colours today, and didn't even notice the vet stabbing him.)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Ruthie on 25 March, 2015, 07:38:30 pm
And today three hares in the field behind us, resplendent in their summer orange-brown coats after a winter of grey colouring. Not seen any "boxing" yet tho.

Aw.  Haven't seen a single hare yet.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Chris S on 25 March, 2015, 08:33:07 pm
And today three hares in the field behind us, resplendent in their summer orange-brown coats after a winter of grey colouring. Not seen any "boxing" yet tho.

Aw.  Haven't seen a single hare yet.

I have. I ran over it in the car  :facepalm:.

"Clump clump clump...."

fboab (wakes up): "What was that?"
me: "Nothing."

Sigh...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pdm on 26 March, 2015, 08:08:46 am
Spring is DEFINITELY sprung here - the crocusses are out in the garden! (as is the garden furniture...)

(http://www.meiring.org.uk/pdm/images/spring.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Vince on 26 March, 2015, 10:02:16 am
The Unread Topics is full of Audax events.... must be spring
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Ruthie on 26 March, 2015, 09:26:16 pm
And today three hares in the field behind us, resplendent in their summer orange-brown coats after a winter of grey colouring. Not seen any "boxing" yet tho.

Aw.  Haven't seen a single hare yet.

I have. I ran over it in the car  :facepalm:.

"Clump clump clump...."

fboab (wakes up): "What was that?"
me: "Nothing."

Sigh...

 :'(  :(
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 27 March, 2015, 07:30:48 am
The One True Sign: the annual ant invasion of our kitchen has begun.  Two different species in two days.  Fascinating wee buggers but a bit wearing when you lift up a scouring pad and find a platoon scurrying about the underside, or put your hand down in the wrong place.

Natch, only discovered after the missus had decamped to the shops that the tube of ant gel is blowing gas like last year's rubber solution and her phone is still on her desk.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 28 March, 2015, 06:34:20 pm
The horse chestnut buds have burst.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Ruthie on 29 March, 2015, 05:18:20 pm
I have a tan line from my cycling knickers.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Auntie Helen on 29 March, 2015, 05:56:52 pm
Asparagus for sale at the Spargelhof down the road
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 29 March, 2015, 09:07:50 pm
There is a very slow patch of daffodils in Priory Park that still have not opened. Most have been in flower for a while so it must be a late variety.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 30 March, 2015, 10:21:51 am
The weekend's winds.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 30 March, 2015, 05:48:23 pm
Bud's nearly open on the silver birch tree the magpies are nesting in  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 31 March, 2015, 08:05:32 pm
Asparagus for sale at the Spargelhof down the road

There's some for sale round here as well. The trouble is it's in Waitrose and it's all from Peru and Mexico.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: mcshroom on 01 April, 2015, 09:53:29 am
Sneezing and a runny nose yesterday have meant I'm back on the hayfever tablets as of last night. Must be spring. ::-)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 02 April, 2015, 06:43:03 pm
According to the "Latest sightings" board on the Southend RSPB website, on 31st March two people saw swallows.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pcolbeck on 02 April, 2015, 07:02:20 pm
It snowed on Monday and sleeted and rained. Must be spring or it would have been snow and sleet all day.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 06 April, 2015, 01:30:37 pm
I've just driven #2 son back into Carmarthen in time for this afternoons shift.  The display in the car read 18° all the way with a couple of 19° here and there.  :D

I can't wait to start complaining that it's too hot.  ;D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 06 April, 2015, 01:37:11 pm
10°C here, Basil. It was sunny earlier - not warm, too much NE wind. I was dressed in warm garb while leafletting abd a couple of times the letterboxes which were in the sun were almost too hot to touch.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Steph on 06 April, 2015, 08:50:44 pm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-32181462

Yay!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 06 April, 2015, 08:56:01 pm
My allergies have kicked in.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: mcshroom on 06 April, 2015, 08:57:57 pm
My allergies have kicked in.
Think I beat you by a week on that one.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Snakehips on 06 April, 2015, 09:28:14 pm
I've had Robins and Great Tits collecting moss from my 'lawn', presumably for nest lining purposes.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Ruthie on 06 April, 2015, 09:56:54 pm
Many, many skylarks today, mostly heard but also seen.

 :D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 06 April, 2015, 10:50:54 pm
Lucky Ruthie! Though I did think I heard one last weekend, when it was horrid windy, but decided it couldn't have been.

Big sports bikes out in force today, as well as a few Old Britsters.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: SteveC on 06 April, 2015, 11:16:26 pm
The really really nice ice cream place on the A30 has reopened after the winter.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 06 April, 2015, 11:44:54 pm
Although I couldn't make out the causes in the murky water, there were definite signs of wriggling in the middle of a patch of frogspawn in Priory Park.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 07 April, 2015, 08:28:50 am
We have tadpoles :smug:  And three baby fish, c.2cm long.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: tiermat on 07 April, 2015, 09:54:29 am
Dead chicks on the decking, courtesy of our cats.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 07 April, 2015, 10:57:23 am
Cycling-specific signs of spring: You can ride 80 miles at a relaxed pace and not need lights. In contrast, you do need at least half a bottle of water.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 April, 2015, 11:17:55 am
The Nissan Leaf usually parked outside the builders' merchants on the way to the doctor's has been supplanted by a Caterham.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: tonyh on 07 April, 2015, 11:51:34 am
Cycling-specific signs of spring: You can ride 80 miles at a relaxed pace and not need lights. In contrast, you do need at least half a bottle of water.

Yes! Ongoing surprise at both those wonders!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 08 April, 2015, 11:42:44 am
I saw some blue bells in a little garden along the towpath near rickmansworth yesterday  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Feline on 08 April, 2015, 04:58:22 pm
Spring has definitely sprung and there are chickens in my kitchen. I am also sunburnt.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 11 April, 2015, 09:48:34 pm
If you have too many eggs, you know where to bring them!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Snakehips on 11 April, 2015, 09:54:44 pm
Five little foxes gambolling around at the end of my garden for the last few days.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: runsoncake on 11 April, 2015, 11:48:16 pm
Five little foxes gambolling around at the end of my garden for the last few days.

Photo(s) for the Squeeee thread maybe??
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 15 April, 2015, 10:20:03 pm
Seen near moss end on a byway

(http://i1333.photobucket.com/albums/w626/cycleman1081/HP/Pictures/IMG_0541_zpsge2ogezb.jpg) (http://s1333.photobucket.com/user/cycleman1081/media/HP/Pictures/IMG_0541_zpsge2ogezb.jpg.html)

 :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 17 April, 2015, 07:35:56 am
Plenty of blossom out in Ightham Mote yesterday, including bluebells.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 20 April, 2015, 09:25:46 pm
A cuckoo sang briefly last Thursday. A pair of robins are building a nest behind a loose board in one of our fences; it has boards on both sides, so there's a nice nesting site on an arris rail, hopefully out of reach of the neighbours' cats. Must remember not to nail the board back too early ;).

There are lots of wood anemones on the roadside verges & a few bluebells coming into flower on the sunnier hedgebanks. Has anyone else been enjoying the splendours of the blackthorn blossom?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 20 April, 2015, 10:35:49 pm
Yes, we have. There have been cowslips out as well.

I saw an adder this morning, the first I've seen for years. Hardly a sign of spring - I'm pretty certain that it is the earliest in the year I've ever seen one.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: TheLurker on 22 April, 2015, 07:39:43 pm
Observed on our late afternoon stroll today:

First ducklings of the year. 16 _very_ new (fluffy golf-ball stage, mebbe only hatched in the last 2 days) in the care of one female mallard all skittering around like sodium on water.

First swallows of the year.  Two and, unusually, one was perched only 15' or so from us and stayed that way for a minute or two so we got a really good view of it.


Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 23 April, 2015, 06:15:24 pm
Mrs. Wow and I heard a cuckoo this afternoon at about  2 o'clock in Tenterden.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 17 November, 2015, 11:38:05 am
Snowdrops in flower in Priory park. I forgot my phone, so no photo. There was no sign of any at all when I was last there last week, but there's a significant clump sprung up and flowering. These must have been up a few days.

Three weeks later than last year.

https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=29530.msg1758755#msg1758755
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Riggers on 17 November, 2015, 05:09:21 pm
^ They might be just late.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 16 December, 2015, 12:51:50 pm
My daffs look like they'll open soon...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 16 December, 2015, 01:21:13 pm
A patch of road side daffs have been fully out for a week or so.  And the ones by our house that are often out at christmas look like, er, they'll be out at christmas.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: PaulF on 16 December, 2015, 01:27:29 pm
Our cherry tree has blossom!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 18 December, 2015, 07:41:41 pm
Our grass has gone bright green with new growth.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 18 December, 2015, 08:50:02 pm
I have heard song thrushes singing in both Southend and Maidstone.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jamesld8 on 18 December, 2015, 09:13:21 pm
I have heard song thrushes singing in both Southend and Maidstone.

have heard around here mistle thrush each morning, dunnocks singing, collared dove cooing and rooks sounding very spring like too. There`s a general spring like sound of bird song each morning at moment, none of the heart of winter still and quiet....Grass is still growing, might need cutting by Xmas again (well it would if lawn wasn`t waterlogged) and daffs are about 2" high green shoots. Primroses in flower too.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: SteveC on 19 December, 2015, 12:31:36 pm
Our hexachorda is coming into flower. It was bought for us as a wedding present and usually flowers around our anniversary.

...in April!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 21 December, 2015, 08:53:17 pm
I have heard song thrushes singing in both Southend and Maidstone.
I heard (my) first song thrush of this season last Tuesday. I was coming home from Xmas festivities with bonfires & cooking of unhealthy foods on the fires. There was also a lot of work sorting out an incomplete job of coppicing to provide fuel for the fires & brash up the hazel stools to protect from the wretched muntjacs. I've heard song thrushes earlier in December in previous years, so I've probably not been out enough of late. I rode home through the rain in shorts & did same on Thursday.

Our plants are rather confused. Various ground flora are flowering again The hazels haven't properly lost their leaves  I spotted a holly bush with flowers. A short trundle round the local lanes revealed inter alia a hazel with (male) catkins open & dangly with pollen clouds from a quick shake. Didn't see any female catkins on other hazels, so it looks a bit pointless...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jamesld8 on 23 December, 2015, 03:35:43 pm
what seems odd though is daffodils are in flower in places, ours though just 3" high shoots but virtually no sign of snowdrops---are they just sticking to their normal flowering time despite the mild weather ?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 23 December, 2015, 05:01:33 pm
I suspect that they are an early variety. I don't suppose that there are many places that have been as warm as Southend, and we have plenty of leaf growth but no buds yet. Our snowdrops were in flower in mid-November this year, compared to late October last year. I think they must be an early variety as well.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 25 December, 2015, 09:53:42 am
Dafs out by Christmas day at our place again.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/Bloke_on_a_bike/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20151225_093127_zpsuqalbmht.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Bloke_on_a_bike/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20151225_093127_zpsuqalbmht.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Jasmine on 02 January, 2016, 02:41:15 pm
Lambs in the field across the road today.   :D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: runsoncake on 03 January, 2016, 12:57:36 am
Heard a Woodpecker drumming yesterday (2nd Jan).
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 January, 2016, 10:04:37 am
I think it is now spring all year round in most of England and Wales, except when it's autumn.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 03 January, 2016, 04:51:12 pm
Does being cold and pish count as a sign of spring these days?  If so, that.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 January, 2016, 07:57:48 pm
Cold? I haven't even been able to see my breath yet!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 03 January, 2016, 09:53:48 pm
Computer says it got down to zero in the early hours of 2016, but I wasn't here to witness it on account of celebrating in a friend's oven modern flat with storage heaters.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 January, 2016, 11:45:32 pm
I'm too old and dull to be out sleb rating at early hours.  ;) :( Besides, you're about one and a half degrees north of us!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 22 January, 2016, 11:06:18 am
Whilst dog emptying early this morning, I spotted my first lamb.  Mrs. B tells me she's been seeing them since last week.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jamesld8 on 22 January, 2016, 04:26:50 pm
many lambs in field near Boughrood / Hay on Wye as well as a bumblebee (which I find amazing as 24 hr previous it was below freezing there !)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 29 January, 2016, 10:47:14 pm
Celandines flowering in Kenilworth today. Checked earliest observations in previous years. They're a lot early albeit a bit tatty. I took pics with the mobile phone, but Photobucket claims to be down for maintenance  :'( .

White flowers of what looks like blackthorn, but isn't (very lacking in nasty pointy bits, also not convincingly black bark, nevertheless no leaves yet), in several places.

Hawthorn buds already burst into leaves on Tuesday. That was a 15-20 yr old hedge that we were facing up reading for laying in a a couple of weeks' time. I've seen several more today in roadside hedges.

Checked calendar to confirm it's still January ???.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 30 January, 2016, 07:41:44 am
Crocuses in a garden in Slough yesterday ☺
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jamesld8 on 31 January, 2016, 06:04:52 pm
En route Presteigne > Ludlow, blackthorn (or possibly bullus) in flower, ornamental garden cherries in flower, great tit, chaffinch , singing---reckon even caught a lark of skylark song too, and of course quite a few daffodils too  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 01 February, 2016, 02:38:02 pm
I'm not convinced this is spring yet, more we've had a very long autumn.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jamesld8 on 01 February, 2016, 07:34:41 pm
I'm not convinced this is spring yet, more we've had a very long autumn.

are you thinking 2014 March ? April type Spring ??
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 01 February, 2016, 08:40:02 pm
Looks like there's blossom on next-door neighbour's fruit tree.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 01 February, 2016, 11:49:19 pm
I'm not convinced this is spring yet, more we've had a very long autumn.

are you thinking 2014 March ? April type Spring ??
Wasn't 2014 a very cold March? Or was that 2013? What I'm thinking is that, at least here (Bristol) we haven't really had an identifiable winter, just wet, mild autumn merging into wet, mild... January.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: The French Tandem on 02 February, 2016, 11:36:19 am
It was 2013. I remember because we did all our loooong training rides for LEL that month under freezing cold, sometimes on icy roads, which is very unusual around here in March.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pcolbeck on 03 February, 2016, 04:13:19 pm
A cherry trees in blossom and the daffodils are flowering amongst the snow drops in the church yard. This is all exceptionally early for up here on the Wolds.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jamesld8 on 04 February, 2016, 05:52:47 pm
quite a few cherry trees showing imminent flowers, a few hawthorns now in young leaf, numerous daffodils---they`ll all be finished at this rate by St David`s Day  :o
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: woollypigs on 04 February, 2016, 06:29:59 pm
Yeah, spring is just around the corner

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jamesld8 on 04 February, 2016, 06:54:55 pm
Yeah, spring is just around the corner

(click to show/hide)

 ;D ;D ;D ; :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 04 February, 2016, 09:10:58 pm
Greater spotted woodpeckers drumming in the park today - at least, one drumming and when another appeared, they went off together...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jamesld8 on 05 February, 2016, 07:35:50 am
07:15 HOURS, just twilight, Robin, Dunnock and Song Thrush do think its Spring (and not just around the corner  ;)

Also noted rooks building nests in spinney just off A5 near Cerrigydrudion, which at probably 1000ft asl is very early I`d think ?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jamesld8 on 08 February, 2016, 05:40:35 pm
First basal leaves of bluebells emerging in woodland near home
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 09 February, 2016, 02:42:49 pm
Some daffodils in flower. I reckon, even after the ridiculously mild weather we have had throughout most of the winter, they are only about a fortnight earlier than usual.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 09 February, 2016, 06:43:48 pm
Daffodils in flower in Slough today as well ☺
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: ElyDave on 09 February, 2016, 09:15:00 pm
(http://i1194.photobucket.com/albums/aa370/dneilson01/P1030706_zps9a18v0nf.jpg) (http://s1194.photobucket.com/user/dneilson01/media/P1030706_zps9a18v0nf.jpg.html)

This, always one of my earliest in flower
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jamesld8 on 09 February, 2016, 10:08:51 pm
Bit of a pause in Spring here now, sleety showers  and snow down on hills to 1000ft asl. But our daffodils and primroses in flower as well as red hellebores in garden.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 12 February, 2016, 04:51:16 pm
Just heard the first ice cream van of the year...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 13 February, 2016, 01:03:01 am
I suppose that means we'll get them soon; I see I reported one on 16 February last year...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Legs on 15 February, 2016, 03:48:20 pm
I keep looking at the geese through the kitchen window1 and wondering whether they are building their nests yet?  Tradition/folklore has it that they lay their first eggs of the season on Valentine's Day (though mine have never yet done so within a week of the 14th).

1 (Begs the question - what are the geese doing in my kitchen?)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 15 February, 2016, 04:16:27 pm
The trees in a distant suburban garden appear to be in blossom: one pink and one white.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 15 February, 2016, 10:52:44 pm
This magnolia tree was in flower this evening when I went to pilates.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 19 February, 2016, 11:45:16 am
As mentioned elsewhere, hares "boxing" in the field behind our house.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 19 February, 2016, 06:07:11 pm
Primrose's on a embankment near Windsor ☺
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: JStone on 22 February, 2016, 03:55:25 pm
At least 8 of these busy splashing in a 600 dia / 300 deep garden pond (aka 'the lake'), & masses of spawn.

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ztvLbB61XsU/VsssXlyk9CI/AAAAAAAAenE/0KfXMamnnOg/s400-Ic42/frog1.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Deano on 22 February, 2016, 08:20:54 pm
I heard my first skylark of the year, near Pocklington yesterday (so still a fair way south of here).
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Flite on 23 February, 2016, 04:31:47 pm
Lapwings and oystercatchers back on the North Pennine Fells. 
And we have just had a hail storm...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 24 February, 2016, 08:51:14 am
Jane and I heard a skylark on Sunday while we were out.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jamesld8 on 02 March, 2016, 04:13:16 pm
Jane and I heard a skylark on Sunday while we were out.

Couple skylarks singing yesterday in the 13c warmth; BUT a rapid hold on Spring today at 4c and heavy squally snow storms driven on by a 40mph gusting NW wind. Even so a great tit singing clearly in it all
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Legs on 15 March, 2016, 03:07:44 pm
First goose egg of the year yesterday, and a whopper too!  A fortnight later than they've ever been before!  I wonder if they'll carry on later into the summer because of the late start?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Ruthie on 15 March, 2016, 03:48:14 pm
A skylark singing its tiny heart out yesterday near Darlington  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jamesld8 on 15 March, 2016, 06:09:09 pm
A couple bumblebees enjoying the nectar of our winter flowering heather. Dawn chorus now at 6 am, and birds singing joyfully during daytime; female blackbird gathering moss / grasses for nest material. And , hopefully , in a week or so a chiffchaff will arrive  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 16 March, 2016, 10:32:58 pm
First yellowhammer of the year singing this morning - still a sub-song, missing out the long final note.
A couple of nuthatches singing long, liquid trills.
My first skylark on the way home.
Lots of (wild of course) primroses in the reserve (Snitterfield), plus an apparently new site for wild daffodils. Snitterfield churchyard was carpeted in primroses, which I'm inclined to consider wild, though without evidence.
On yesterday's ride, the wild daffodils on the south-facing slopes along the ridge north of Meriden have opened up nicely - about a third in bloom. I spotted a small patch in a place I was previously unaware of; time to pass on the sighting to the Wildlife Trust's records (aiui, probably a central register which the Trust has access to)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: woollypigs on 17 March, 2016, 02:58:44 pm
The miles to road kill ratio has gone up.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jamesld8 on 17 March, 2016, 04:24:09 pm
A pair of Red kites circling around over garden / woodland with nest building stuff ie twigs in their beaks;  fabulous to watch them glide and soar around  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Deano on 17 March, 2016, 08:12:10 pm
I've seen more and more red kites up north recently - there were a few on the edges of the Dales a couple of weeks ago, which is great to see.

Anyway, I came here to report that the lane from Dinsdale Bridge to Girsby is abloom with daffs :thumbsup:

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1441/25770864041_570a4c94ba_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Fghq36)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Peter on 17 March, 2016, 09:34:58 pm
Fabulous, Dean.  I think we may have done that section on Graeme's 50 from Toytown, Trev's introductory Audax.  I think the Red Kites are moving rapidly north:  I saw a couple round about the Cleveland Tontine in January.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jamesld8 on 18 March, 2016, 10:35:32 am
Lovely daffodil shot  :thumbsup:

Re Red Kites spreading 15 years ago moved to Radnor valley, east border of Wales into Herefordshire. Whilst kites were common west of where we lived, ie Rhayader / Elan valley their traditional stronghold it was very rare indeed see one near home. Now they are common place, a pair nests in wood at edge of our garden, they now are frequently around 20-30 miles east of here into NW Herefordshire / Shropshire and spreading. IIRC they will also be raising a better ratio young / adults as they are further east as there`s less likelihood of cold and wet weather which can destroy the first brood / eggs.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 20 March, 2016, 12:17:59 am
A few years ago we were walking on the Long Mynd and as we headed towards Little Stretton a red kite flew over us. I phoned my brother, who spent 40-odd years working for the Nature Conservancy Council, most of them at Attingham Park, near Shrewsbury. He was very interested in our sighting, as I don't think he had ever seen a red kite in Shropshire up to that point.

Je was even more interested in the pair of ring ousels we had seen on the Long Mynd near the gliding club.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jamesld8 on 20 March, 2016, 03:18:09 pm
First singing Chiffchaff of 2016 for me, near Eardisley Herefordshire. And sun came out afterwards to give a sunny if chill afternoon  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CAMRAMan on 20 March, 2016, 03:52:32 pm
The laurel tree in our garden is so awash with honey bees in the sunshine today that the thing is buzzing with life. It prompted the first grass cut of the season.

Happy Equinox!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Steph on 21 March, 2016, 09:12:46 pm
Drumming woodpeckers here.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 22 March, 2016, 04:43:29 am
The dawn chorus is a wonderful thing to behold, but this Maidstone blackbird has been giving it large for well over half an hour. I would really prefer to be asleep.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 22 March, 2016, 08:49:11 am
Almond blossom yesterday.  Just one tree and a bit timid, but still.  A few others showing, too, including the usual plasticky-looking flowering cherry.  Our own (real) cherry tree is a long way behind.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: spokenword on 22 March, 2016, 06:28:48 pm
The outside tent display at Winfield's in Measham has reappeared.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 23 March, 2016, 12:42:09 am
A mozzie in my kitchen, buggrit!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 26 March, 2016, 08:06:18 am
A chiffchaff in the scrubby woodlands behind my brother's house.

An orgy of frogs in his pond.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: andyoxon on 26 March, 2016, 09:35:12 am
It's like a scene from The Birds here...   Blue tits pecking at the windows and door handles trying to get at us; scared to leave the house...   :o

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/LfLIiZ5tRuVtqCvbdsLyE3aLqleY-0jJ57QsWg0m88pv6fAYp6dUW08eCkkKzJfnql_pFOkxm3ajkIYlZHkkxQtEYwsnDxDqDJdv39BU7Mweb3A3573wOi0K_tlukAzHSrkArxVge-WuvnT_EaF__jeEHaIGaeXOX70fS6VEgrB1eMbT2ayjCefYoU-QMK6443cl0j6BxwdpwKh1MWDEhUR2Zsq_M_rbAJ8n2fGSLC0MZhX4jmMRyJ2WyVqD47g6-dM6zkPl7oJA_i2NvP0e8Pjs3bRQnIZY_6p3EOeeTBhCA5sMlzOLVwdMN85pl_8xpQ_6EHmAZ2LZAExHA-V877hg8jc-2gk7vGsaOBzCnV8F1y5szr__mpYNHSISHyAUR9DO4dqhFRVtMKyKEJuKg0wBF7UNKp7xKg4-smf_BfW8tCIN1MhlMHjBaT2VaB_KTTprAE7KiIGsp4Z6crRn_9lFNkRyTMym0W6BmX6rKm-gYV1NhYZyKnzmk4e8snzEhLKEMV1g_ypj4nf996jk1rIZyAOzHHnUsoi7i4D7RiY97Of4fTQEiWLoE4iidIcSduZy=w461-h482-no)


 ;)  Apparently they fight with their reflections during nesting...  http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/wildlife/f/13609/t/71767.aspx

Coal tits seem much more chilled, and haven't been pecking the doors/windows.

ps another use for the VIRB, set up onna tripod.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Ian H on 26 March, 2016, 09:56:30 am
Mowed the grass in shirtsleeves and sunshine yesterday.  Today there's rain on the windows, gusting wind,  and the hills have disappeared into the mist.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 26 March, 2016, 10:11:04 am
Mowed the grass in shirtsleeves and sunshine yesterday.  Today there's rain on the windows, gusting wind,  and the hills have disappeared into the mist.

Blimey, I could write exactly the same post.  (Do you live next door?)
All of those things.  Except the shirt sleeves.  I wore a jumper.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jamesld8 on 27 March, 2016, 03:02:58 pm
A bluebell just opening into flower, several marsh marigolds (kingcup) and numerous chiffchaff singing around lanes in west Herefordshire
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jamesld8 on 28 March, 2016, 07:14:09 am
Wet patchy snow in garden, lying on hills > 300m  ::-)

Aftermath Storm Katie, 23 mm rain / snow overnight and gales, battered daffodils  :(
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jamesld8 on 11 April, 2016, 07:30:18 am
1 x Swallow near Builth Wells on Saturday was followed by several hours of heavy snow / hail storms (see Audax Elenydd reports !! )
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mr Larrington on 11 April, 2016, 05:48:18 pm
1 x Swallow near Builth Wells on Saturday was followed by several hours of heavy snow / hail storms (see Audax Elenydd reports !! )

Just proves it's not summer.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jamesld8 on 12 April, 2016, 08:30:44 am
1 x Swallow near Builth Wells on Saturday was followed by several hours of heavy snow / hail storms (see Audax Elenydd reports !! )

Just proves it's not summer.

QED  :thumbsup: and many days doesn`t feel much like Spring either
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mr Larrington on 12 April, 2016, 03:55:20 pm
The real sign of spring is that my infeasibly tall chum Mr Warren "Shrimpboat" Beauchamp has put up the web site for the 2016 WHPSC :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 12 April, 2016, 09:01:06 pm
Lots of leaves appearing on the trees. The countryside is going green again  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 18 April, 2016, 09:46:01 am
Three separate parties of Duke of Edinburghers on various parts of the Mendip at the weekend.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 05 May, 2016, 03:51:53 pm
Today I am wearing shorts! Long Itchers be warned!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 05 May, 2016, 11:13:15 pm
Today I am wearing shorts! Long Itchers be warned!

Is this a caution to your woollen winter undergarments?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 06 May, 2016, 08:37:56 am
I am also wearing shorts  ;)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 06 May, 2016, 11:28:55 am
Heard my first swifts of the year this morning. :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 06 May, 2016, 12:39:28 pm
Heard my first swifts of the year this morning. :)

They might be the same ones I heard in Essex on Wednesday!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: tippers_kiwi on 06 May, 2016, 03:48:53 pm
My legs and Fingers!
Lots of wildlife activity on the 5:30 commute, it brings a smile to my face.

I had really had it with the dark and wet this year to the point where I was making excuses to take the car. It's all good again!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 08 May, 2016, 10:53:11 am
My Bramley tree is finally coming into blossom.
The eating apples have not yet bloomed.

It's a weird spring; some things were very early. Some weren't.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 08 May, 2016, 04:18:16 pm
I may, or may not, have mentioned this in connetion ith Helly's post above.

The oaks seem to be coming into leaf very early this year, much earlier than the ash. They even seem to have beaten the horse chestnuts.

I don't keep a record of such things, so I can't be sure how unusual it is, but it seems so to me.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jamesld8 on 08 May, 2016, 04:41:43 pm
My Bramley tree is finally coming into blossom.
The eating apples have not yet bloomed.

It's a weird spring; some things were very early. Some weren't.

pear trees here full blossom, hardly a flower to be seen on apples except imminent buds on young bramley. Gooseberries have already set fruit whilst rhubarb is not yet big enough to pull. Lots oaks now in full leaf, does seem a bit topsy turvy
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Ruthie on 08 May, 2016, 05:54:03 pm
I may, or may not, have mentioned this in connetion ith Helly's post above.

The oaks seem to be coming into leaf very early this year, much earlier than the ash. The even seem to have beaten the horse chestnuts.

I don't keep a record of such things, so I can't be sure how unusual it is, but it seems so to me.
Oak before ash, we'll have a splash!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 08 May, 2016, 05:57:58 pm
Pear tree next door and mirabelle plums blossomed ages ago.
Magnolia on other side has nearly finished its flowers.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 08 May, 2016, 05:58:44 pm
Motorbikes, motorbikes, nobbut bloody motorbikes, all day long.  Spring is come, the birds are singing, let's drown the buggers out and poison them. Vroom, vroom, look at me I'm Darth Vader in my leather duds and black visor (but underneath I'm an accountant).  Bloody noisy stinking motorbikes, fuck off back to Hell. :demon:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 08 May, 2016, 06:37:43 pm
Sunburn.  Proper sunburn.  Haven't had that for years.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 08 May, 2016, 09:32:57 pm
Hoping I slathered David with sufficient sungloop to prevent this. He has not yet returned.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 08 May, 2016, 10:05:51 pm
Yeah, it got so bad I had to resort to gloop (many thanks to Butterfly OTP), though a few hours later than strictly optimal.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 08 May, 2016, 10:13:58 pm
Yeah, it got so bad I had to resort to gloop (many thanks to Butterfly OTP), though a few hours later than strictly optimal.

Yup.  Your arms were somewhat rosey when you dropped off the brake inserts this afternoon.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 08 May, 2016, 10:28:20 pm
Yeah, I think tomorrow's going to be a good day for some computer programming.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 09 May, 2016, 07:37:08 am
Mine's fading already.  So's the weather: sky's looking whitish now and we're due thunderstorms.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 09 May, 2016, 11:06:56 am
Transit of Mercury starts in around 75 minutes and it's fairly sunny here in Londonton.

David and Aspietro friend will be observing.

I'll remind them to gloop up.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 11 May, 2016, 03:34:03 pm
Swifts and swallows at the weekend.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 11 May, 2016, 04:07:55 pm
Some chestnut trees beginning to display their candles.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 20 May, 2016, 09:00:23 am
The spuds in our cupboard are questing towards the light.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 20 May, 2016, 02:14:18 pm
Both hawthorn trees in the garden are in full blossom; they are not usually in synch.
Time to cast a clout or two!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 20 May, 2016, 09:46:25 pm
I have been casting clouts left, right and centre!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 24 May, 2016, 10:57:42 am
I have been casting clouts left, right and centre!

Here we go gathering...... etc

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4374/36195161761_1461ecb8f1_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/X9rEz8)20160530_093532 (https://flic.kr/p/X9rEz8) by Basil W (https://www.flickr.com/photos/153328377@N08/), on Flickr

Our garden
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 24 May, 2016, 11:00:23 am
I have been casting clouts left, right and centre!

We cast ours and regretted it yesterday.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: bumper on 25 May, 2016, 09:20:44 pm
The landscape around Snowdon is filled with these

(https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7258/27122247972_3f9cee4013_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/HjGBp3)lamb-7 (https://flic.kr/p/HjGBp3) by David Bithell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lumixm43/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 30 November, 2016, 05:25:36 pm
No snowdrops in flower in Priory Park yet. Last year, it was November 17th. Previous year, October 28th. Lots of shoots above ground level, but no flowers yet.

I wonder what it is that brings them on? October this year was very warm, but November has been a lot colder than in recent years.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 07 December, 2016, 06:43:04 pm
Et voila!

(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15401018_1724121214573747_4202749016703584000_n.jpg?oh=f0fe14c6bd146d01f430470b2b6c5653&oe=58C41DE5)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Riggers on 08 December, 2016, 04:14:37 pm
Are those early Spring Biscuits I see Wowwers? Or plain broken cheese biscuits, to be precise?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Guy on 09 December, 2016, 01:43:26 pm
The grass outside our building is full of daisies
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Jasmine on 21 December, 2016, 10:34:10 am
First lambs of the season last weekend.  We normally don't see them here until the week between Xmas and New Year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 21 December, 2016, 02:32:47 pm
For a couple of years, I have posted a picture here of daffodils on Dec 25th at our old place.  Due to the strangely warm spring like non-winter we're currently experiencing, I thought they might be even earlier this year. 
Just been to see.  Nope. Only just about showing above ground.
How odd.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hubner on 21 December, 2016, 02:39:47 pm
I saw a small tree with pink flowers,  cherry blossoms?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 21 December, 2016, 02:45:57 pm
I saw a small tree with pink flowers,  cherry blossoms?

Doubtful.  We have a small tree in our garden that is currently displaying pink flowers.  I don't know what it is called.  It has thin redish branches.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hubner on 21 December, 2016, 05:12:41 pm
(https://s30.postimg.org/ya90c84rl/tree_2016_12_20_15_13_37.jpg)

Not that small, maybe about 3-4m.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 21 December, 2016, 05:35:49 pm
Hmm.  Can't really tell.  Anyone else?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 21 December, 2016, 07:56:57 pm
For a couple of years, I have posted a picture here of daffodils on Dec 25th at our old place.  Due to the strangely warm spring like non-winter we're currently experiencing, I thought they might be even earlier this year. 
Just been to see.  Nope. Only just about showing above ground.
How odd.

I thought the same about the snowdrops.

I first noticed this patch in 2004 and they were in flower in early December. I thought that was remarkably early, but in more recent years I have kept a note of the earliest I have seen. The photos are on this thread. The earliest snowdrop flower I had photographed was in late October.

Autumn has been pretty warm, especially September and October. I thought that November was unusually cold, but I discovered that I have recorded a colder one since putting the weather station on the roof in 2010 (6 years ago tomorrow to be precise).
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jamesld8 on 08 January, 2017, 04:36:24 pm
A few signs here now after the second really mild day, up to 10c and light breeze and sunny intervals. A coupel of snowdrop flower buds showing white, blackbird and dunnock singing this morning. A green woodpecker yaffling and a great spotted woodpecker drumming. Spring isn`t far away (well a couple months probably)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: HeltorChasca on 08 January, 2017, 05:19:51 pm
Et voila!

(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15401018_1724121214573747_4202749016703584000_n.jpg?oh=f0fe14c6bd146d01f430470b2b6c5653&oe=58C41DE5)

Is that a black chicken beak amongst the bulbs ?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 08 January, 2017, 05:22:35 pm
The Daphne in our front garden is close to blossoming.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 11 January, 2017, 07:38:54 pm
Et voila!

(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15401018_1724121214573747_4202749016703584000_n.jpg?oh=f0fe14c6bd146d01f430470b2b6c5653&oe=58C41DE5)

Is that a black chicken beak amongst the bulbs ?

I think it's a mussel shell. They migrated very early this year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 18 January, 2017, 11:56:44 pm
@crigedllandysul have just tweeted their first fixture of the season.  Home to Briton Ferry Steel on 29th April.

Well. It made me feel spring-like.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: jamesld8 on 01 February, 2017, 08:18:17 pm
Daffodils, in flower @ Llandrindod Wells in woods above the lake :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: bumper on 09 February, 2017, 11:20:16 am
As I type this, a magpie is building a nest in a bare tree across the road.

There's also daffs spearing through the ground around the tree roots.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 09 February, 2017, 12:29:44 pm
Et voila!

(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15401018_1724121214573747_4202749016703584000_n.jpg?oh=f0fe14c6bd146d01f430470b2b6c5653&oe=58C41DE5)

Is that a black chicken beak amongst the bulbs ?

I think it's a mussel shell. They migrated very early this year.
African or European mussel shell?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: bumper on 12 February, 2017, 07:42:05 am
The magpies nest building are going to be shot.

Every single day from 5.00-6.00am they start rattling off like machine guns. This lasts for up to 2 hours >:(


There could be 6+ of them doing it when they have chicks. The noisy feckers are close to my bedroom window!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 12 February, 2017, 05:57:06 pm
Also on the shooting list:  That bird that makes a noise like a smoke alarm with a low battery.  I assume it's a relative of the one that hides in hedgerows and makes a noise like a rubbing disc brake, but likes to get up a lot earlier in the morning.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: dim on 12 February, 2017, 08:55:44 pm
an old gardener told me that when the Forsythia start flowering, spring begins, and not before that. He also said that when forsythia start flowering is the best time that you prune rose bushes ... he said that climbing roses are pruned in October
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: BrianI on 15 February, 2017, 08:12:33 pm
On the 13th of feb, I heard & saw my first Skylark of the season, hovering over a bit of rough ground at the back of one of the housing estates I deliver to!   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 19 February, 2017, 06:22:34 pm
That's an intriguing coincidence. On 14th I heard & saw my first skylark of the season. It was just before the Fosse Way by the road from Offchurch to Long Itchington.
A bit after Long Itchington I saw a couple of cock yellowhammers in a (hedge level) aerial dispute, with a lbj, presumed to be a hen yellow bunting, following at a safe distance. No songs yet, though.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 23 February, 2017, 03:21:46 pm
- crocuses in the garden, all of a sud.

- I just took my watch off because without a pullover on the buckle annoys me when I'm typing.  >15°C outside!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 25 February, 2017, 07:18:25 pm
First chaffinch song today. As ever, it was not the confident clear song of proper spring, but unmistakeable nevertheless.  It brightened a damp and dismal day ;).
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 26 February, 2017, 02:12:04 pm
I am pleased to be able to report that the honey bees that took up residence in the cavity wall/roofspace of an old bungalow at Priory Park have survived yet another winter and were out foraging this morning. I can't remember how many years ago it was that I first noticed these, but I think it may be as many as 10. Could this be a good advertisement for leaving bees to themselves and beekeepers not opening the roof every so often to steal honey/cull queen cells/feed sugar syrup/lots of other interesting reasons for looking into beehives?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: spokenword on 26 February, 2017, 02:46:24 pm
Lambs out in the fields, which I heard bleating before I saw them, and lots of tall Daffs in the verges ( as opposed to the little early ones ) in Warks today.... well it is balmy down there.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 26 February, 2017, 05:18:50 pm
First lambs of the year spotted today.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 26 February, 2017, 08:21:29 pm
Suburban trees in full white blossom. Don't know which, sorry!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Guy on 28 February, 2017, 11:37:19 am
My damson tree, which has been an upright collection of sticks since losing it's leaves last December, was covered in blossom this morning
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 28 February, 2017, 07:04:55 pm
a few blossom on local fruit trees  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 28 February, 2017, 07:09:44 pm
I saw a tree in flower in Churchill Gardens this morning. I am pretty sure, from the pattern on the bark, that it was a type of cherry.

I also saw a goldcrest. I heard it first, as usual, but they are so tiny and are often high in the branches of large conifers and the like that they are very hard to see. This one was in a yew, and not that high up.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 02 March, 2017, 09:15:57 pm
Fucking Biggles is back.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 02 March, 2017, 10:51:14 pm
All the crocuses in the garden have opened.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: ElyDave on 02 March, 2017, 10:54:58 pm
Suburban trees in full white blossom. Don't know which, sorry!

My bonsai plum and cherry trees are always first in blossom, have been so for about a fortnight now.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Guy on 07 March, 2017, 12:27:59 pm
The ground must be warming up. The camp is sprouting a marvellous crop of mole hills
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 07 March, 2017, 03:19:48 pm
Grass has griz...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 07 March, 2017, 03:25:29 pm
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17201017_1773748646277670_3021327304304057265_n.jpg?oh=295b64d1bfc6d4eac59e953b4f873f7d&oe=596D4545)

This morning in Priory Park. There was a greater spotted woodpecker drumming gently to itself at the time.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Guy on 08 March, 2017, 11:12:15 am
I saw the first true sign of spring yesterday afternoon. There was a Frost's Garden Centre flyer on the mat when I got home.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 11 March, 2017, 02:01:48 pm
A wasp in my computer room. David had one in his office yesterday. Suspect there's a nest in the loft.

'Yankee Doodle' ice-cream van chimes. I think this is a month later than the last two years...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 11 March, 2017, 02:08:03 pm
I would think it highly unlikely that a wasps' nest is sufficiently advanced to have been able to produce workers at this stage. It's only as the weather warms up that the queens (the only wasps that overwinter) get started on the nest-building and egg-laying programme.

http://www.waspbane.com/?page_id=124 gives a very good account of the life cycle of the wasp.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 11 March, 2017, 02:39:07 pm
Thanks Wow! David saw a  wasp in the bathroom later. As we seldom have the bathroom door open, I suspect it's not the same wasp but cannot investigate.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Canardly on 11 March, 2017, 03:22:04 pm
Just seen a large bumble bee amongst the shrubs.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: SteveC on 11 March, 2017, 03:47:53 pm
Just seen a large bumble bee amongst the shrubs.
One here as well.
(and the summery sound of lawnmowers all down the road including mine)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 11 March, 2017, 04:47:38 pm
Suburban trees in full white blossom. Don't know which, sorry!

My bonsai plum and cherry trees are always first in blossom, have been so for about a fortnight now.

My mirabelle plum tree is now in full blossom. Next door's peach tree blossom  is out.

Await aaple and Victoria plum trees.

Rose bushes are sprouting.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 11 March, 2017, 05:21:12 pm
Skylarks - three or four of them doing a Vaughan-Williams.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: L CC on 11 March, 2017, 05:40:39 pm
Flies.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 11 March, 2017, 05:54:36 pm
I could say ladybirds, but the wee beasties have been invading since November.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 14 March, 2017, 09:25:30 am
Frogspawn in a neighbour's pond.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CAMRAMan on 14 March, 2017, 09:41:09 am
We had a female pheasant in the garden this morning. It must have been one raised for game, as it tolerated my close presence. It flew off as I was emptying stuff into the recycling bin, but maybe it'll be back.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 14 March, 2017, 01:42:05 pm
My Lincolnshite correspondent was attacked in his front garden by a pheasant that thought it was a drop-bear a few weeks ago.  This is after writing off his previous car trying to avoid one of the fuckers.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: orienteer on 14 March, 2017, 01:59:07 pm
Robins building a nest in the Jasmine growing against the garage wall.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 15 March, 2017, 02:28:38 pm
More frogspawn in the park and ripples in the area probably caused by copulating frogs (which I didn't see). Greater spotted woodpecker zooming about, then hammering on a hornbeam tree. Absolutely beautiful day. I am about to go out and cycle in it.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 15 March, 2017, 05:44:54 pm
Flies.

First fly-inhalation-induced asthma attack of the year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 15 March, 2017, 06:23:07 pm
Washing on the line.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: SteveC on 15 March, 2017, 06:24:47 pm
The radiator in the shower at work has now been turned off, presumably until October.  :(
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CAMRAMan on 15 March, 2017, 07:23:37 pm
My Lincolnshite correspondent was attacked in his front garden by a pheasant that thought it was a drop-bear a few weeks ago.  This is after writing off his previous car trying to avoid one of the fuckers.
One of the first things I did in 2017 was to pointedly avoid swerving and thus hit one of the brain-dead fuckers. Its mate scarpered, but this one stared straight at the method of its demise and disappeared in a flurry of feathers in my rear view mirror.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 17 March, 2017, 01:34:15 pm
Heard - and saw - a chiffchaff. Celandines in flower, but fewer than normal. Frogspawn sill looking good. Two blokes in a small outboard-motorised/punt combination, hammering "Closed Season" signs in the lake bed and dropping large amounts of fish food into the water. Without the anglers there to feed them, it seems that the carp will starve, or at least, lose significant amounts of weight. These anglers like the chance to catch a 30lb fish from the outdoor aquarium.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 26 March, 2017, 10:13:24 pm
Signs of spring on Saturday: lots of butterflies, mostly peacocks. And men looking like Wowbagger on motorcycles which are surely the motorized equivalent of a Thorn Raven.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 30 March, 2017, 08:36:32 pm
Bat in the garden.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: runsoncake on 01 April, 2017, 06:04:17 pm
Small flock of martins near Haverfordwest heading in a westerly direction. Lycra clad roadie type in shorts and short

 sleeves, temp 11c with  Northerly wind, looked frozen!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 01 April, 2017, 07:04:55 pm
Signs of spring on Saturday: lots of butterflies, mostly peacocks. And men looking like Wowbagger on motorcycles which are surely the motorized equivalent of a Thorn Raven.

I just read this to my dear wife whose response was "They don't have the style..."  :D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: andrew_s on 02 April, 2017, 09:18:33 pm
First sting of the year, from a small non-standard type of bee down the unzipped jersey.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 03 April, 2017, 08:50:07 pm
I have heard whitethroats no. One yesterday and another today.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 03 April, 2017, 09:53:14 pm
I'm calling it:  Hayfever season is officially open.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 03 April, 2017, 11:13:40 pm
I'm calling it:  Hayfever season is officially open.

Lots of rape in flower when I was out yesterday.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 05 April, 2017, 04:54:28 pm
A swallow! On the Barling loop!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 27 October, 2017, 05:20:22 pm
https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=29530.msg1758755#msg1758755 refers.

Today, the same patch:

(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22780508_1895881494064384_1674883724151499409_n.jpg?oh=e73a326ad4ce41c7223ae687e53d8789&oe=5A7FA7E2)

I think there's a good chance of an October snowdrop.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 28 October, 2017, 01:25:31 pm
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22885858_1896334570685743_4525571520907593132_n.jpg?oh=54d5c6a3714a848424e260d563b83e5e&oe=5A63A253)

And there it is! 2017 equals 2014's record - 28th October.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 20 December, 2017, 03:15:26 pm
Twittering from the trees seems much louder and more noticeable today.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 20 December, 2017, 06:54:11 pm
Twittering from the trees seems much louder and more noticeable today.

They've probably seen that article from the Bristol Post (http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bird-spikes-trees-protest-cars-943672).
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 20 December, 2017, 11:57:20 pm
Twittering from the trees seems much louder and more noticeable today.

They've probably seen that article from the Bristol Post (http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bird-spikes-trees-protest-cars-943672).

That story was on Auntie's wibble yesterday.

The twittering I have heard is not pigeons' cooing.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 25 January, 2018, 10:38:31 am
Beds of crocuses in our garden, with the odd dandelion.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 26 January, 2018, 08:46:36 pm
Aconites and  Thomasinias in the lawn. Long tailed tits looking for nest sites. A queen wasp in my shed  :o.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 27 January, 2018, 12:08:22 am
On the walk today.  Loads of daffs, only one of which was completely out.  Lots of bluebell shoots, but nothing close to sprouting.  A bank of white frogs bottoms.
Sorry.  That's what the kids called them when they were ickle. 
Crocuses.
Croak arses.
Frogs bottoms.


I'll get their coats.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 27 January, 2018, 09:47:55 pm
Snow drops on Friday and crocus es today  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 18 February, 2018, 11:49:46 am
My first chaffinch in song this year, on a tree in our road. It was a full-blooded song as well, not the half-baked subsong of last years' first example.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 18 February, 2018, 07:09:17 pm
Lambs!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 21 February, 2018, 04:43:16 pm
Open daffodil in my NW London garden.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 21 February, 2018, 07:08:33 pm
Orion moving nicely to the west.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: SteveC on 21 February, 2018, 07:23:06 pm
Our first daff opened this week as well.
And last week I noticed that the some of the patch of celandines on my commute home have survived the ravages of the builders and are flowering by the side of the road. Not sure they'll be there next year so making the most.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 21 February, 2018, 08:15:20 pm
Slugs.  Or at least their snot trails.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 22 February, 2018, 06:34:44 am
Time to get your tent out then Kim  ;D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 22 February, 2018, 08:19:54 am
Howling NE wind and -4°C.  Must be Spring.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 22 February, 2018, 09:03:48 am
A butterfly last weekend.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 22 February, 2018, 11:41:07 am
Time to get your tent out then Kim  ;D

Yes.  Well.  Freeze-your-lungs-off ALC meet this weekend...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 22 February, 2018, 06:32:33 pm
I'd bring some snow shoes and tools to make igloos then ;). Enjoy  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 25 February, 2018, 04:58:19 pm
Lurgy relapse meant I didn't make it to the ALC meet.

But the first ice cream van of the year just arrived.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 25 February, 2018, 07:13:34 pm
No ice cream vans in this corner of Outer Londonton so far this year.

Hope they didn't die hibernating!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: SteveC on 25 February, 2018, 08:29:24 pm
First ice-cream van of the year here was a fortnight ago.
I'd been doing a little gardening, but had been indoors for an hour when it arrived and I was still cold.
Optimistic or what.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 25 February, 2018, 08:37:21 pm
Dunno, a fortnight ago I was in a cafe in Burford, taking a break from being snowed on (hard, stinging snow – yuck!), and tourists were coming in with their kids wanting ice cream.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 26 February, 2018, 08:12:03 am
They won't need to turn their freezers on today  :o
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: andrew_s on 26 February, 2018, 10:35:32 am
first wild daffodil of the year on Saturday (24th).
They are usually a lot further behind the garden variety.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 26 February, 2018, 07:55:36 pm
I don't think we have any "wild" daffodils. There were some in flower in the park a couple of days ago. That's one flower which doesn't seem to mind if it gets covered in snow.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 06 March, 2018, 02:28:05 pm
Mrs T42 saw a butterfly yesterday.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 06 March, 2018, 07:22:37 pm
The local magpies nest building today .  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 06 March, 2018, 11:50:58 pm
A fair bit of birdsong in the past few days. Song thrush on Sunday morning in the park, a blackbird in or at least well within earshot of our garden this afternoon...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Deano on 08 March, 2018, 08:48:34 pm
A few skylarks and a solitary blooming dandelion round York yesterday.

Today, 300,000 starlings (according to local estimates).
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 10 March, 2018, 07:48:27 pm
Oh, I saw a couple of skylarks the other day. Very gratifying! Quite a lot of birdsong when out and about...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 16 March, 2018, 04:11:04 pm
Neighbour's pear tree has been in full blossom for about a week, mirabelles coming into blossom, apple blossoms still very much in bud.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: De Sisti on 16 March, 2018, 04:34:22 pm
My lawn is beginning to grow again.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 16 March, 2018, 06:24:40 pm
My lawn is beginning to grow again.

So is mine.  The bastard.  >:(
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 16 March, 2018, 06:49:25 pm
Daffodils and a small cherry tree in flower today though the weather this weekend might not do do the cherry blossoms much good  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CAMRAMan on 17 March, 2018, 10:27:40 am
Our cotoneaster has sprouted leaves. I hope the frost tonight doesn't burn them. A pair of blackbirds has started to frequent the garden. Nesting whereabouts unknown.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 17 March, 2018, 10:30:16 am
A couple of days ago, when walking in the Surrey Hills, what sounded like a chiffchaff. The trouble is it only uttered two notes and I wasn't sure. Clearly missing the "repeat and nauseam" marks.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 17 March, 2018, 04:42:32 pm
Blackbird singing at 4.30 am, the silly bugger.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 18 March, 2018, 12:31:17 am
Frogspawn this morning in Priory Park. It wasn't there Wednesday. I doubt that the cold weather will do it any good.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 25 March, 2018, 01:48:41 pm
Rather late this time but I've just heard what I think is the first ice cream van of the season.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: slowfen on 25 March, 2018, 03:05:38 pm
Hedgehog turds
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 25 March, 2018, 03:24:31 pm
First lawn mowing session of the year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 25 March, 2018, 07:01:11 pm
The classic cars are out of hibernation, too.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: ElyDave on 25 March, 2018, 10:47:21 pm
By bonsai cherry trees in blossom
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 25 March, 2018, 11:04:34 pm
By bonsai cherry trees in blossom

Have you got a cold?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 26 March, 2018, 10:05:23 am
Bees on the violets by the workshop door.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 26 March, 2018, 10:59:40 am
Big columns of motorbikes.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 27 March, 2018, 07:47:33 am
First tick of the year on one of the dogs.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 31 March, 2018, 08:30:29 pm
This is the first year that I can remember in which I haven't heard a chiffchaff before the end of March.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 04 April, 2018, 08:47:12 pm
The springlike day happened yesterday. All the celandines that had been slowly accumulating as burst buds, but not yet worth opening up, woke up to the warmth & sun to produce carpets of yellow on the roadside verges. Likewise the primroses, whose flowers took over the leafy clumps in the roadside woodland as much as on the verges. I spotted 3 carpets of dog violets by Pathlow that were about a metre wide. Add in a couple of patches of roadside wood anemones and lots of blackthorn blossom much further open than the hawthorn leaves, but had been under wraps, plus a few dandelions. It was spring in a hurry; I struggle to remember a year of such spectacular spring roadside flowers.

Meanwhile, first chiffchaff was doubted - I still think it was a great tit improvising - but later 4 other songs were unmistakable. We heard 3 skylarks confidently proclaiming their territories.

This morning the suburban birds were singing enthustically. The flowers had shut up shop. They were wise - it rained.



Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 07 April, 2018, 02:00:40 pm
Okay, I'm calling it: Antihistamines and steroids season has begun.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: citoyen on 07 April, 2018, 04:35:39 pm
Blackbird singing at 4.30 am, the silly bugger.

I was woken up at a similar time this morning by a nightingale in full voice. Must have been very close to the house as it was bloody loud.

Apparently, the nearby woods is one of the top ten places in the UK to hear nightingales, so I should probably count myself lucky rather than being annoyed at having my sleep disturbed.

Also heard the first woodpecker of the year a few days ago.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 07 April, 2018, 04:45:33 pm
We saw a swallow today!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: PaulR on 07 April, 2018, 06:15:56 pm
Snap!  Well, two flew over the Cathedral Close at Lichfield at lunchtime today. Peregrines mating on the main spire as well.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: JennyB on 07 April, 2018, 06:32:54 pm
First lawnmower yesterday. And the seagulls are back.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: perpetual dan on 07 April, 2018, 08:38:48 pm
Ducklings and mowing the lawn today.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 08 April, 2018, 07:28:49 pm
A patch of wild bluebells flowering on the roadside.
Seems early.  They're usually a May thing around  here.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 08 April, 2018, 08:16:04 pm
A patch of wild bluebells flowering on the roadside.
Seems early.  They're usually a May thing around  here.

Last weekend, I was walking through this wood (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/idld.srf?X=572652&Y=196575&A=Y&Z=120&lm=1) near my brother's house, in his company. There were lots of bluebell plants all around us and he stopped and pointed out one that was in bud. "They are late this year. Last year there were bluebells here in flower in February."
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 08 April, 2018, 08:58:27 pm
What are these lawns of which people speak?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 08 April, 2018, 09:26:01 pm
What are these lawns of which people speak?

It's what non-cyclists have instead of undergrowth.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 11 April, 2018, 08:37:15 pm
The magnolias are blooming. How ironic that such a bizarre looking tree (I think) and pretty, should have given its name to a paint that's another name for beige.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Nuncio on 12 April, 2018, 07:44:40 pm
I cycled through my first faint cloud of wild garlic aroma on my way home this afternoon.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pcolbeck on 13 April, 2018, 01:07:44 pm
It was so cold and foggy this morning that I couldn't see far enough to see signs of anything never mind spring.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: citoyen on 13 April, 2018, 06:58:46 pm
Primroses and bluebells are out.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 13 April, 2018, 08:01:59 pm
Jenny Wren popping  in and out of the bird box with nesting stuff in its beak.  Exciting stuff for us as the box has been unoccupied for the two years we've been here.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: spesh on 13 April, 2018, 08:10:25 pm
Primroses and bluebells are out.

The bluebells in my back yard have finally put their flower spikes above the leaves, but they haven't opened yet. The cold snap last month has delayed a lot of plant action by a couple of weeks or so.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 13 April, 2018, 11:34:14 pm
The spider invasion has begun...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: citoyen on 13 April, 2018, 11:42:41 pm
Primroses and bluebells are out.

The bluebells in my back yard have finally put their flower spikes above the leaves, but they haven't opened yet. The cold snap last month has delayed a lot of plant action by a couple of weeks or so.

To qualify my earlier comment, I took the dog for a walk in the woods this afternoon and saw a few scattered bluebells, but also lots of patches of dense green foliage that within a week or two will be a carpet of blue.

It’s the Oasts & Coasts 300 next weekend. They’re usually out in force in the Ashdown Forest for that ride.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 14 April, 2018, 07:38:16 pm
A Wrens nest in a plant pot  (that I accidentaly disturbed, but seems to still be being incubated) and bluetit staking nesting materials into the nest box.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 17 April, 2018, 02:57:55 pm
A huge fat bumble bee flew in through the kitchen window. Species unknown but not one of the usual white-tailed ones; it had a black, conical tail. So large I could still hear it buzzing quite clearly once I'd got it outside and shut the (double-glazed) window. It must have been attracted by the daffodils on the window sill, right? No, it was buzzing around and clinging to my trouser leg. And once I'd got it outside it spent some time investigating my bike, specifically the rear rack, which was standing by the door.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 17 April, 2018, 03:02:47 pm
That's the best way for a bike:bumble bee encounter to go.  Certainly an improvement over my usual target-fixation face-on collision with them at speeds in excess of 20mph.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 17 April, 2018, 03:07:41 pm
Question is, what's on my trouser leg? Hmm, I did have marmalade for breakfast.  :D (Home made – by a friend – and utterly delicious.)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 17 April, 2018, 03:08:54 pm
Question is, what's on my trouser leg?

An enormous bee, have you not been paying attention?  ;)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Aunt Maud on 17 April, 2018, 09:02:25 pm
The noisy cock over the road had a weekend garden power tool fest.

I think he must have all variants of antisocial gardening appliances.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 18 April, 2018, 08:56:07 am
Riding through a stretch of forest yesterday, I noticed that El Prez seemed to have mounted tyres with a yellow-green rolling-strip. Then I looked at my own front tyre and saw that it matched his.

Pollen.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: slowfen on 18 April, 2018, 07:32:18 pm
1st house martin   :)
1st flat hedgehog :'(
1st m/cyclist in shorts/t-shirt :facepalm:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 18 April, 2018, 08:00:46 pm
Pollen.

Everywhere!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 19 April, 2018, 08:59:36 pm
First sighting of a bat in the garden this year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Chris S on 19 April, 2018, 10:39:32 pm
The Daffs are finally out here on Teesside.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 20 April, 2018, 09:00:22 am
Our front door has a fancy cylinder lock that takes a round key with multiple flanges. We went out yesterday to find that the keyhole has been colonized by a solitary bee, which has laid an egg therein and walled it up.

Fortunately we have a backup mortise lock, as per insurance conditions.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 20 April, 2018, 01:58:59 pm
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/806/27710066348_6ff8ab695a_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/JdDkjC)
IMG_0512 (https://flic.kr/p/JdDkjC) by Basil W (https://www.flickr.com/photos/153328377@N08/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 20 April, 2018, 02:56:57 pm
We had another visit from an enormous bee on Wednesday. It was a different one, cos it had a white tail. But obviously bees like us, and we like them too, although we do prefer to meet them outside rather than as house guests.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 20 April, 2018, 02:57:57 pm
And today in an office by the BBC (or it might even be part of the BBC, I'm not sure) they're out with the leaf blowers. Signs of autumn already?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 20 April, 2018, 08:01:09 pm
The first wasp of the year in the house this morning  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 21 April, 2018, 09:21:17 am
Whitethroats on Thursday morning at Two Tree Island. There had ben reports of a cuckoo at the east end of the island, which is more nature-reservy and less dog-walkery, but by the time I'd been round the west end, the poor old dog was knackered in the heat. I still haven't seen any swallows or martins, which is about as late as it's ever been. I'm sure it's just me not having been to the right places. They are here.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: SteveC on 21 April, 2018, 04:41:56 pm
Heard a cuckoo in the Quantocks this afternoon. And saw pied flycatcher, redstart and willow warbler, so the spring migrants have definitely arrived.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: JennyB on 21 April, 2018, 06:51:14 pm
Tar bubbles!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 21 April, 2018, 06:54:17 pm
A lizard, in Scotland, in April!
Think that's the first time I've seen a lizard in the heathen lands.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Chris S on 21 April, 2018, 07:01:15 pm
The first wasp of the year in the house this morning  :)

Same here. I killed it.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 21 April, 2018, 08:45:03 pm
We've now had two bumblebees (one black tailed, one white tailed) and one wasp. And just now the first thunderstorm of the year.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 21 April, 2018, 10:20:35 pm
A lizard, in Scotland, in April!
Think that's the first time I've seen a lizard in the heathen lands.

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/927/41604710821_a7b860a426_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26ot23n)
IMG_0683_01 (https://flic.kr/p/26ot23n) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Aunt Maud on 21 April, 2018, 11:42:05 pm
First Beech leaves and a whole day in the garden with shorts and T shirt.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 22 April, 2018, 06:18:27 pm
Ah.  The reason for the heavy roller

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/806/27710066348_6ff8ab695a_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/JdDkjC)
IMG_0512 (https://flic.kr/p/JdDkjC) by Basil W (https://www.flickr.com/photos/153328377@N08/), on Flickr

First match of the season tonight.  :D
Prolly 1sts v 2nds or something like that, as a season warm up.

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/896/27758513388_3a69494ef9_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/JhVCWq)
20180422_172513_010 (https://flic.kr/p/JhVCWq) by Basil W (https://www.flickr.com/photos/153328377@N08/), on Flickr

Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 22 April, 2018, 08:47:06 pm
It's just not quidditch.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 23 April, 2018, 12:23:07 pm
Apple tree blossoms are appearing, several weeks later than last year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 23 April, 2018, 05:03:41 pm
Yesterday, at 5.10pm, I heard a cuckoo. This is the first time in any spring I have heard a cuckoo before seeing a swallow.

I didn't have long to wait. Whilst I was standing listening to the cuckoo, a swallow flew past.

Oh, I also saw a pair of terns. I think they must have had a nest nearby because they were flying around in a rather agitated state. I couldn't tell whether they were arctic of common terns.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Legs on 24 April, 2018, 11:39:48 am
Oh, I also saw a pair of terns.
Of course you saw them in a pair: one good tern deserves another.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Phil W on 24 April, 2018, 11:43:23 am
Bluebells were out in force on Sunday
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 25 May, 2018, 09:13:16 pm
The fountains have been turned on in the Centre. That means it must be officially summer.  ;D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 13 November, 2018, 02:37:21 pm
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/feI7x6dvPD-YSElrDf3cKkbyom7cibm4zBoTV0wfaEII5xQ5cLuWNcySgFvc47y4nlnseECabFHlY7Dke3Qc3WKTf78SVRyjfpjm_JuJk1fJd1ni4wWEVVPLEnK2Z5awsb124XBW2akmMfuPAUMQt4HH0xEhOpKucckS0kfeEWOlg6mZYi6vO4foHWNGbQRNAnJ7V9gFMEgeZmwJQNGVxlzD3rebq_IWCc5ic5CzMMZFniLsIi5bCwO9YJiKwnOFpNXaCQ4XoxRe7gVkXHaFBpbXN7SkZ1CKvC9wl8voq21Oh0g0ju6fExy-9WbTjs97If9X1xp1tSjR3oA8SwxkzgGfA24VPzrVntFvVxg_mfTGFWoyGUgOu4hZAFVVnNhMZepHizY7BJfFDAPC_07Ia6dOr4S70MGjTxTE7diYTkoFzNOOo282KrPnjkuJgvoyjvrX7q9fEa3jnSZQ_X_NcIugnD7Oc0W0NVb2ABnhS5MAXTmQ76vKevq_yzXx-0-c8-KX5gFF0KX6cD-LQLuVmRt6s_swbpe2ZEg_fvyXZP3q0b2RAZL0nEDC6Eu-CVPg1o1NyQ4Kn9bu3j7jdqxKK0dt_Prrl_5dQGLWiiRh5VTgL4WaSdYfo_pzdmZ_HFGoAVivW1NBLf3LWbiPHS-cg5f3k4MnqvuXeJzFRmXKz7zk=w1263-h947-no)

Erewegoagain! We saw the first flowers just about to open on 10th, so 13 days later than last year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 13 November, 2018, 05:33:30 pm
No picture visible here, Wow.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 13 November, 2018, 10:36:40 pm
No picture visible here, Wow.

Bugger. I really can't get the hang of this Google Photo mallarkey.

Is this any better? (I can see it, you see. It must be a sharing thing...)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/yAN2DOIbb8-E0nw5Wwh04Pp7c2HGtPFHIZXRydy92C7zwhik_fTtftaqzHaaYZ9tygVR-x8JsVPe4n5KKQj_CByiRDL5v5XSxg9tor9s1JI_N04iwTZHyuZaMltUMzhFc28zV3fIbYX7K1KVSb7ig_0HXB3C1HH5JFisEDoJfAmlTCTIGOjOtclHKLgSFX1U9Ty2vwlGjMUBIbENywywzugDq-FCifU3CE204wb9ITl2NY_cx3SpkyQGxqjCfXtOhqub3kzaNuPQwC2d6ZIaKLK4qQDYda8x8KROrS-ivXARG6OddIiT_KWPXazy-82eJEq4kPR1WQ6EzSTNWVTTIq7TF-KxJ3NiOvlzVzn-WJ2fxpollzVvIzFdU4FtcMNNIzcVjJyZE6JwqpcKjr39gEE_DaQFULQEg2rGJemjWS3HOAXjnhhDkB6tEAMV9Y1HLA4J3dJqzoMdJ9r2p8oo8xzI0EHle5mJgU9XkUlvoE6xzuFwwQOHFB0NoD8KDJkFDUpAShdWRrVzWnukNWDY_ebQOR1JA3mLzeJ0QqzwbJHIqaXmgmu5OxPm1uSTUSGEoITGeo2-3LQuklrmIavun0JFO9eZzSgdkMYDZwcBMxTQDZJ_lGwxdWEAacUpwocJRVaE4QqZdo9TzDrNC3b7GymN8bTCAw9cwgZkDFJn7NLmUUOrgSqT7962i7ETh4UtsU1KOfCLdkkHfc_WAeINqHYvmDubw6AP00cCaQ=w1263-h947-no)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 14 November, 2018, 06:21:22 am
That works.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 14 November, 2018, 06:25:28 am
Strangely, the snowdrops are very late around here. Nothing until February and the  main flush right through March.
Whereas some daffodils (only a few) come out for Christmas.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: woollypigs on 28 November, 2018, 02:06:57 pm
doh forgot to write this last week and take a snap. Cherry Blossom is in full go here.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 13 December, 2018, 01:06:40 pm
'Sticky Buds' on the chestnut trees.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 14 December, 2018, 10:10:27 am
'Sticky Buds' on the chestnut trees.  :thumbsup:

That's what we call the Ash buds - and they've been around for some weeks now.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 14 December, 2018, 10:03:33 pm
Little honeysuckle leaves in Daffern's Wood yesterday. Since the maximum temperature was around 2 Celsius & today was a tad cooler, they may have second thoughts...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 06 January, 2019, 10:28:47 am
Crocuses
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Jasmine on 06 January, 2019, 04:32:29 pm
I saw my first lambs of the year today.  :D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Canardly on 06 January, 2019, 04:49:28 pm
Blackbirds are scrapping.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 10 January, 2019, 09:06:06 pm
Birds are singing. On yesterdays hour & a half ride to the work party I counted 7 blue tits, 7 coal tits, 2 great tits (plus a probable which was hard to distinguish form a much nearer blue tit), 2 robins & a wren. The contrast between the great tits was intriguing. one was singing the textbook two-note song; the other was improvising in a big way, without any audible competition.
Then at the reserve, as we were clearing scrub at the sides of a ride, a carpet of small primrose leaves became visible. Hopefully a bit more sunlight will encourage them.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 12 January, 2019, 03:26:13 pm
Crocuses

Ah. Now they are more developed, I see that they are not crocuses.
 
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7865/32839259588_498f16352d_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/S2TMLQ)
20190112_105050 (https://flic.kr/p/S2TMLQ) by Basil W (https://www.flickr.com/photos/153328377@N08/), on Flickr

What are they called?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: woollypigs on 12 January, 2019, 04:40:37 pm
weed, get the roundup on them or nuke from orbit ... oh it ain't a monster it a green outdoor thing that some calls flower
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 13 January, 2019, 10:00:09 am
I saw my first lambs of the year today.  :D

But the mint won't be through for weeks. :o
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 13 January, 2019, 04:50:31 pm
Crocuses

Ah. Now they are more developed, I see that they are not crocuses.
 
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7865/32839259588_498f16352d_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/S2TMLQ)
20190112_105050 (https://flic.kr/p/S2TMLQ) by Basil W (https://www.flickr.com/photos/153328377@N08/), on Flickr

What are they called?

Thomasinia - they are a type of crocus.

Our Daphne is about to flower, the Aconites are flowering too, and so is the Sarcacocca.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 13 January, 2019, 05:32:22 pm
First dead badger of the year!

(Also some sportsballists stopping traffic by moving the goalposts.)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 17 January, 2019, 03:42:22 pm
Just realised that there are several baa-lambs visible in the field opposite.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 28 January, 2019, 08:35:21 pm
Two celandine flowers were opening up in the usual earliest location (the roadside bank S of Hampton in Arden church). It seems far too early, & what's really weird, the sun at noon wasn't high enough to shine on the bank over the houses on the other side of the road.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 02 February, 2019, 02:43:03 pm
First ice cream van of the year!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: woollypigs on 02 February, 2019, 02:44:28 pm
First ice cream van of the year!
oohhh now where is my flip flops ?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 02 February, 2019, 03:32:22 pm
First ice cream van of the year!

That IS early!

Ours will probably return in 2-3 weeks' time...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 02 February, 2019, 11:26:05 pm
Yellow crocuses in the park.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 11 February, 2019, 12:58:55 am
(https://v.wpimg.pl/NDUwOTUwYSU0FTlnegxsMHdNbT08VWJmIFV1dno4YXJhQzdnbURhIHsAPz04EGA0OVh-YW1Af3diTnZteFp8cGNGemxtQnhrNxgsPTQZN2kmDT81Ph5gLiUQbSk=)
Storks and starlings in the Jordan valley at the start of their spring migration to Europe a few days ago.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 11 February, 2019, 01:38:48 pm
Just had a stink bug drop onto me and do its thing on my sweater. Had to dump sweater & shirt into the wash. :sick:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 15 February, 2019, 11:29:31 pm
Swallowed my first insect on Wednesday. It was while I was working rather than on the ride to the nature reserve (Whitacre Heath), which specialises in voracious mossies & horse flies. Near the end of the ride there I had spotted yellow flowers, which turned out to be dandelions, but a tad further alond the grassy verge I counted 11 Celandines opening up. They could well have some pollinating insects to help their purpose.

Today, meanwhile, was a day of birdsong. My first songthrush this year was followed by 6 more during a 2 hr ride to work. Also the first chaffinch, followed by another 4. For both species the morning songs were early season subsongs. I'm perplexed that the evening ride home (we finished laying the hedge very late, so I had a lot of time to enjoy a truly gorgeous lingering sunset) the thrushes had become much more confident & inventive. To complete the tally, a greater spotted woodpecker drumming, followed by another while we were working; first blackbird singing when I arrived at work, first woodpigeons this year, close to work area and a very noisy, but obviously very communicative, rookery (sorting out the pecking order for this year? ;-).
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 16 February, 2019, 12:53:52 am
Daffs in our garden are open.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: PeteB99 on 16 February, 2019, 11:28:09 am
Someone was mowing their lawn the other day.

Mine gets mowed 2 or 3 times a year whether it needs it or not.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Deano on 16 February, 2019, 11:29:43 am
Skylark near Selby yesterday. Don't think I've heard one this early in the year before.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: SteveC on 16 February, 2019, 12:03:11 pm
Our earliest daffs are now out.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 16 February, 2019, 02:01:00 pm
Someone was mowing their lawn the other day.

Mine gets mowed 2 or 3 times a year whether it needs it or not.

IRTA someone was moving their lawn. 
 ???
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 16 February, 2019, 07:38:45 pm
First aspirated midge of the year.   >:(
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 16 February, 2019, 08:30:27 pm
I have heard two blackbirds singing during the past week, one of them at 4am.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Flite on 16 February, 2019, 08:38:57 pm
Big group of Lapwings flying up Weardale
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 17 February, 2019, 02:00:02 am
Someone was mowing their lawn the other day.

Mine gets mowed 2 or 3 times a year whether it needs it or not.

Our grass has griz...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: De Sisti on 17 February, 2019, 09:42:25 am
Snowdrops in my neighbour's back garden.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 17 February, 2019, 10:27:18 am
Skylark near Selby yesterday. Don't think I've heard one this early in the year before.

I hear them all year round up here.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Peter on 17 February, 2019, 10:58:00 am
First aspirated midge of the year.   >:(

Hmidge?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 17 February, 2019, 04:25:00 pm
Even a little midge has aspirations of becoming a mosquito.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Palinurus on 17 February, 2019, 04:25:30 pm
That's the second lot of washing this year dried entirely outside.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 17 February, 2019, 07:03:57 pm
And I cut the grass this afternoon  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 20 February, 2019, 04:16:56 pm
At Nieffern today:

(https://pbase.com/image/168839179.jpg)

We have storks all year round, but now they're nesting.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 20 February, 2019, 05:37:25 pm
First ice cream van of the year!

That IS early!

Ours will probably return in 2-3 weeks' time...

I was expecting the dulcet chimes to return this week as it is half term.

Nada.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 20 February, 2019, 06:47:49 pm
A few daffodils flowering in Priory Park, and goldcrests singing. No sign of any frogspawn yet.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 20 February, 2019, 06:48:21 pm
At Nieffern today:

(https://pbase.com/image/168839179.jpg)

We have storks all year round, but now they're nesting.
:thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: woollypigs on 20 February, 2019, 06:52:03 pm
At Nieffern today:

(https://pbase.com/image/168839179.jpg)

We have storks all year round, but now they're nesting.
Congratulations, didn't know you were expecting - boy or girl ?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: PaulR on 20 February, 2019, 11:38:22 pm
Yesterday as I cycled slowly up a hill near Aylesbury, a pair of boxing hares in the field to my right. A mad sight.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: SteveC on 21 February, 2019, 07:24:33 am
First ice cream van of the year!

That IS early!

Ours will probably return in 2-3 weeks' time...

I was expecting the dulcet chimes to return this week as it is half term.

Nada.
Ours was round last night, about six.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 21 February, 2019, 08:26:52 am
At Nieffern today:

(https://pbase.com/image/168839179.jpg)

We have storks all year round, but now they're nesting.
Congratulations, didn't know you were expecting - boy or girl ?

Nah, a utility pole.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pcolbeck on 21 February, 2019, 09:37:41 am
Skylarks singing for the first time this year this morning. We have loads in the fields round our village, I miss their song when it suddenly stops in autumn.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 22 February, 2019, 11:16:27 pm
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/22/naturalists-concerned-for-early-emerging-spring-species-in-uk
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Chris S on 22 February, 2019, 11:20:21 pm
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/22/naturalists-concerned-for-early-emerging-spring-species-in-uk

This is how things work, on a planetary scale.

Organic life ebbs and flows at the whim of the climate chaos.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 22 February, 2019, 11:49:03 pm
Skylarks singing for the first time this year this morning. We have loads in the fields round our village, I miss their song when it suddenly stops in autumn.
On Monday I too heard my first skylarks. We were riding out of Stratford on the Loxley road. One was singing high enough to raise my spirits. The second, on the north side of the road, rose into the air in song, but hesitated at about 3 time the height of the hedge and sank back to the ground. Possibly the sight of a couple of geriatric cyclists watching was too much to cope with.

I was perplexed that the hedges on the sides of that bit of Loxley Road were covered with green bird-proof netting. I learned today that the netting was probably put there by property developers hoping to pre-empt conflicts between building more houses and displacing nesting birds. I need to stir things a bit in Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

We enjoyed a third skylark singing over Wellesbourne airfield.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: PaulR on 23 February, 2019, 06:31:24 pm
Brimstone, bats and tiger moth caterpillar today.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Jurek on 24 February, 2019, 01:36:40 pm
I've just been out to my local Polski Sklep for my  weekly fix (https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7835/32254507327_7d673e4cf3_z.jpg).
The blossom is out in force today.
The force is strong.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 24 February, 2019, 02:37:22 pm
Heard a yellowhammer today.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 24 February, 2019, 05:16:12 pm
I've just been out to my local Polski Sklep for my  weekly fix (https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7835/32254507327_7d673e4cf3_z.jpg).
The blossom is out in force today.
The force is strong.

[OT]
We had Krakus pickled cucumbers as kids, or Nova pickles in tins, from Czechoslovakia.

Mostly have Mrs Elswood's1 offerings now, which, I think, are imported from the Netherlands.

1) Brand name invented to combine Elstree with Borehamwood...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: andrew_s on 24 February, 2019, 11:32:22 pm
Brimstone flutterby, and the first of the wild daffodils and primroses.
I don't count garden varieties, of which the daffs have been out for 3 or 4 weeks.

And also, last weekend, the Nordseecross in Middelkerke being contested in shorts and short sleeves (and half unzipped tops).
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 26 February, 2019, 08:46:43 am
A marked reduction in the number of birds visiting our feeders. No sign of the wagtail, long tailed tits or blackcaps for the last week, and far fewer bluetits, great tits and goldfinches. They must be finding enough insects out and about now.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 26 February, 2019, 08:48:16 pm
David & I made a day trip to Peterborough Crematorium to bid farewell to his Aunt Rita.
We saw:

Big bumblebees in HA8
Next door neighbours' magnolia breaking bud.
A green haze covering the branches of many of the trees we saw from the train.
Cherry trees and other fruit trees in full blossom.
Daisies on the lawn at the Crematorium.
Ants crawling over the stones in the Crematorium Gardens.

Heard many birdies...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 28 February, 2019, 10:41:08 am
Geese flying overhead.  Heading due north.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: citoyen on 28 February, 2019, 11:06:21 am
Bloody hay fever. In February!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 28 February, 2019, 12:27:05 pm
Mirabelle plum blossoms opened today.
Next door's fruit tree has been a mass of white blossom for a few days; can't recall if it's peach or pear.

It is raining intermittently now.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Nuncio on 28 February, 2019, 12:56:56 pm
There seems to be a massive amount of catkins this year. Or perhaps I've never noticed them before.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 28 February, 2019, 01:04:36 pm
Bloody hay fever. In February!

+1
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 28 February, 2019, 09:01:30 pm
There seems to be a massive amount of catkins this year. Or perhaps I've never noticed them before.

You’re right, there are loads.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 28 February, 2019, 09:10:14 pm
Serenaded by singing ribbits in my neighbours pond this morning.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 28 February, 2019, 09:13:09 pm
Serenaded by singing ribbits in my neighbours pond this morning.

IRTA "singing rabbits" and wondered what that sounded like.


ETA: "Mep[1] mep mep, mep mep-mep, mep, mep-mep-mep *thump-thump-thump*..."[2] presumably.


[1] Baby barakta, when learning about animal noises, did the overly-literal deaf child thing and refused to believe that rabbits didn't make a sound.  So her mum made one up.
[2] To the tune of The Frog Song.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 28 February, 2019, 09:15:11 pm
I thought that as I typed it, but did it anyway!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 28 February, 2019, 09:28:27 pm
Chiffchaffs in central San Sebastián.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: phantasmagoriana on 28 February, 2019, 09:45:13 pm
The daffodils are out, just in time for St. David's Day. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pcolbeck on 28 February, 2019, 10:08:27 pm
There seems to be a massive amount of catkins this year. Or perhaps I've never noticed them before.

You’re right, there are loads.

They are lambs tails here but yeah they are really abundant this year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 01 March, 2019, 09:39:24 am
More geese flying north.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: woollypigs on 01 March, 2019, 10:05:13 am
Getting woken up by the Jackdaws building, well trying to, a nest in our chimney. Various sticks getting dumped into it and then falling down all the way to the metal heat plate in the living room.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: graculus on 02 March, 2019, 05:57:51 pm
Frog spawn in our pond this morning.
Usually we hear the frogs calling beforehand, but they got on with it quietly this year for some reason.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: David Martin on 02 March, 2019, 10:58:00 pm
Black hellibore has flowered already. In February
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 03 March, 2019, 01:41:25 pm
Frogs and spawn in a neighbour's pond.

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7922/40302181203_08fe675e52_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24pndna)
IMG_9774_01 (https://flic.kr/p/24pndna) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7893/46352239195_0229c64d21_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2dBZkPR)
IMG_9731_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2dBZkPR) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 05 March, 2019, 11:54:20 pm
Bloody hay fever. In February!

+1

Probably associated with the plethora of catkitkins
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 06 March, 2019, 10:57:05 am
From our garden.

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7899/46573794614_407ed230a1_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2dXySwS)Spring (https://flic.kr/p/2dXySwS) by Richard Fletcher (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156993878@N08/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 06 March, 2019, 06:57:24 pm
...I was perplexed that the hedges on the sides of that bit of Loxley Road were covered with green bird-proof netting. I learned today that the netting was probably put there by property developers hoping to pre-empt conflicts between building more houses and displacing nesting birds. I need to stir things a bit in Warwickshire Wildlife Trust...

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/shortcuts/2019/mar/04/is-it-cruel-to-set-up-nets-prevent-bird-nesting-jeremy-vine-chris-packham-protesting
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 07 March, 2019, 08:46:15 pm
...I was perplexed that the hedges on the sides of that bit of Loxley Road were covered with green bird-proof netting. I learned today that the netting was probably put there by property developers hoping to pre-empt conflicts between building more houses and displacing nesting birds. I need to stir things a bit in Warwickshire Wildlife Trust...
Thanks for the link. I'm pretty confident that it was the bit of of road featured in tonight's BBC West Midlands News, though (I think it represents a disinterest element in the BBC charter) without taking sides.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/shortcuts/2019/mar/04/is-it-cruel-to-set-up-nets-prevent-bird-nesting-jeremy-vine-chris-packham-protesting

What I didn't say in my previous post, but did point out to the full-time WkWT staff when I commented on the netting, is that the skylarks would probably be nesting on the ground behind the hedges. Sadly it's likely that spraying with herbicides will get rid of the skylarks before the diggers move in & any legal basis for any objection may no longer exist. Nevertheless I shall inquire tomorrow (the work party leader is a young woman trainee, who is currently rather focused on finishing the paperwork for her NVQ, but she is quite a bit more competent than some of the men who have preceded her).
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 08 March, 2019, 09:38:31 am
Stink bugs. Our house is half-timbered and over 180 years old, and has many nooks & crannies whereby the buggers can enter once the weather gets cold. Come the spring...

MrsT won't go near them, so for the last two or three weeks I've been putting at least one per day out the window. Some of them don't even squirt first. Today's did.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 08 March, 2019, 11:19:59 pm
A couple of violet flowers... I don't which species. They were very different from the dog violets that I'm encouraging in our lawn (it's not a very good enviroment for grass) but I didn't notice enough details to glean any clues. I was humping bits of fencing wood, so wasn't easily able to kneel & do the scent test. I reflected on the ride home that hairy/glabrous undersides of leaves was a feature I should have thought to look for. OTOH we finished work early & I rode home before the rain was heavy enough to justify waterproof trousers :).

Also, on the climb up to the Welcombe Hotel car park, steep banks which had obviously been planted with non-native daffodils, which were flowering enthusiastically & looked attractively springlike. But underneath the daffs was a veritable carpet of primrose flowers, in clumps big enough that they'd evidently been there before the daffs were planted, maybe even natives.

Surprise of the day was the lack of celandines in flower.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 09 March, 2019, 11:40:48 pm
Frogspawn. Quite a lot in the bit of water when I have only ever seen 1 tadpole in many years' visiting the park and noticing that there's frogspawn in the water.

Black headed gulls in summer plumage. They are wary buggers. The moment I lifted my phone to take a photo they took off and flew a couple of hundred yards away.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 14 March, 2019, 01:23:35 pm
Clematis Armadii in full bloom in the garden

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7872/40411191243_5253c1163c_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24yZVfB)Clematis (https://flic.kr/p/24yZVfB) by Richard Fletcher (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156993878@N08/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 14 March, 2019, 05:49:54 pm
And the first picking of wild garlic leaves for tonight’s mash.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CAMRAMan on 14 March, 2019, 06:18:29 pm
Magnolia trees just about to bloom in Warwick. I hope the wind and/or a late frost doesn't see them off...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 14 March, 2019, 06:19:53 pm
The magnolia trees are out on the Tring road heading into Aylesbury, my wife commented on them on our way to the theatre this afternoon.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 14 March, 2019, 06:56:04 pm
Next door's magnolia was emerging three weeks ago.

Daffs are finishing  :(

Trees are losing their blossoms.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: ElyDave on 15 March, 2019, 09:47:44 am
And the first picking of wild garlic leaves for tonight’s mash.

I noticed the first few wild garlic leaves on Wednesday on my way to the bikeshed/gym. That now reminds me to have some in my lunch  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rr on 16 March, 2019, 11:46:26 pm
Blackbird fledgling seen this morning.

Sent from my moto x4 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 17 March, 2019, 10:30:14 pm
Chiffchaff singing near my son's house in Ardleigh.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 18 March, 2019, 12:20:42 pm
KItes flying overhead with nesting materials, and a bluetit recceing the nestbox in the woods. Oh, and our first tulip is out, and the pear tree buds are just breaking.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 18 March, 2019, 02:16:57 pm
Magnolias have been looking and smelling magnificent for a week or so.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 19 March, 2019, 06:45:30 pm
I've passed by this year's first patch of bluebells in full bloom whilst walking the dog this evening.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 20 March, 2019, 09:42:37 pm
43 mile bike ride today. Several skylarks, chiffchaffs and a coulpe of song thrushes singing. Interestingly, no blackbirds singing, although whilst I was sitting near the River Can eating my lunch there was an almighty rumpus between a pair of blackbirds and a couple of magpies. I couldn't see the details of what was going on, but my guess was that the magpies were trying to raid the blackbirds' nest.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 21 March, 2019, 08:22:08 am
Violets everywhere, esp. in the cracks between the concrete slabs outside my workshop.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 21 March, 2019, 01:03:04 pm
A brace of avian percussionists communicating.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 22 March, 2019, 11:13:43 pm
A brace of avian percussionists communicating.
Presumably Greater?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 23 March, 2019, 12:03:00 am
Yesterday was chiffchaffs. My first of the year was at the top of Goldicote Cutting (what's he doing in a natuire reserve?), followed by most of a dozen on the way to Ilmington & then back to Straford on the Greenway.

Today at coffe time we were treated to a chiffchaff who was clearly still learning the notes. By the time we went back to uprooting willow saplings he'd practised enough to sing whole phrases confidently. I wish I could learn the notes that quickly.

Late in the day came the unmistakable pattern of a great tit's song (strictly speaking the texbook pattern; our great tits are masters at improvising on a repeated 2-note motif). The only problem was that it wasn't a great tit's voice. In due course the songster reverted to his proper blackbird song, before teasing us once again with the neatly phrased repeated 2-note motif. How did he learn that?

Also at coffe time, my first 2019 butterfly, a brimstone. There were other flutterers later, but too far away to identify, though one was definitely dark (peacock or tortoiseshell would seem most likely).

I'm not sure if it's strictly about spring, but we had a number of noisy swans flying over. I haven't checked with my antique birdsong cassette, but would guess whooper swans. I'm sure I've heard others this year, but not in the previous 73 years.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 23 March, 2019, 01:44:32 pm
High-revving motorbikes and topless cars are back. One of the latter just blew a series of backfires on the street outside and accelerated away up to the main road. Could hear it blatting about ten times as long as a proper car would be audible.  I do hope there's a peeler listening.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 23 March, 2019, 05:11:19 pm
First lunch in the garden today.  And the armandii is fantastic, the smell today was glorious.

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7908/40483769103_f4d0809a93_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24FpU82)Spring (https://flic.kr/p/24FpU82) by Richard Fletcher (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156993878@N08/), on Flickr

And the fritillaries are lovely too

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7914/40483768943_72415949f5_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24FpU5g)Spring (https://flic.kr/p/24FpU5g) by Richard Fletcher (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156993878@N08/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 24 March, 2019, 06:30:54 pm
Three on today's ride to the seaside:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: andrew_s on 24 March, 2019, 09:54:52 pm
This weekend, the first of the bluebells and cowslips, and also hawthorn flowering in the hedges.
"ne'er cast a clout 'till may be out", so I can legitimately wear shorts now :) (I've been in shorts for about a month)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 25 March, 2019, 01:33:43 am
There is a bluebottle buzzing round my kitchen.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 25 March, 2019, 02:43:29 pm
There is a bluebottle buzzing round my kitchen.
Splat!

Quote
You duhtty rotten swine! You dedded me!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 25 March, 2019, 03:11:34 pm
This weekend, the first of the bluebells and cowslips, and also hawthorn flowering in the hedges.
"ne'er cast a clout 'till may be out", so I can legitimately wear shorts now :) (I've been in shorts for about a month)

That's probably blackthorn at this time of year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: andrew_s on 26 March, 2019, 08:46:28 pm
What's probably blackthorn at this time of year.
I dare say.
In a hedge, thorny, and no leaves to help with the ID
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 26 March, 2019, 09:04:52 pm
My mirabelle plum tree is very thorny and its blossoms have been and gone.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 27 March, 2019, 08:09:06 am
Magpies began nesting in the elder tree by the corner of our barn, but they seem to have given up and gone elsewhere since - possibly driven out by the family of rather thuggish ravens in the neighbourhood, who always seem to pick on magpies.  In this case it's probably to the good since the tree gets bashed every time we open the barn door to get the car out.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 27 March, 2019, 12:01:01 pm
What's probably blackthorn at this time of year.
I dare say.
In a hedge, thorny, and no leaves to help with the ID

Blackthorn normally flowers before the leaves appear.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Crumbling Nick on 27 March, 2019, 08:39:51 pm
What's probably blackthorn at this time of year.
I dare say.
In a hedge, thorny, and no leaves to help with the ID

Blackthorn normally flowers before the leaves appear.
There is a similar prunus, cherry plum, that usually flowers a bit before blackthorn. The shrubs look like blackthorn in early spring - drifts of white blossom covering the whole shrub/tree Leaves appear while they're still blossoming, unlike blackthorn. I don't think they're particularly thorny, unlike blackthorn; we have them locally, but rarelyusually on verges of roads where I would not feel comfortable about stopping to look at details. It's not native & IMLE tends to be commoner near urban areas.

My guess is also blackthorn, which, according to the books, has black bark rather than brown, though I've failed to separate bullace from blackthorn at this time of year. FWIW bullace is another non-native which has escaped from cultivation & has bigger fruit. There's more than one variety; some have round fruit while others are plum-shaped.

I think blackthorn is the only one which has a high (>50%) probablility of minor wounds from injuries caused by the thorns turning septic, but I'll leave controlled experiments to others.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 27 March, 2019, 09:02:43 pm
My mirabelle (yellow cherry) plum tree has VICIOUS thorns (as Giraffe will attest).

The tree was here when I bought the house nearly 20 years ago.

It's in leaf now; white blossoms have been and gone.

Sweet flesh, acid skin, adherent stones; makes the best jam EVAH!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 28 March, 2019, 08:34:26 am
Around here they make schnapps out of them.  Quite nifty: they harvest and ferment them, then a chappie with a portable still comes round and they distil & bottle it. I was once invited to a distillation afternoon: "you get drunk just by being there and breathing" but for some reason I didn't go.

A chap in our club has a mirabelle orchard, and always has litres of the stuff available.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 28 March, 2019, 12:36:03 pm
Mirabelle de Lorraine is a protected name/origin innit?

Mirabelles ripen very close to my Dad's August 13 birthday.

There are LOADS for the taking in Hyde Park...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 28 March, 2019, 02:08:44 pm
Yes, it is protected. Our bloke is a Lorrain. Good trencherman too: one club holiday in 2013 there was andouillette for dinner, which a good few didn't like. I put away two but he put away five.

I'm not that bothered by mirabelles, but around here there are quetsch trees by the hundred. Strangely, we rarely see quetsches in the shops, which p's me off because I love the things.We used to have two or three trees but they went when we sold off our meadow.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: matthew on 28 March, 2019, 03:01:26 pm
The flying bugs are out and about. On monday I could walk around the site in my hi vis without them swarming to me, today I can't.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 28 March, 2019, 03:33:27 pm
Blackthorn has been out a while around us. I washed my car on Saturday, used yellow microfibre  clothes to dry it off. I left them out to dry, and they ended up covered in dozens of pollen beetles.  My wife killed the first fly of the season in our kitchen yesterday.  The bees are loving the lungwort in the garden.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: orienteer on 28 March, 2019, 10:18:45 pm
Lots of bees on various blossoms in the garden today.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 29 March, 2019, 08:23:24 am
Our magpies are back, building suicidally in the tree that gets bashed by the barn door when we get the  car out. They just stood off a raven - they don't get much rest. I'll try and get a few pics later.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 29 March, 2019, 06:53:34 pm
This year's crop of Japanese Knotweed has suddenly started to appear and is sprouting surprisingly quickly by the river.  :(
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 30 March, 2019, 07:48:07 pm
First ice cream van of the year!

I think today has been the first time I've been aware of the chimes.
Two sets: 'Yankee Doodle' and 'The Sun Has Got Its Hat On'.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Canardly on 30 March, 2019, 07:57:05 pm
This year's crop of Japanese Knotweed has suddenly started to appear and is sprouting surprisingly quickly by the river.  :(

Reportable if on your land. Terrible stuff.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 30 March, 2019, 08:49:01 pm
A pair of swallows.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 01 April, 2019, 05:15:00 pm
First ice cream van of the year!

I think today has been the first time I've been aware of the chimes.
Two sets: 'Yankee Doodle' and 'The Sun Has Got Its Hat On'.

'Greensleeves' has returned.

ETA The fourth ice cream van chime has returned so that's four in as many days.

Maybe Teddy Bears' Picnic will too...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 01 April, 2019, 05:32:36 pm
A family having a barbecue in their not-garden (not knot garden).
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 01 April, 2019, 05:40:16 pm
A pair of swallows.

Excellent! I went out a couple of days ago, when the weather was lovely and warm, to a farm where I know a colony of swallows turns up every summer, but I saw no sign of them. I checkd the SE Essex RSPB "Latest Sightings" website and no-one down here has reported seeing any yet.

http://www.southendrspb.co.uk/sight99/migrationlist.htm

To date, only sedge warbler and wheatear have been reported this year for summer visitors.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 02 May, 2019, 07:26:15 pm
Standing on the rear balcony of my local during a 'dog walk' this evening, I notice that a cricket match is underway on the pitch.
 :D

That's it. Spring is over. Summer is here.
This thread is now closed until Jan 1st 2020.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 03 May, 2019, 01:54:46 pm
Heard cuckoos in several places. Saw a bunch of house martins yesterday merrily butchering the flies over a gravel car park down by the footie field. They're called hirondelles de fenêtre here, maybe from committing suicide against them.

Also met an alarming number of motorbikes and quads in the Vosges on Wednesday: the warm weather brings them out like flies from a chicken-coop.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 10 November, 2019, 02:23:01 pm
Ice cream van has not yet gone into hibernation...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 10 November, 2019, 02:38:28 pm
The first snowdrops have flowered in Priory Park.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 04 January, 2020, 01:59:08 pm
Grass appears greener, longer, thicker.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 04 January, 2020, 03:04:24 pm
Daffs are coming on nicely.  Tulips are a bit more yawn, stretch, peep over the duvet, but they are definitely waking up.
Small birds are singing more and Mrs B reports twig carrying by the pair of wrens that live in our stable.  (Or the descendants thereof.)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 04 January, 2020, 11:35:41 pm
There were two separate sightings of a swallow at Abberton Reservoir on 1st January, reported on the Southend RSPB website.

http://www.southendrspb.co.uk/sightings.htm

Both the reporters are reputable so I have no doubt that they are right. I understand that a probable explanation was that the bird wasn't physically up to a several thousand mile journey in late September so it hunkered down round here.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 05 January, 2020, 09:37:07 am
Catkins on our hazel bushes. 
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: PaulR on 05 January, 2020, 04:37:37 pm
Cats are already pooing on our blooming aconites.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Jurek on 05 January, 2020, 04:53:52 pm
Grass appears greener, longer, thicker.
This.
It doesn't appear to have stopped growing much since I last mowed it in late October.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 15 January, 2020, 03:40:21 pm
Windless day with cloudless sky, blazing sunshine, 10°C, germander speedwell blooming by the drive.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 28 January, 2020, 11:02:45 am
Just had a ladybird crawl over the back of my hand.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: offcumden on 31 January, 2020, 09:41:30 pm
Almost ran over a frog which was crossing the road today. Surely frogs hibernate? At 12 or 13 deg C I suppose they might feel spring is on its way. But I, for one, won't be casting clouts.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 31 January, 2020, 09:44:49 pm
I was out dog-walking today. 12°C or so, a bit breezy, but very spring-like, and the great tits were giving it large with their boring song.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 01 February, 2020, 04:56:42 pm
It was spring-like here too: pissing down.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: woollypigs on 01 February, 2020, 07:46:14 pm
Swan building nest on the canal in same spot as the last seven year I've walked there. Locals tell me that they have been there close to eleven years now. Hope this year's crop will be a good ones as four years ago they had eleven wee ones and it gone down hill since. With only one last year after a year of five cygnet and a goose. They started with six but swapped one for a goose.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 01 February, 2020, 08:26:27 pm
Lot of snowdrops in flower today so  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: matthew on 01 February, 2020, 08:39:21 pm
Rhubarb is starting to sprout.  :thumbsup:

So I've missed another year when I intended to lift and split it.  :facepalm:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 02 February, 2020, 12:57:07 pm
Dozens of crocuses on the point of opening.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 02 February, 2020, 05:34:07 pm
First topless BSOist of the year.  Probably a visiting Geordie.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 02 February, 2020, 07:21:55 pm
Some of the daffs in full flower here.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 03 February, 2020, 09:05:46 am
Crocuses open. Blattered to hell by the rain.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 03 February, 2020, 07:32:00 pm
A tandemist without gloves. (Me.)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 04 February, 2020, 08:09:23 am
Foxes barking last night  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 04 February, 2020, 08:25:10 am
A dozy bee on the workshop wall.

28°C in the south.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 17 February, 2020, 02:43:46 pm
The distant chime of the ice-cream van - bang on time: Monday afternoon in the February half-term.

Daffodils fully open, peach/pear (I'm not sure which) tree next door in full blossom last week.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 17 February, 2020, 04:55:51 pm
A photo from my daughter. Frogspawn in Rochester.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 17 February, 2020, 07:00:13 pm
Facebook friend in Kingston upon Thames posted photo frogspawn yesterday.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 17 February, 2020, 07:32:23 pm
At least one storm ago:  Second topless BSOist of the year.  He was wearing some sort of Mad Max face mask and had a leather jacket tied around his waist.   ???
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 17 February, 2020, 09:08:57 pm
 Blossom on the trees near staines today also new leaf growth 🙂
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Rowan on 17 February, 2020, 11:51:51 pm
At least one storm ago:  Second topless BSOist of the year.  He was wearing some sort of Mad Max face mask and had a leather jacket tied around his waist.   ???
They say the wind can make you go mad, and we've had no end of it this past week or so....

-------------

It was still blowing a hooley today - but there was moments in sheltered bits that it felt, dare I say it, a bit spring like.
(https://i.postimg.cc/jdhWFBtx/spr-0522.jpg)
I kept my top on
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 18 February, 2020, 09:04:57 am
Facebook friend in Kingston upon Thames posted photo frogspawn yesterday.

Right enough, on Saturday we saw anti-frog-migration netting deployed along the roadside in the forest, a couple of weeks earlier than it used to be.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 18 February, 2020, 01:27:09 pm
Mirabelle plum tree is in full blossom today.

?Jam tomorrow?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: FifeingEejit on 18 February, 2020, 01:50:40 pm
Was snowing here and bloody freezing earlier, sounds about right for Spring.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 19 February, 2020, 02:46:44 pm
Stink bug on the bedroom wall; duly ejected.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: bludger on 19 February, 2020, 02:55:49 pm
Read a tweet this morning by some woman riding into town with her lights on. A man pointed at her lights and said 'you don't need those on now it's light in the mornings again'.

 ::-)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 23 February, 2020, 04:19:12 pm
First ice-cream van of the year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 23 February, 2020, 05:59:45 pm
Six days later than mine this year!
I think yours beat mine last year!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 24 February, 2020, 09:41:22 am
Violets in bloom, sleet & snow forecast.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Rowan on 24 February, 2020, 09:43:48 am
heard first Skylarks of the season singing yesterday (just wonderful)  + frog activity in the pond. Yep, spring is on its way.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Salvatore on 25 February, 2020, 06:10:47 pm
Seen this morning

(https://i.imgur.com/PmgbXd3m.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/3Puu0k5m.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Rowan on 27 February, 2020, 11:58:56 pm
First Curlews of the season up on the moors - one of the most wonderful and evocative of all bird calls
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Flite on 28 February, 2020, 02:54:30 pm
The Lapwings are back, but it's still snowing...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 01 March, 2020, 05:28:17 pm
Six days later than mine this year!
I think yours beat mine last year!

Heard no ice cream vans today; perhaps they're back in hibernation.

Apple blossom looks to break bud soon.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 01 March, 2020, 06:23:43 pm
Magnolia flowers are almost open in slough. 🙂
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: SteveC on 01 March, 2020, 06:25:07 pm
Somerset: kerria and flowering currant just about to bloom. Primroses looking gorgeous.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 01 March, 2020, 07:58:16 pm
At least one storm ago:  Second topless BSOist of the year.  He was wearing some sort of Mad Max face mask and had a leather jacket tied around his waist.   ???
I think you've stumbled on some weird BSO fetish group.  :o
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 02 March, 2020, 09:22:59 pm
My dear wife has just cut my hair and eyebrows. I'm just off to do the beard.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pcolbeck on 03 March, 2020, 09:03:08 am
Sunny day yesterday and the skylarks are singing for the first time this year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Socks on 03 March, 2020, 07:59:30 pm
More Skylarks.  I used part of the coast road that I commuted on (until I retired).  Two signs of Spring that I looked out for each year - skylarks and morning commute in daylight, usually both happening early March.  With the added pleasure of cycling past my former workplace to play out on my bike.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 03 March, 2020, 08:13:38 pm
Frogs and spawn in our neighbour's pond.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 08 March, 2020, 06:17:15 pm
Some video of our neighbour's pond, boiling with frogs
(https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/49635115888_5fc65d94b2.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2iC5WG9)MVI_2562 (https://flic.kr/p/2iC5WG9) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

Not sure if that link works for anyone?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 08 March, 2020, 06:21:44 pm
Some photies by that Pingu
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49635817592_b77b769c97.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2iC9xhu)IMG_2528_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2iC9xhu) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

Hypnotoad
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49635817882_42fbf8df78.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2iC9xnu)IMG_2549_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2iC9xnu) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49635818072_b7c77cab9d.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2iC9xqL)IMG_2559_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2iC9xqL) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49635542416_effc93556b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2iC88u5)IMG_2538_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2iC88u5) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 08 March, 2020, 06:34:45 pm
Worked for me!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 08 March, 2020, 06:45:55 pm
 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 08 March, 2020, 06:46:48 pm
Not sure I trust that three-eyed one :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: PaulR on 11 March, 2020, 10:15:00 pm
Snap!  Well, two flew over the Cathedral Close at Lichfield at lunchtime today. Peregrines mating on the main spire as well.
I seem to have mislaid the video in which the mating happened, but I chanced upon this short video I made that day nearly two years ago.  I recall this was shot through a cheap 75-300mm zoom lens.  Sorry about the wobbly tripod - it was a blustery dayy
https://photos.app.goo.gl/4kUdbZGef5iRp9A97 (https://photos.app.goo.gl/4kUdbZGef5iRp9A97)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Jaded on 11 March, 2020, 10:50:29 pm
Lots of frogs on the cycle path on Sat evening.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 13 March, 2020, 06:52:57 pm
12 geese flying south in classic formation this morning.  Since then, many smaller groups either seen or heard throughout the day.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: slowfen on 14 March, 2020, 02:26:44 pm

depressingly - flat hedgehogs  >:( :'(
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 14 March, 2020, 02:43:53 pm
12 geese flying south in classic formation this morning.  Since then, many smaller groups either seen or heard throughout the day.

Hang on.  Shouldn't they be flying north?

More spotted today. (Or maybe the same lot flying in very large circles)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 14 March, 2020, 04:03:30 pm
12 geese flying south in classic formation this morning.  Since then, many smaller groups either seen or heard throughout the day.

Hang on.  Shouldn't they be flying north?

More spotted today. (Or maybe the same lot flying in very large circles)
Perhaps a Sign of the End Times! (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=115084.0)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 15 March, 2020, 12:20:27 am
I saw a heron flying backwards the other day.  It was much less competent at it than the red kites of a couple of weeks ago.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 15 March, 2020, 11:11:12 am
Loads. Skylarks, squished frogs, plum blossom, cherry, pear, quince and ash buds breaking. Wild garlic flowering.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Jurek on 17 March, 2020, 02:02:16 pm
A bumble bee the size of a beluga whale has just bumped into my home office window.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 17 March, 2020, 02:19:17 pm
A bumble bee the size of a beluga whale has just bumped into my home office window.

"Oh no, not again..."
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 17 March, 2020, 06:39:36 pm
Here I am flying along minding my business enjoying the wind...Ow  ;D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pcolbeck on 19 March, 2020, 09:30:18 am
First hedgehog of spring last night in the garden much to the dogs consternation (she's convinced that they are dangerous and shouldnt be allowed). Looks like the small one we were putting out food for before they went into hibernation so that's a result.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 20 March, 2020, 08:57:01 pm
Bluebells!  Bluebelling.  :D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Jakob on 21 March, 2020, 12:39:49 am
(https://i.imgur.com/jNYzm8m.jpg)

How about this instead...(Of course the original showed up fine for me)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: woollypigs on 21 March, 2020, 08:11:12 am
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ws_hTyz-SlAS_RZZ2h7ERd3NbsY79lzWUmbL3CWuV9MQx6LApyqVoz7VfvMwaddrvQrUdUKyKxYikRPfcYBWxUH7eVFpGuUfK4qvojJmVpcF5VtloJErMm7qYPhYGm55t0TTz5bKy6is3QDD5NkBt1K9gstvMaQgcX8UpgtgfTEUdOcxpujvHIvmgZ9y9UTBKBIMzv7uvGy_bGdFhOVASYqeo6uA1lh6zcxrJmHud9nERTBjWN5vvyq-8XCXJf1k-CHD6QZACJ1ZzOhh0fb_sE-aYbLoiw81cQBe2tSWWJqWz0T-uys9_4DiR_vWBxnaXo0dntNVggIv4sLXHoSQVZgoiCZHZzwHGhza3mnkEEqX7JH799QfDtp-mbcHuxtevrJ-5HDc9C2ClqURgISsekDYa0L56hxZK-7_WbgI9AlrrHVYcLQE8APUYo72DC-n0FKgcAe1evk1KH3122EIsu40ZJ72GpH0_f5LdHvg-yr39QCY3whKoeLf9XjxuZXOAJ3GmnSw4KdvpxUZXPvxyEZ7EOnJY2ddS3ura6DqdOQhpaOgoYxhKBRVuHdMRWeWQvkHhi6Yxiwyv7bHJQivXmIZdjCrZSNWaQqRljFYIugF__4DnJWqUsIWuX3agCN8G4oh7YMZ30X_b8_chdo9qC1Y0QYSSFzkRFNhq5Vfvtuylg4ZsuAuzlv5PdTA=w403-h878-no)

Ah a google photo, use this link to convert the long link to something you can share here - https://ctrlq.org/google/photos/ - Generate embed code for any picture on Google Photos

Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Phil W on 23 March, 2020, 06:18:06 pm
First bluebells seen on a sunny bank. Ones in woods still waking up.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 23 March, 2020, 08:21:21 pm
Wasps.

Also hayfever, enough UV light to turn my glasses properly dark, and those annoying little black flies yesterday.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 01 April, 2020, 02:43:19 pm
Chiffchaffs, quite a few of them. Didn't see any but they were chiffchaffing like mad.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 04 April, 2020, 07:36:09 pm
A little Caterpillar  and a couple of ladybirds   :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 06 April, 2020, 02:08:30 pm
One of those damned little flies about the size of a comma faffing about between me and the monitor and occasionally threatening to go up my nose when I breathe in.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Salvatore on 07 April, 2020, 12:18:11 pm
Hedgehogs are back (or at least one is). (https://youtu.be/ZTPlnX0ndRg) It's been visiting for about a week now.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 07 April, 2020, 08:54:14 pm
A few bluebells are out today   :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 07 April, 2020, 09:00:47 pm
Hedgehogs are back (or at least one is). (https://youtu.be/ZTPlnX0ndRg) It's been visiting for about a week now.
I'm impressed that you're able to distinguish your hedgehogs individually.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 07 April, 2020, 09:01:05 pm
Butterfly today but I didn't see what species.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Phil W on 07 April, 2020, 09:05:01 pm
A few bluebells are out today   :)

We have a whole woodland full of them nearby, but it usually always a week or two ahead of the other local woodlands,
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Phil W on 07 April, 2020, 09:05:30 pm
I'm wearing shorts, defo a sign of Spring
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Salvatore on 08 April, 2020, 11:46:26 am
Hedgehogs are back (or at least one is). (https://youtu.be/ZTPlnX0ndRg) It's been visiting for about a week now.
I'm impressed that you're able to distinguish your hedgehogs individually.

It's got  a distinctive white mark on its posterior. Last year I didn't realise there was more than one until two appeared at once and had a fight on camera.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 08 April, 2020, 04:59:03 pm
There's a gorgeous cherry tree in blossom about ten houses down the street: pink and white flowers on one tree.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 08 April, 2020, 07:19:47 pm
Some small birds chasing each other around the sky. Pre mating? :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 10 April, 2020, 12:39:50 pm
Yesterday was the first day of the year when the central heating didn't come on at all.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 10 April, 2020, 06:04:23 pm
It’s all happening now. Both pear and apple blossom. Loads of pulmanaria, which the bees love. And signs of a mild winter, we have wasps already. Plus butterflys, peacocks, small whites, orange tips, small blues. Oh, and the blue tits are scoping out the nest box.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: nicknack on 10 April, 2020, 08:18:17 pm
Sparrows ripping all the fluff off the pampas grass for their nests.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 10 April, 2020, 08:23:53 pm
It's got to that stage where I'm having to delayer when going outside and then relayer inside.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 10 April, 2020, 09:02:50 pm
It's got to that stage where I'm having to delayer when going outside and then relayer inside.

Yep.  Several degrees colder downstairs than outside for most of today.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 12 April, 2020, 05:07:06 pm
Two swallows near Bolts Farm, Barling, followed 45 minutes later by a peal of thunder.

Does that mean that summer is over?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: slowfen on 19 April, 2020, 11:20:04 am
Barnpecker is back
Also bat droppings on the windowsill
 :) :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: nicknack on 20 April, 2020, 11:13:54 am
A crow hopping about on the lawn this morning with what I suspect was a pigeon's egg in its mouth. Also a dead shrew on the doorstep. A victim of one of the local moggies I imagine.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 20 April, 2020, 11:22:14 am
Shirtless men are back.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 25 April, 2020, 01:27:52 pm
My younger son has just arranged for a nest full of ferrets to be removed from the base of his woodshed. They have gone to a wildlife sanctuary. Mother & 13 newborns.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 25 April, 2020, 01:29:35 pm
Shirtless men are back.

With or without BSOs (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=29530.msg2462821#msg2462821)?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 25 April, 2020, 09:12:25 pm
Shirtless men are back.

With or without BSOs (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=29530.msg2462821#msg2462821)?
So far this year I've seen three shirtlessmen: two walking over Prince St Bridge and one sunbathing on a bench.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 26 April, 2020, 11:23:04 am
I failed to mention the St. George's Day cuckoos I heard and saw.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pcolbeck on 27 April, 2020, 09:59:00 am
The house martins are back! First sighting this morning.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 27 April, 2020, 10:45:55 am
I failed to mention the St. George's Day cuckoos I heard and saw.

I heard but did not see a cuckoo whilst out for a run the day after St George's day.  I can't remember the last time I heard a cuckoo, but then I am usually on roads at this time of year in the middle of all my long Audax rides rather than being far from tarmac, which seems to be where our local cuckoos hangout.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: nicknack on 27 April, 2020, 10:58:59 am
For the last week or so the local bats have been giving a fine aerobatic display outside our living room window. It's always a very cheery sight.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 27 April, 2020, 11:01:14 am
The house martins are back! First sighting this morning.
They come in a caravan, all for love.


sorry
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 27 April, 2020, 11:01:41 am
Unwanted sign of spring: my red arms.  :-[
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 27 April, 2020, 12:59:02 pm
Ah yes, my cyclists's tan has rebooted.  Seem to have avoided any actual burnage.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: orienteer on 29 April, 2020, 05:23:19 pm
On our usual walk along a local river, we see coots, moorhens, swans and Mallard ducks. Today a female duck had seven ducklings in tow.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: orienteer on 30 April, 2020, 03:40:56 pm
Today, in the hissing rain, some moorhen chicks which were too elusive to count. Two duck families, one with ten and the other with four ducklings. Hope the latter wasn't yesterday's seven  :-\

On checking, mallards have clutches of between 8 and 13. That suggests the survival rate isn't very high.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 30 April, 2020, 03:46:52 pm
One year, I saw a mallard with 10 ducklings in our local park on 28th February. We then had a fortnight's really cold weather and I'm sure the lot died. Another year, another mallard had some 10 duckings following her around and they were almost full size.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: SteveC on 06 May, 2020, 10:03:29 am
Two swifts while on our permitted exercise yesterday.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 06 May, 2020, 03:44:52 pm
Not to be read while eating chocolate chip cookies or currant buns.

(click to show/hide)

Or garibaldi for that matter.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 06 May, 2020, 06:18:34 pm
First swifts of the year  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 08 May, 2020, 03:22:10 pm
First swifts of the year  :thumbsup:

I should have mentioned: Sunday 3rd May for me. For a while some were taking an interest in the house opposite ours, which I found interesting because I am sure they have never nested there before. However, that interest was short-lived. I would rather like to have swifts nesting in my ouse, although I suspect they might be noisy lodgers. I could put up with that for <4 months every year though.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 08 May, 2020, 03:53:39 pm
I was forgetting that we heard a cuckoo on Sunday, down in some trees along the stream by the sports ground.  There's one returns there every year. MrsT has seen it, but I haven't.

Cue Delius. https://youtu.be/3xHIhcstxUM
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 17 January, 2021, 03:27:11 pm
First daffs I've seen in full bloom this year.  At Cwmtydu this afternoon.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50845209511_355b20042d_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kt1Zni)IMG-20210117-WA0000 (https://flic.kr/p/2kt1Zni) by Basil W (https://www.flickr.com/photos/153328377@N08/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 18 January, 2021, 01:18:36 pm
And snowdrops in Llandysul park this morning.  :D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 20 February, 2021, 01:46:06 pm
Dozens of bees on the crocuses this afternoon.  Dozens of crocuses too, come to that.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 20 February, 2021, 03:12:22 pm
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50962296882_31d9f2a245.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kDn6n5)IMG_0522_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2kDn6n5) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50962196921_ec04726b65.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kDmzDB)IMG_0521_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2kDmzDB) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 20 February, 2021, 07:15:12 pm
Snow drops and primroses near Cookham today  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 20 February, 2021, 10:12:59 pm
I've been wandering around the park trying to find anything singing that wasn't a robin. Those little buggers sing all winter long. I heard a wren making quite a lot of noise, and the great tits are going at it in their tedious tuneless way, and I heard a dunnock, but the real songsters, the blackbirds, are still in silent winter mode.

I'm hoping to hear a song thrush or two. I photographed one in the park a couple of weeks ago but there aren't many about.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 20 February, 2021, 11:32:43 pm
I heard a skylark earlier this week.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 21 February, 2021, 11:24:22 am
The Thomasinias and Aconites have been flowering for a while, and our wild garlic leaves are about 5cm tall.  Yesterday we saw a few bees, and a Brimstone butterfly. Oh and the small Irises are flowering too.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 21 February, 2021, 03:17:29 pm
Some of our bees on some of our crocuses:

(https://pbase.com/image/171430199.jpg) (https://pbase.com/image/171430199)

With that lens.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 22 February, 2021, 04:26:53 pm
Just heard the chimes of
The Returning Jingling Ice Cream Van.

22 February. Seems par for the course.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: lou boutin on 23 February, 2021, 08:50:59 am
The sunrise was glorious and it was warm enough for me to sit on the fishing jetty and drink my coffee this morning.  I took some photos, but I have never figured out how to post photos here. 
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 24 February, 2021, 03:19:12 pm
Neighbour's pond heaving with croaking frogs.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50976519642_8ee863f671_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kEBZi5)
IMG_0973_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2kEBZi5) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: nicknack on 25 February, 2021, 11:04:52 am
They're doing it here too.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/52/e5/xo2cWeEm_o.jpg) (https://imgbox.com/xo2cWeEm)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 25 February, 2021, 04:21:55 pm
The first skein of geese from the local reservoirs honking overhead this morning, in preparation for their flights north.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Canardly on 26 February, 2021, 10:28:37 am
Bird ground feeder emptied completely last few nights. Wondered if hedgehogs have woken up.  Two, one large one small, seen feeding at 11pm last night. Must put some proper food stuffs out tonight.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 26 February, 2021, 04:21:40 pm
Kitten biscuits and lots of water, apparently
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: graculus on 12 March, 2021, 09:02:36 am
We haz frogspawn.
2 or 3 clumps in our tiny pond that weren't there yesterday.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: ppg on 12 March, 2021, 02:26:54 pm
R3 played 'Poisoning pigeons in the park " this morning 😈
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Canardly on 12 March, 2021, 02:36:21 pm
Daughter No 2 has Barn Owl chicks in old building nearby. Noisy apparently.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 12 March, 2021, 06:58:00 pm
Lots of blue Bell growth alongside the lanes .to early for flowers yet though 🙂
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 12 March, 2021, 07:45:16 pm
I've had a hunt around all the usual likely spots for frog's pawn but there seems to be none. My sister, whose house is only about 200 yards as the frog flies from mine, has spawn. I don't have a pond. My neighbour does and I had a nose over the wall a few times this week and there's none there.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 12 March, 2021, 08:07:23 pm
There's been frog spawn in our neighbour's garden pond for a couple of days  :thumbsup: I haven't caught Ninkasi trying to eat it yet, though she has had a squitty bot  :demon:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 12 March, 2021, 09:39:33 pm
Pigeons have returned to our eaves.
I'm hoping there's no established nest there yet.
Man is coming to survey tomorrow.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pickled Onion on 12 March, 2021, 09:45:21 pm
The crocuses came up and were just about to open their flowers but Storm Somebody has completely flattened them  :(
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 12 March, 2021, 09:56:44 pm
Neighbour's pond heaving with croaking frogs.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50976519642_8ee863f671_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kEBZi5)
IMG_0973_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2kEBZi5) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Great photo.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 16 March, 2021, 04:24:20 pm
Today, the year's first midge-in-nostril incident.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 16 March, 2021, 05:01:36 pm
Today was the first dead bird in the porch of the spring :(
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 16 March, 2021, 09:40:38 pm
Today, the year's first midge-in-nostril incident.

First mozzie bite of the year...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: sg37409 on 17 March, 2021, 09:02:03 am
First lambs, ryelands.  (And a wee chat with the farmer)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 25 March, 2021, 12:31:44 pm
Bluebells in full bloom.  In that place where they come out first every year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: slowfen on 25 March, 2021, 12:33:51 pm
Flat hedgehog, 1st of year :'(
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 25 March, 2021, 12:48:50 pm
I'm declaring the 2021 hayfever season to be officially open.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 25 March, 2021, 01:44:12 pm
Jersey Royals and purple sprouting appearing in the farm shop.  And Brimstones in the garden.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 25 March, 2021, 07:42:06 pm
Magnolias coming into flower 🌼
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 26 March, 2021, 03:42:37 pm
A froglet, that had somehow contrived to get into a bucket, fortunately one with water in the bottom. And a pair of young buzzards, surprisingly (as in 15-20m) low over the adjacent field.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 26 March, 2021, 09:55:35 pm
Neighbour's pond heaving with croaking frogs.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50976519642_8ee863f671_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kEBZi5)
IMG_0973_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2kEBZi5) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Great photo.

Agreed!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 27 March, 2021, 06:38:29 am
Are they croaking bud wei ser  ;D
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 29 March, 2021, 07:14:57 pm
Are they croaking bud wei ser  ;D
If they were, I think Mr. Pingu would have killed them.

I was in the garden digging, raking, planting, sowing and weeding. There was a duet between a blackbird and a wren.

In Priory Park I heard the first chiffchaff of the year and saw a moorhen on her nest.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 05 April, 2021, 06:31:42 am
I saw the first bluebells I'd seen this year. The first just outside of Eton and a small group on the climb up harvest hill near Bourne end  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: nobby on 05 April, 2021, 01:49:11 pm
Today the farm hedges have long stretches with what looked like white berries as I went past.
Any idea what the bushes might be, please?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 05 April, 2021, 01:52:26 pm
Yesterday: 15°C and a howling NE wind cold as a witch's tit. Yup, it's Spring all right.  Pdoyng.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 05 April, 2021, 01:55:34 pm
Jet washers.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 05 April, 2021, 03:05:34 pm
Yesterday: 15°C and a howling NE wind cold as a witch's tit. Yup, it's Spring all right.  Pdoyng.
Surely, witches tits are flat and their hearts are cold? I quote Alfred Steptoe, I believe.

I thought he was Albert... ;)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 05 April, 2021, 04:38:35 pm
Today the farm hedges have long stretches with what looked like white berries as I went past.
Any idea what the bushes might be, please?

White blossom - Hawthorn (or May if you prefer). There’s a lot out atm.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: nobby on 05 April, 2021, 05:09:37 pm
Thank you. I'll stop and check it properly next time.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: nobby on 05 April, 2021, 05:10:32 pm
Yesterday: 15°C and a howling NE wind cold as a witch's tit. Yup, it's Spring all right.  Pdoyng.
Surely, witches tits are flat and their hearts are cold? I quote Alfred Steptoe, I believe.

I thought he was Albert... ;)
His twin  :) I could have quoted my mother. She probably taught it to Alfred and Albert.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 05 April, 2021, 05:14:12 pm
Yesterday: 15°C and a howling NE wind cold as a witch's tit. Yup, it's Spring all right.  Pdoyng.
Surely, witches tits are flat and their hearts are cold? I quote Alfred Steptoe, I believe.

I thought he was Albert... ;)
His twin  :) I could have quoted my mother. She probably taught it to Alfred and Albert.

Whatever.  It just started snowing.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: andrew_s on 05 April, 2021, 08:16:12 pm
Today the farm hedges have long stretches with what looked like white berries as I went past.
Any idea what the bushes might be, please?

White blossom - Hawthorn (or May if you prefer). There’s a lot out atm.
It will be Blackthorn rather than Hawthorn. May flowers in May.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 08 April, 2021, 08:17:38 pm
Today the farm hedges have long stretches with what looked like white berries as I went past.
Any idea what the bushes might be, please?

White blossom - Hawthorn (or May if you prefer). There’s a lot out atm.
It will be Blackthorn rather than Hawthorn. May flowers in May.
Prior to which one must not cast a clout...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 09 April, 2021, 09:23:03 am
Today the farm hedges have long stretches with what looked like white berries as I went past.
Any idea what the bushes might be, please?

White blossom - Hawthorn (or May if you prefer). There’s a lot out atm.
It will be Blackthorn rather than Hawthorn. May flowers in May.
Prior to which one must not cast a clout...

Now does the out in that saying refer to the blossom showing, the month being over, or Ms. May de-closeting?

In France we're not supposed to ôte a fil before the fin d'April.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 12 April, 2021, 07:32:45 pm
In recent years I've taken it to mean the flower, although it wasn't until I was relatively ancient that I came to realise that there's an ambiguity.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Canardly on 25 April, 2021, 01:06:28 pm
Huge great pidgeon bombing splatts on the car and house windows.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 25 April, 2021, 11:18:11 pm
Had to use the cold tap for my shower earlier for the first time this year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 25 April, 2021, 11:28:13 pm
Heard a cuckoo.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: citoyen on 26 April, 2021, 10:11:56 am
Heard a cuckoo.

No cuckoos round here but at least one active woodpecker.

Bluebells are starting to show in numbers as well. Pear tree is in full blossom.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 01 May, 2021, 11:01:06 am
Cuckoo mouthing off in the trees east of the village. Couldn't get a sight of it, though.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 03 May, 2021, 07:26:52 pm
Heard a cuckoo.

No cuckoos round here but at least one active woodpecker.

Bluebells are starting to show in numbers as well. Pear tree is in full blossom.

How close are you to the Kent marshes? I'm sure there will be cuckoos there.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 04 May, 2021, 10:26:20 am
Wild arum and garlic growing at the edge of the forest. Strawberries in flower up there, too.  Masses of other flowers in the fields, much prettier than garden stuff (other than the dandelions in our "lawn").
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 04 May, 2021, 11:21:46 am
Swallows.  Blooming loads of them!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: citoyen on 04 May, 2021, 01:04:51 pm
Heard a cuckoo.

No cuckoos round here but at least one active woodpecker.

Bluebells are starting to show in numbers as well. Pear tree is in full blossom.

How close are you to the Kent marshes? I'm sure there will be cuckoos there.

Depends exactly which Kent marshes you mean - there's the Seasalter levels very close by, but I've never noticed cuckoos there.

I presume you're more likely to be thinking of the area between Gravesend and Rochester, which isn't very close, though we do go for walks up that way reasonably often, so I'll keep an ear out for cuckoos next time we're over there. Or do you mean Romney Marsh?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: PaulR on 04 May, 2021, 04:41:07 pm
I saw my first swift of 2021 today, with fieldfares still around in large numbers. 
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: geoff on 12 May, 2021, 10:57:45 am
also in the countryside near Oxford:

Svmer is icumen in
Lhude sing cuccu!
*

and so forth

*sound more or less masked by the incessant chatter of the starlings in the roof ::-)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 12 May, 2021, 02:25:09 pm
Hawthorn trees:
Right tree is in full flower.
Left tree looks like blossom will break bud soon.
Do I cast a clout?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 14 May, 2021, 01:21:02 pm
Half a clout.

Raw January day here in Southend today (11°C here at the moment). I cycled to Gunners Park, Shoeburyness, to meet my good pal Penelope. I took a flask of freshly-made coffee, or as freshly-made as it could have been given that it was subject to a 30 minute bike ride.

Summer visitors abounded. We could hear the cuckoo pretty much throughout our hour-long chill. I caught a brief glimpse of him from the south side of the lake. There were swifts, swallows, house martins and a whitethroat. There were also plenty of non-migratory water birds: at leat 6 swans, quite a few mallards, a shelduck flew over, there was a cormorant, and quite a few gulls.

Before I got there, Pen had photographed a kestrel that had put in an appearance.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 15 May, 2021, 09:28:13 pm
Full clout seems imminent. Right hawthorn's flowers are very dense.
D took long johns off yesterday. Don't know if he donned them again today.
It is not very warm.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 16 May, 2021, 12:33:07 pm
It's bloody cold. I was thinking on 7th of this month that it was 45 years to the day that I passed my driving test. The temperature reached 80°F that day and it was the first hot day of the Glorious Summer of 1976.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 17 May, 2021, 01:38:09 am
The Long Hot Summer of 1976 got off to a rather cool start, I believe...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Jaded on 30 May, 2021, 03:08:41 pm
Heard, today.

http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/2021-05-30%20Cuckoo.mp3
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 30 May, 2021, 10:08:42 pm
You've got a nice chaffinch in there too.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Jaded on 30 May, 2021, 11:49:18 pm
Cheers. I’m just learning birdsongs, and the chirpy one was one i was after identifying.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 03 June, 2021, 08:15:41 pm
Fledgling starlings appeared in the garden today, about a fortnight later than last year's lot did.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51222066597_e20e11a65e_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m3jtRg)
IMG_2791_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2m3jtRg) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hbunnet on 03 June, 2021, 09:03:28 pm
That's a great shot  Pingu, could be another species.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 08 June, 2021, 09:09:07 pm
Another fledgling.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51233593837_dbbe8b3797_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m4kyuM)
IMG_2922_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2m4kyuM) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: nobby on 09 June, 2021, 07:24:29 am
Fledgling starlings appeared in the garden today, about a fortnight later than last year's lot did.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51222066597_e20e11a65e_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m3jtRg)
IMG_2791_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2m3jtRg) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

Lovely picture. We've had Starlings for the first time this year. Half a dozen yesterday including a couple of fledglings.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 09 June, 2021, 10:49:58 am
Very irritating birds.  Had one round ours that could imitate a ring tone.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: nobby on 09 June, 2021, 06:05:45 pm
Very irritating birds.  Had one round ours that could imitate a ring tone.
I once had a pet Jackdaw that would imitate our two dogs of the time barking in unison. Kept the local cats out of the garden.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 15 June, 2021, 08:55:41 am
It seems to me that cuckoos have been staging something of a recovery this year, based on an admittedly small sample. Ramsden Heath brother has reported multiple sightings, including in his garden and also two birds at once. Shropshire brother this morning reported the first Condover Cuckoo “for several years”. Pal Mel reported hearing one, quite loudly, in his urban garden, admittedly only half a mile away from a park where one has been singing merrily all spring. And even one of my neighbours reported hearing one in her back garden a week or so ago, and we are a good mile away from anywhere I would expect a cuckoo to turn up.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 15 June, 2021, 05:40:29 pm
I heard one on my Newbury ride the other week. I've not heard any since though 😕
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: PaulR on 16 June, 2021, 08:57:59 am
They're very conspicuous round here, but I think they always have been
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/zlmXNt4GBFc3L5dI-iZ5T6a94TgzS85JvcVXXXm7PuT5J2cbEYN8ybf6d8RTewshFQ3jcNh2ypguU3VUhF2KBX51yi6fahZaR_pRtIeZQGo2Sn5PBWuj2VQCuUwGSFUgTP_xLRi4kS1W_PtJjucYqwvtvZOEQsOI-16kiO90D38ruZwPw-Wki_uTMifF6yac1SB8nvamTK5_Mr8GrtfuO3cgYOptQPeURcfSq-HD19EvLZaWcTkYgIch6UdYZFiZQEU8fufTOW5TuJW-_ogF6gukkd61_IRriDjTXHfsxX9R4DYkCRMtntWi25UUfMvoxeFKhr3rkGnTO26mpigI4FhYjstbsGoceBApE-3Gjzu9GxAzN1F0jX1XnwP05LOrKDVZlvPJoKWeptFPNnJ6XKpBa4SNsQMY4BO2tVZMELo1CIOUuhMpbkqaMb8zG7cHSrdrLziiRjlgv1ZNhIkQtU_tfpVAuS4d8_I0mEFiol-wIMU0q0jbYCWZn8P_dUnXVsikEvRGd-bMRjSYi1ZmJtYIpMFJ5GVO-UQHjbddhJHwRequdhjjBKFiCEW4H91qVLASfMRAWVUqsjpE488Fk2sHr6Lt_TunHeeUVC8fb8CRtlLl7wyLY_i2uxe1Yv96ef3gupp3xQuN_kT_FL2eBvPj3m29OyL2zLVdTNaly7tAS-68QcaiilsU9WTHR_xPqXGpoM2DBUeZFGGDqIbQlG0jdw=s640-no?authuser=0)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 25 June, 2021, 03:19:37 pm
"Spring" is stretching it a bit but there was a blackbird singing its fool head off in torrential rain at 04:45 this morning.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 10 November, 2021, 11:35:58 pm
For almost a fortnight I have been searching for snowdrops in the bit of park where they are wont to turn up early. I haven't seen any yet, but Sodding Facebook has sent me a sequence of reminders of the first ones I've seen over a number of years. The earliest I have recorded has been 28th October I think.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 10 November, 2021, 11:38:38 pm
The first snowdrops have flowered in Priory Park.

From 2 years ago.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 11 November, 2021, 09:53:40 am
Our snowdrops flower very late here. Mid Feb.  Which is strange when you see daffodils in early January.
I posted a picture on ACF, many years ago, of daffs on Christmas day flowering at our old place 5 miles from here.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 11 November, 2021, 10:08:15 am
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/o3yY81Zn9b5_dDulA4lO1ALa_13xkRSeizBXgRCtFFHChr7g3mndwHOBlwxn8XHaiuHna3ObhIRHOkaIBcJbA4aWTIHNxN4oYXuf_f8BpvqlVkayBh5ark3kTUlt-lzxHHukUbWacc8=w2400)

And bingo! The park keepers had been doing the rounds with the leaf blowers since my visit yesterday, so this may well have been hiding then.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: andrew_s on 17 December, 2021, 10:35:53 pm
A report of a swallow in Lydney yesterday
https://theglosterbirder.co.uk/2021/12/16/thursday-16th-december-2021/
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 28 December, 2021, 02:53:32 pm
Not sure if this is a sign of spring, or of winter being late, or more likely just one of those things that's part of hibernation, but saw a butterfly in our gardenlette today – think it was a red admiral.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 28 December, 2021, 03:21:43 pm
Yes we've had a couple of those in the house this week.   I suppose they are looking for somewhere to over winter, so I feel bad about putting them out. But I do.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 28 December, 2021, 11:27:54 pm
If you've had an unseasonably warm spell, that will often wake butterflies up. Forecasters are suggesting that Friday could be the warmest New Year's Eve on record.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 28 December, 2021, 11:40:56 pm
Our 'lawn' is looking pretty lush and verdant for the season.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 29 December, 2021, 10:42:31 am
A couple of days ago I heard a song thrush having a good sing up near my son's house in rural north Essex.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: JennyB on 01 January, 2022, 04:02:46 pm
Seen today: two separate dogwalkers - both wearing shorts.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 01 January, 2022, 07:51:50 pm
Seen today: two separate dogwalkers - both wearing shorts.

Similarly I saw someone waiting at a bus stop in football kit.  No coat or anything.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 01 January, 2022, 09:42:15 pm
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/H_pNYj_7wMfF8nZgiyM4-_ENekG0X5swyhrF0jRO17NlQj_iF9NAbbDToZzzdjU0nC1Vn6cEgBoMJOsjMiIy26oDMjcwNqcVCN7LK5PK_vAVu2qCtVdbgVh8o0tbR-O0ZiohRUDb0qg=w2400)
The Spotted or Herbacious Wowbagger indulging in a New Year's Day swim.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: citoyen on 30 January, 2022, 11:18:13 am
Is it normal to be hearing woodpecker activity in late January?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 30 January, 2022, 12:11:42 pm
Dunno but we heard some last week.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Aidan on 30 January, 2022, 01:33:21 pm
Snowdrops seen and Woodpeckers  heard while walking the dog this morning :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 30 January, 2022, 02:14:07 pm
Green shoots on honeysuckle and clematis in the garden.  Several of the hellebores are flowering.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 31 January, 2022, 11:45:33 am
The daphne has come into flowwer this week, aconites have been up for a while, but the first thomasinia came up Sat.  No sign of snowdrops flowering yet though.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 31 January, 2022, 01:12:44 pm
Certainly felt like spring at the weekend. Possibly winter is returning today. But this is the right way round at least.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 31 January, 2022, 01:13:59 pm
The daphne has come into flowwer this week, aconites have been up for a while, but the first thomasinia came up Sat.  No sign of snowdrops flowering yet though.
Excellent! Some of these were pointed out to me yesterday, my pointer knew the name but wasn't sure and I hadn't a clue how to spell it.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 31 January, 2022, 06:08:05 pm
Is it normal to be hearing woodpecker activity in late January?

Not that unusual in my experience. I have heard some drumming in our local park a few times this month.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 31 January, 2022, 09:46:06 pm
Erica Carnea, the winter heath, is flowering well.  The only heather that will tolerate our chalky soil.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 02 February, 2022, 08:07:26 am
As the daylight has improved, and we've had a few sunny days, the Primroses and Snowdrops have started flowering.

And then 2 hares in the field at the back
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 09 February, 2022, 01:41:08 pm
Looked outside whilst preparing lunch today and the early crocuses were open in the sunshine - there wasn't a sign of them above ground 2 weeks ago.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 09 February, 2022, 02:05:23 pm
Lovely and spring-like in the park this morning.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Canardly on 09 February, 2022, 02:17:25 pm
Surprised to see a couple of daisies in  flower in the garden today.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 11 February, 2022, 11:17:27 am
My wifes spring flower display.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51874102252_dee776fed1_4k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2n2Wkkj)Spring (https://flic.kr/p/2n2Wkkj) by Richard Fletcher (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156993878@N08/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 11 February, 2022, 01:45:03 pm
The neighbours are putting in a swimming pool.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 11 February, 2022, 07:40:49 pm
Going to be a wet cold summer then  :demon:
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 11 February, 2022, 09:59:10 pm
The neighbours are putting in a swimming pool.

That sounds like a great olympic sport - aquatic golf!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Deano on 11 February, 2022, 10:02:21 pm
Spotted some flowering gorse out in Eskdale this morning.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 16 February, 2022, 02:32:30 pm
There's a man wearing shorts outside, who is neither riding a bike nor delivering post.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 16 February, 2022, 02:39:52 pm
It's not me!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 16 February, 2022, 03:09:21 pm
I was riding in short-finger mitts yesterday (but long trousers).
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: nicknack on 16 February, 2022, 04:41:02 pm
Daffs are out here.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 17 February, 2022, 09:18:45 pm
Our garlic is appearing, and the wild garlic we have in the garden has got 5cm leaves. Some will go into tomorrows fish cakes, and some in next weeks pasta. Yum.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 21 February, 2022, 02:52:20 am
Next door's fruit tree blossoms are breaking bud.
Can't remember of it's peach or pear!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 21 February, 2022, 10:11:47 am
Our garlic is appearing, and the wild garlic we have in the garden has got 5cm leaves. Some will go into tomorrows fish cakes, and some in next weeks pasta. Yum.

One shoot of wild garlic has a flowerhead.

There was a blackthorn in full blossom on the walk into the station.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 21 February, 2022, 02:19:20 pm
Yep, I spotted two Blackthorn in blossom in the village this morning, it wasn't there Friday.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: JellyLegs on 21 February, 2022, 02:37:22 pm
I must live in a cold spot.  Snowdrops around the base of my walnut tree are only just out, daffs are not far through the surface and no sign of any blossom in the hedgerows or on the fruit trees yet.  Hopefully the apple trees won’t break for another month as otherwise the fruit is likely to fall victim to a sharp frost.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 21 February, 2022, 06:17:23 pm
As was pointed out to Chris Packham on Winterwatch snowdrops react to daylight not temperature and there are many varieties which come up at different times.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: SteveC on 21 February, 2022, 06:33:06 pm
Our first wallflower is blooming.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: JennyB on 21 February, 2022, 07:35:31 pm
Flowering currant is - flowering slightly.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 22 February, 2022, 11:00:53 am
White-tailed bumblebees - at least 3 off them making a bee-line for our crocuses.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 22 February, 2022, 01:26:49 pm
A violet in flower beside the apron of my workshop
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: andrew_s on 23 February, 2022, 12:30:20 am
Daffs are out here.
Out here too (wild ones, not the garden varieties, which I don't count)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: JellyLegs on 23 February, 2022, 07:32:45 am
As was pointed out to Chris Packham on Winterwatch snowdrops react to daylight not temperature and there are many varieties which come up at different times.

I never knew that.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 24 February, 2022, 02:07:16 pm
Skylarks singing as I went out for my early morning run.  It was still dark enough that I was fully reliant on my headtorch, hurling it down with cold rain, and a strong breeze, but they were as determined to sing as I was to run.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 24 February, 2022, 06:22:17 pm
Mirabelle plum blossom emerging.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Flite on 25 February, 2022, 07:56:44 pm
No plum blossom for us this year.
Our ancient, probably wild, bullace tree was uprooted by Storm Arwen, 3 months ago today
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 25 February, 2022, 08:49:01 pm
Cherry trees in Slough are starting to flower. They  might regret the early start  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Flite on 26 February, 2022, 09:09:44 pm
Curlews, lapwings, oyster-catchers. Spring in the Pennines is noisy.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 27 February, 2022, 08:13:52 am
My sister has a pond full of frogspawn. The usual site in Priory Park has changed in its nature in the past year or two, and since the council removed the pennywort from a nearby stretch of brook, mallards have moved in in large numbers  and I doubt that frogs would remain undisturbed enough to mate, and if they did I think their spawn might be duck’s breakfast in short order.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pcolbeck on 27 February, 2022, 11:33:37 am
First skylarks singing in the wing as I crossed the fuelds with the dog this morning.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 28 February, 2022, 04:13:35 pm
First distant ice cream chime - quite late
Multiple trees in blossom seen from cab en route to dentist
Daffs in our garden are open
Grass is grizz.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: FifeingEejit on 28 February, 2022, 04:17:57 pm
the weeds between the slabs in the back "garden" (it's been paved) are starting to grow again

Snowdrops and some other similarly sized but more colourfull things are growing
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 28 February, 2022, 04:52:47 pm
Looks like "our" storks are back.  Last year a family of around 5 took up residence somewhere in the neighbourhood and stayed most of the spring & summer.  This morning I saw one wheeling over the valley out beyond the village, right where we saw them last year.  Need to keep an eye out for the whole gang now.

Thought I heard a cuckoo on my ride this afternoon, but the wind was strong and it might have been something else. It's a bit early, but these days who knows?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 03 March, 2022, 07:28:17 pm
I heard a song thrush this evening whilst cycling home from pal Penelope's this pm. It was close to Southend East station.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 11 March, 2022, 11:07:15 am
2/3 of the Summer Triangle visible at 3 am.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Blodwyn Pig on 11 March, 2022, 06:28:50 pm
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51931230542_59ca842819_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2n7Z8zQ)IMG_2312 (https://flic.kr/p/2n7Z8zQ) by mark tilley (https://www.flickr.com/photos/yo_stumpy/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Blodwyn Pig on 11 March, 2022, 06:30:07 pm
2/3 of the Summer Triangle visible at 3 am.

Are we talking ...'bikini line'?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 11 March, 2022, 06:34:33 pm
2/3 of the Summer Triangle visible at 3 am.

Are we talking ...'bikini line'?

Is that where you Hang Out your Washing?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 12 March, 2022, 11:04:59 am
2/3 of the Summer Triangle visible at 3 am.

Are we talking ...'bikini line'?

Ah now that's a thought.

No.

But the line "two rubber bands on an egg" comes to mind.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Jurek on 14 March, 2022, 11:12:31 am
Magnolia giving it large on the way to my Mum's yesterday.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 14 March, 2022, 02:59:23 pm
The first sfternoon cup of tea in the garden today, watching the bees on the pulmonaria.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 14 March, 2022, 09:07:07 pm
Chiffchaffs singing. 
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: woollypigs on 14 March, 2022, 10:48:54 pm
Nearly stepped on a frog. Still not hear yet, mind, cause I haven't seen roller blades or heard the ice cream van yet
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 16 March, 2022, 11:29:36 am
Yesterday, a song thrush gathering nesting materials. Also a clump of frog spawn in a pond.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: orienteer on 16 March, 2022, 03:10:56 pm
Robin building a nest in an evergreen shrub round the garage side door.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 16 March, 2022, 07:34:12 pm
Chiffchaffs chiffchaffing this morning
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: JellyLegs on 16 March, 2022, 11:11:07 pm
A pair of Blue tits and a pair of great tits both checking out the same nest box on the fence outside the kitchen window plus a pair of something checking out the nest box on the woodshed at the bottom of the garden. It is too far away for me to even hazard a guess at identifying them from my viewpoint though that box is designed with a slightly larger diameter entrance hole to attract sparrows etc.  Probably blue tits then!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 17 March, 2022, 05:23:48 am
It’s dark. A blackbird is singing.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 17 March, 2022, 05:59:00 pm
First ice cream van of the year just chimed.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 17 March, 2022, 06:02:46 pm
First ice cream van of the year just chimed.
Tardy. Haven't the students been back about two and a half months by now.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: phantasmagoriana on 17 March, 2022, 06:15:46 pm
First ice cream van of the year just chimed.

You mean you don't get them year-round? ???
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 17 March, 2022, 06:20:32 pm
No, they're definitely seasonal.  But not in a term time way, which would make sense.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 17 March, 2022, 06:40:39 pm
First ice cream van here this afternoon.  I indulged 😋
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 17 March, 2022, 11:46:48 pm
A bumblebee
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 18 March, 2022, 02:13:59 am
No, they're definitely seasonal.  But not in a term time way, which would make sense.

We had the 'Yankee Doodle' van pass yesterday.
There seem to have been few vans this ear.

We usually get three of four distinct chimes from February half-term to Autumn half-term.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 18 March, 2022, 01:47:17 pm
This morning I hung the washing on the line, more symbolically than in anticipation of dryness. But there shall be freshness!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 18 March, 2022, 03:19:18 pm
Our 17-year-old solar panel is still heating the water tank very acceptably. Yesterday afternoon's sun was sufficient that the water temperature was more than I could stand when I showered in it later. I just checked: 47.8°C in the top of the tank, 44.6°C in the middle. Not bad at all for half-way through March!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: SteveC on 18 March, 2022, 03:27:32 pm
My watch told me there is twelve hours and two minutes between sunrise and sunset today.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Snakehips on 18 March, 2022, 03:42:36 pm
Last night we didn't have the CH on!  Today I cycled in shorts for the first time this year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 18 March, 2022, 05:51:07 pm
This morning I hung the washing on the line, more symbolically than in anticipation of dryness. But there shall be freshness!
And in fact only one item was not entirely dry.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: campagman on 18 March, 2022, 08:57:48 pm
A bumblebee
I saw an unusually large one in the greenhouse y'day, a queen? I was just leaving and nearly shut it in but couldn't, so guided it out safely. I also went out for my afternoon stroll wearing a T shirt.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 19 March, 2022, 03:14:46 pm
First chiffchaffs of the year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 19 March, 2022, 08:48:20 pm
First aspirated insect of the year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 22 March, 2022, 01:37:56 pm
Wasp in bathroom
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: woollypigs on 22 March, 2022, 03:21:57 pm
wasp up my sleeve
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 22 March, 2022, 07:26:55 pm
There's a chiffchaff who inhabits the last small tree on the common before you get to the woods.  I've heard it every time I've walked into the station, but today it was obviously getting a bit more desparate as, instead of hopping half-concealed around the upper twigs, it  was singing its heart out in full view.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 23 March, 2022, 10:57:26 am
First sighting of a bluebell in flower today.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: JellyLegs on 23 March, 2022, 02:24:29 pm
A peacock butterfly fluttering across the garden.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 23 March, 2022, 03:15:30 pm
A peacock butterfly fluttering across the garden.

Same here - was surprised to see one so early. 
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 23 March, 2022, 04:10:45 pm
First bug-splat of the year on the windscreen.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: De Sisti on 23 March, 2022, 05:43:37 pm
Ants on the garden patio.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 23 March, 2022, 05:46:05 pm
3 butterflies today, didn't see which flavour though.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pcolbeck on 23 March, 2022, 06:12:03 pm
Bees drinking from the bird bath.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 23 March, 2022, 07:23:17 pm
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/kdaVAb6Qqr23ympD8ci6O6Za2IHWqtD44OudHhJnw7kFF2CPZe6WoUyC7jGFXaW5jadBWzRjlBHn5rhMVo_4gJ4VOKKKBrCFIZjmKw_rGT7173VSsuWnEFzGIU-kp10X0ZxeOoLieNg=w2400)

Many thousands of newly-hatched tadpoles in the park.

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/iOAJdeze0FqCe20gkQzgdXvGNFAtvsML7D4z4f3GF_0As2LYD29geqDGQ4xJ3PWGhIlzCY-Y5DD7Ifsk5-6u1KRbfv16tiMwu-EF1xUoIlgsP1vSlqtbTVkj7tDLhgyZBqLnNfTyzqM=w2400)

Slow worm in my good pal Penelope's garden yesterday. The temperature reached 18°C.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: lissotriton on 23 March, 2022, 07:25:44 pm
A few bats out this evening.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 23 March, 2022, 07:43:05 pm
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/kdaVAb6Qqr23ympD8ci6O6Za2IHWqtD44OudHhJnw7kFF2CPZe6WoUyC7jGFXaW5jadBWzRjlBHn5rhMVo_4gJ4VOKKKBrCFIZjmKw_rGT7173VSsuWnEFzGIU-kp10X0ZxeOoLieNg=w2400)

How artful of them to form the silhouette of a man with pointy nose and goatee.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 24 March, 2022, 11:43:59 pm
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/kdaVAb6Qqr23ympD8ci6O6Za2IHWqtD44OudHhJnw7kFF2CPZe6WoUyC7jGFXaW5jadBWzRjlBHn5rhMVo_4gJ4VOKKKBrCFIZjmKw_rGT7173VSsuWnEFzGIU-kp10X0ZxeOoLieNg=w2400)

How artful of them to form the silhouette of a man with pointy nose and goatee.
Looks a bit like that Polish chap, Tadeusz...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 02 April, 2022, 02:36:44 pm
The sweep rolled up for his twice-yearly go at our chimneys: in spring to clean out the soot, in autumn in case any birds have moved in.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 02 April, 2022, 03:18:40 pm
This morning we had our third air frost of the "winter": -0.4°C at 6.21am.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Canardly on 03 April, 2022, 12:56:17 pm
Those Greenfinches can't half pack away the sunflower hearts, and they work in pairs!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 03 April, 2022, 09:42:48 pm
This morning we had our third air frost of the "winter": -0.4°C at 6.21am.

And today the fourth. -0.7°C.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rr on 03 April, 2022, 10:04:44 pm
Saw a duckling today.

Sent from my motorola edge 20 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 04 April, 2022, 08:19:52 am
-5°C at 7 am this morning.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 04 April, 2022, 07:45:24 pm
Isn't that a sign of winter 🤔  ;)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 04 April, 2022, 08:21:44 pm
Isn't that a sign of winter 🤔  ;)

Blackthorn winter!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 06 April, 2022, 05:14:09 pm
Still not many birds on our feeders and the light was rubbish, but we had some prospective lodgers round for a viewing
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51986631138_2d7b0484ea.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ncT5fw)IMG_9828_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2ncT5fw) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 06 April, 2022, 08:37:43 pm
Bluebells in Daneshill Wood.  Also Wood anenome and Lesser Stitchwort
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 23 April, 2022, 04:04:58 pm
Hawthorn (R) is in full blossom.
Do I wait until Hawthorn (L) blossoms to cast my clouts?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Canardly on 23 April, 2022, 04:09:34 pm
I thought t'was till May is out.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 23 April, 2022, 04:15:17 pm
'May' refers to hawthorn (may) blossom, not the month, to the best of my knowledge.

My hawthorns do not blossom simultaneously, nor do my apple trees.

I think the adage refers to blossom, which would show earlier in gentle climes...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 23 April, 2022, 04:35:22 pm
'May' refers to hawthorn (may) blossom, not the month, to the best of my knowledge.

My hawthorns do not blossom simultaneously, nor do my apple trees.

I think the adage refers to blossom, which would show earlier in gentle climes...

I concur.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 03 May, 2022, 10:48:49 pm
Hawthorn (R) is in full blossom.
Do I wait until Hawthorn (L) blossoms to cast my clouts?

Hawthorn (L) is now blossoming.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 04 May, 2022, 08:25:13 am
'May' refers to hawthorn (may) blossom, not the month, to the best of my knowledge.

In France it's "en avril, n'ôte pas un fil ; en mai, fais ce qu'il te plaît" so nowt to do with hawthorn.  In Norn Iron the hawthorn will be blooming all over but you'll still need a windproof jacket and a sweater in July. DAHIKT.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 04 May, 2022, 03:49:03 pm
'May' refers to hawthorn (may) blossom, not the month, to the best of my knowledge.

In France it's "en avril, n'ôte pas un fil ; en mai, fais ce qu'il te plaît" so nowt to do with hawthorn.  In Norn Iron the hawthorn will be blooming all over but you'll still need a windproof jacket and a sweater in July. DAHIKT.

LEL threads here and elsewhere seek clothing advice for riders. I can only advise a range of 0-30C and sun/rain/mist should be anticipated in early August and riders should have appropriate clothing.

Hawthorn (L) seems to consistently be a fortnight behind Hawthorn (R).
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 21 December, 2022, 12:40:35 pm
Catkins out. Must have been on the tree for a while but I've just noticed them. It's winter solstice. But it's spring.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 21 December, 2022, 12:43:16 pm
Daff shoots beginning to show.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Jurek on 21 December, 2022, 10:41:04 pm
There's a tree around the corner from me with blossom on it.
Actually, I spotted it last week.
When it was -5°C.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: woollypigs on 22 December, 2022, 09:43:25 pm
Here we have a flurry of midge, which is mad after nearly two weeks where the temp peaked at 1c for a few hours for a day or two and dropped -8c a few times.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 29 December, 2022, 10:06:31 am
The last couple of days, around 6am, there have been the first stirrings of the dawn chorus from the hedge opposite the house.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 29 December, 2022, 11:05:39 am
The last couple of days, around 6am, there have been the first stirrings of the dawn chorus from the hedge opposite the house.

Yes, I've noticed that I can now hear birdies again well before sunrise.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: SteveC on 01 January, 2023, 07:13:49 pm
An ice-cream van has just driven down our road. It is raining and the feels like temperature is 6º.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 05 January, 2023, 07:35:47 am
The odd dandelion in our garden and the crocuses coming up.  And the bloke over the road has finally taken down his 100-bulb* flashy LED Christmas lights.  Next thing will be the wasps waking up in the nest they built in our eaves last year. :(

* ish
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 05 January, 2023, 02:46:24 pm
The odd dandelion in our garden and the crocuses coming up.  And the bloke over the road has finally taken down his 100-bulb* flashy LED Christmas lights.  Next thing will be the wasps waking up in the nest they built in our eaves last year. :(

* ish

D had a wasp in the bathroom yesterday.

I suspect there's been a wasps' nest in the loft since I've been here. I think Giraffe got stung at one point.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 05 January, 2023, 03:04:35 pm
The odd dandelion in our garden and the crocuses coming up.  And the bloke over the road has finally taken down his 100-bulb* flashy LED Christmas lights.  Next thing will be the wasps waking up in the nest they built in our eaves last year. :(

* ish

D had a wasp in the bathroom yesterday.

I suspect there's been a wasps' nest in the loft since I've been here. I think Giraffe got stung at one point.

It'd be unusual to get a persistent wasps nest, the queen decamps each year for pastures new and the drones - who can only feed on nectar, of which there is none in the winter - die off.  Maybe you have a des res in wasp terms!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 03 February, 2023, 05:52:05 pm
Mirabelle plum tree is in full blossom today.
?Jam tomorrow?

Jam was good.
Didn't make much.
Finished ages ago,
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 03 February, 2023, 05:57:04 pm
First distant ice cream chime - quite late
Multiple trees in blossom seen from cab en route to dentist
Daffs in our garden are open
Grass is grizz.

I thought I heard an ice cream van earlier this week.
I definitely heard one this evening.
February has only just started.
Gardeners mowed lawn this afternoon.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 03 February, 2023, 06:09:06 pm
There was a blue tit in the holly tree this morning, making irritating blue tit noises.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: SteveC on 03 February, 2023, 06:23:44 pm
First distant ice cream chime - quite late
Multiple trees in blossom seen from cab en route to dentist
Daffs in our garden are open
Grass is grizz.

I thought I heard an ice cream van earlier this week.
I definitely heard one this evening.
We had an ice cream van down the road, chimes going, on New Year's Day.
We think it must be a regular order as we only hear it on Sunday evenings.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 February, 2023, 06:29:23 pm
Definitely a "softness" in the air the last few days. I don't know quite what produces this quality; it's not temperature, maybe it's a combination of temperature, humidity, air pressure...  ???
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 04 February, 2023, 01:09:09 pm
I took a cloud of ?midges in the face while cycling yesterday.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 04 February, 2023, 02:13:10 pm
On todays ride: hunners of buzzards, a handful of red kites, some geese, a couple of deer, a jay and the first larks of the year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: phantasmagoriana on 04 February, 2023, 06:20:21 pm
Definitely a "softness" in the air the last few days. I don't know quite what produces this quality; it's not temperature, maybe it's a combination of temperature, humidity, air pressure...  ???

I've always felt the air changes somehow in spring and autumn - generally around early March and early September, though in recent years it seems to have crept slightly earlier. No idea what it is, but I notice it (though it's not yet happened this year around here).
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 07 February, 2023, 02:46:02 pm
Well and truly underway. Aconites, Thomasinias and Crocuses, Sarcacocca smelling wonderful, even a couple of the frost-lasted Daphe's flowers are opening. Loads of bulbs coming up, and a few leaves coming on the roses.

ETA - yesterday..

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52699780596_3be26a7051_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ohU9JQ)Spring (https://flic.kr/p/2ohU9JQ) by Richard Fletcher (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156993878@N08/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: andrew_s on 20 February, 2023, 10:54:23 pm
First wild daffs of the year on Saturday. 5 days earlier than last year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 21 February, 2023, 12:02:01 am
Spotted a solitary daff in full bloom on a random bit of verge earlier.  I've seen plenty of others in more usual places, but those ones still have a bit of work to do.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 21 February, 2023, 07:47:16 am
The usual carpet of crocuses in front of my workshop and Arcturus peeking over the neighbour's roof when I closed the shutters last night.

But on 21st Feb 2021 we had bees as well.  Not yet this year.

OTOH we have got the usual temperature swings from Softshell jacket & winter tights at 8 am to sweltering in 13°C after lunch.

Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: graculus on 21 February, 2023, 11:11:21 am
The frogs were in fine voice a few nights ago and there was spawn in our pond this morning.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 21 February, 2023, 11:20:24 am
The frogs were in fine voice a few nights ago and there was spawn in our pond this morning.

How far south are you?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: graculus on 21 February, 2023, 11:39:20 am
The frogs were in fine voice a few nights ago and there was spawn in our pond this morning.

How far south are you?
Wolverhampton, so 52 deg 35 min North according to Wikipedia
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 21 February, 2023, 11:47:04 am
We should be getting hot frog action up here soon then. I've got pictures of frogs in a neighbour's pond dated 24th Feb 2021.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 21 February, 2023, 04:39:13 pm
https://freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/projects/pondnet/pondnet-spawn-survey-2023/?fbclid=IwAR0xJeRgk8OnLpNd_0gsqLcrvCfIpgRQR7XE2M_5HMHANAr1sYUQ1QtjSxQ

You can report your sightings and get them put on a map... (Which as far as I can see they post on twitter and Facebook when they update it)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 21 February, 2023, 05:05:42 pm
My brother posted a picture of copulating frogs last Friday, 17th.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 21 February, 2023, 06:07:58 pm
My friend ib Kingston on Thames has Facebooked much spawn in the last few days.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 21 February, 2023, 06:29:08 pm
But on 21st Feb 2021 we had bees as well.  Not yet this year.

Two sightings of honey bees in our garden today.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 24 February, 2023, 09:09:08 am
Cat sick on the kitchen floor. As she's a short hair that means she's in spring moult  ;D.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 24 February, 2023, 03:00:04 pm
MrsT telling me "Of course there are bees on the crocuses!"
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 26 February, 2023, 08:22:24 pm
Crocuses are quite a good source of early pollen.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: andrew_s on 26 February, 2023, 11:51:01 pm
First primroses out today
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 27 February, 2023, 08:30:50 am
Strong NE wind & bloody cold out.  Smell of slurry on the wind. Leaves have sprung out all over our willow in the last three days.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 27 February, 2023, 11:37:42 am
Plum and May blossom just breaking. Wild garlic coming up. Great tits making terratorial noises. Sleet.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 27 February, 2023, 01:09:53 pm
Right enough, we had a flurry of snow yesterday & I had a bit of hail on my Saturday ride.  Think I'll go back to bed.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Flite on 27 February, 2023, 02:34:48 pm
Hedgehogs out of hibernation and eating well
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Nuncio on 27 February, 2023, 05:49:20 pm
Lambs!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 27 February, 2023, 08:14:57 pm
One of next door's fruit trees is starting to blossom.
All of mine are yet to bloom. I think my mirabelle is usually early but hasn't had much water recently.
Suspect house next door retains more rain.

More ice cream chimes at the weekend...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 04 March, 2023, 03:59:57 pm
First picking of wild garlic leaves to garnish my lunchtime soup. Along with a few chives.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 04 March, 2023, 04:36:59 pm
We won't see wild garlic for weeks yet. All I've got are some snowdrops which are creeping under the fence from next door and the Spanish bluebells are popping up. And a little bit of mint has just begun to return after I hacked it all back due to powdery mildew  last year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: pcolbeck on 05 March, 2023, 05:31:02 pm
Daffodils are just starting to flower here.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 05 March, 2023, 10:16:17 pm
Mirabelle is starting to blossom.
Saw two green woodpeckers in the tree today.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 10 March, 2023, 09:18:27 am
The first of my sweetpea seeds is showing.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Jurek on 12 March, 2023, 12:20:06 pm
Magnolia has started to pop out around here.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 12 March, 2023, 12:48:01 pm
Magnolia has started to pop out around here.

Bloody landlords.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Jurek on 12 March, 2023, 01:04:19 pm
Magnolia has started to pop out around here.

Bloody landlords.
This one's at the pink/magenta end of the spectrum.
So probably not attributable to a landlord.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 12 March, 2023, 01:36:45 pm
Magnolia has started to pop out around here.

Omar time:

And lo! A thousand petals with the day
Woke, and a thousand scattered into clay
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 12 March, 2023, 03:45:59 pm
We won't see wild garlic for weeks yet. All I've got are some snowdrops which are creeping under the fence from next door and the Spanish bluebells are popping up. And a little bit of mint has just begun to return after I hacked it all back due to powdery mildew  last year.

Cleaned out the pond as the flag irises were starting to shoot through the grill that keeps the herons off the fish.  The water mint was shooting everywhere and I had to do my usual job of confining it to the small part of the pond where it belongs.  The car always smells nice after that, when I take the green waste to the tip. 
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 15 March, 2023, 10:20:07 am
Cherry blossom out on the trees in the next village. Just flowering cherry, though, not proper ones.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 15 March, 2023, 10:39:44 am
Magnolia has started to pop out around here.

Omar time:

And lo! A thousand petals with the day
Woke, and a thousand scattered into clay

12th-century, aubergine eating, Persian polymath wokerati!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 15 March, 2023, 02:06:59 pm
Magnolia has started to pop out around here.

Omar time:

And lo! A thousand petals with the day
Woke, and a thousand scattered into clay

12th-century, aubergine eating, Persian polymath wokerati!

And piss-artist. Mustn't forget that.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 17 March, 2023, 10:52:33 am
People out walking in winter coats, woolly hats & scarves in 15°C.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 17 March, 2023, 10:56:39 am
Blackbirds singing Barbie Girl yesterday evening.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: PaulR on 17 March, 2023, 02:02:42 pm
Blackbirds singing Barbie Girl yesterday evening.
Ah, I thought that it was just South East London blackbirds that sang that tune!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 17 March, 2023, 02:20:29 pm
Butterflies!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 17 March, 2023, 02:21:37 pm
Blackbirds singing Barbie Girl yesterday evening.
Ah, I thought that it was just South East London blackbirds that sang that tune!

In this neck of paradise it's Barbie Wire.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 17 March, 2023, 05:35:03 pm
Lambs!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 18 March, 2023, 11:30:44 am
Me, working in the garden yesterday afternoon, without a jumper for the first time since about October.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 18 March, 2023, 01:26:08 pm
I have also just been out there in a t-shirt, but I was scraping paint off a handrail and getting quite sweaty.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: RobertW on 18 March, 2023, 02:25:54 pm
Female Brimstone feeding on Pulmonaria in the sunshine in my garden at lunchtime.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 18 March, 2023, 09:38:17 pm
Walkerd round the park today but didn't hear any blackbirds. This is worrying. Normally there are quite a few. Is there a national decline?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: JellyLegs on 18 March, 2023, 10:50:58 pm
What for 15 years I swore was an almond tree (until my daughter shinned up it and produced a small, very sour, plum like fruit to shut me up) in the back garden is now in full, deep pink, blossom.  Daffodils are out, at least the earlier clumps.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 18 March, 2023, 10:55:49 pm
https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-an-almond-tree/

I'm not 100% sure that an almond fruit wouldn't taste like a sour plum. They are both prunus. If you take a plum stone ad crack it open, the kernel is edible and not entirely unlike an almond. It's usually just smaller.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 18 March, 2023, 11:49:27 pm
I think almond fruit flesh is only a very scanty, thin layer outside the large stone nut.

Plum, peach and apricot kernels are indeed almond-like and I think apricot kernels can be used as cheap bitter almond flavouring.

I've hear rumours about cyanide content though...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Andy W on 19 March, 2023, 06:19:00 am
Our pond teeming with newts. 4 of 6 birdboxes i i made last year appear to be occupied by both Great tits and Blue tits. Crocuses and Daffodils in peak display along the garden borders. Dawn chorus starting around 5.45, and BTW, plenty of blackbirds.
From a cycling perspective, the rural lanes in North Herts are nicely potholed after winter rain and ice, and im feeling smug that my Genesis is shod with 40mm tyres.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: JellyLegs on 19 March, 2023, 10:21:21 am
Thanks Wow and Hellie.  On reading the linked article and doing a bit more digging through gardening books, I am tending to agree with my daughter that it isn’t an almond.  It was there when we bought the house in 2003, and I think my original belief it was almond stems back to what we were told when we looked round.  That bit of the garden was badly overcrowded with unkempt trees.  I had to remove about 20 just to allow the boundary fence to be reinstated as they had pushed it over.  The previous owners weren’t here long so it’s likely it predated them and they may have misidentified it themselves.

It is early to blossom but on closer inspection the blossom flowers don’t look quite right.  It very rarely produces any fruits.  That isn’t surprising because it’s planted in totally the wrong place, up against a north facing fence in part of the garden that is exposed to cold northerlies whipping in across the adjacent fields.  The couple of fruits I have seen appear more ornamental plum than almond although I have once found what looked to be an almond on the ground at the base of the tree, but that could have been dragged in from anywhere by the local jackdaws.

Whatever it is, it looks beautiful at the moment.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 19 March, 2023, 01:54:56 pm
It’ll be a plum. We have loads around here that were grown for the express purpose of dyeing the straw that was grown and plaited locally for hats that were made in Luton. Bitter and inedible.

Another non-garden related sign of spring, my wife agreeing to reduce out duvet tog rating from 13 to 9.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 19 March, 2023, 04:30:46 pm
Randy storks clapping their beaks all over the place yesterday.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 19 March, 2023, 04:49:57 pm
Randy storks clapping their beaks all over the place yesterday.
Cool!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 19 March, 2023, 05:52:47 pm
Blackthorn out.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 19 March, 2023, 08:44:52 pm
Blackthorn out.

Blackthorn out! Blackthorn Blackthorn Blackthorn! Out Out Out!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 20 March, 2023, 10:07:42 pm
The sun has crossed the equator. It's officially summer. Or something.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 21 March, 2023, 07:47:28 am
If it's in a small boat it had better watch out.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Flite on 21 March, 2023, 09:20:29 am
Not garden or wildlife, but I took the pogies off the MTB at the w/e.

In the garden, the bumblebees are on the pulmonarias this morning.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 21 March, 2023, 09:41:03 am
Blackthorn out.

Blackthorn out! Blackthorn Blackthorn Blackthorn! Out Out Out!
The directors of Springtime Untied FC have announced the resignation of Harry Blackthorn as manager. He will be replaced by Barry Hawthorn in time for next Saturday's home match against Winter City, in which Springtime will be hoping to avenge their 3-1 defeat earlier in the season.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 23 March, 2023, 12:09:08 pm
On Tuesday, the first topless man of the year in the city centre. He might be excused on grounds of being a sk8r dwod. And a second, one of a bunch of studes hanging out in their gardenlet, this morning.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 27 March, 2023, 05:18:53 pm
Heard the first chiffchaffs of the year on today's walk.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 27 March, 2023, 06:30:01 pm
(https://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/fridges_of_selly_oak/2023_03_27_18_27_05.sized.jpg)

Technically, a mobile Fridge of Selly Oak...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 27 March, 2023, 06:34:27 pm
Did barakta excitedly skip out of the house?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 27 March, 2023, 06:38:53 pm
Thankfully not, given the current state of her balance (to say nothing of the lactose intolerence).  She did ask if the horrendous noise was an ice cream van.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: djmc on 28 March, 2023, 09:11:12 am
I went walking my dog beside the étang de Kerbernez (a pond just outside of Quimper) yesterday. it was warm and sunny and I saw three terrapins? sunbathing on a log lying the water. I have seen them before but not three at the same time or this time of year. I don't think they are a native species here so presumably they were bought as childrens' pets and released outdoors when the got too big / the kids lost interest. All three were about 30cm long perhaps 20 wide. They must have been hibernating for winter so it is now officially (for reptiles) summer.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 07 April, 2023, 10:50:36 am
“Beechgrove” is back on the telly.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Flite on 07 April, 2023, 01:33:33 pm
Quote
“Beechgrove” is back on the telly.
And Landward!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 09 April, 2023, 08:53:17 am
Our area is on red alert for three species of pollen.  One of them got me yesterday and I spent the last 3 hours of my ride blowing and sniffing.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 09 April, 2023, 06:02:46 pm
Bluebells in Slough trading estate this morning  :o :). Also 2 red admiral butterflies.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 12 April, 2023, 09:43:56 am
Bluebells in Slough trading estate this morning  :o :). Also 2 red admiral butterflies.

We have a (true) bluebell out in our garden too.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 12 April, 2023, 09:52:26 am
Blossom everywhere, inc. all over pavement thanks to wind & rain.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 16 April, 2023, 10:31:20 pm
First swallow of the year (up here - we saw house martins & swallows in February).
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Salvatore on 18 April, 2023, 02:04:33 pm
A big increase in the number of bluebells in The Bluebell Wood since Saturday.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 23 April, 2023, 10:33:54 am
MrsT heard a cuckoo on her walk this morning.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Flite on 23 April, 2023, 12:48:08 pm
First adder I've seen this year. Lovely male about 60cm long.
Just curled up basking, warming up enough to eat and get moving I hope.
Took no notice of me.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Auntie Helen on 23 April, 2023, 04:09:59 pm
Heard a cuckoo this morning on a walk along the Waal near Druten in NL
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 23 April, 2023, 07:27:24 pm
We are in rural Pembrokeshire. Lots of swallows and martins but I’m rather disappointed not to have herd a cwcw.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 29 November, 2023, 01:04:41 pm
Big buds are breaking on fig tree next door.
Edgware London 29 November 2023.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 02 December, 2023, 07:14:47 pm
Our local song thrush is starting to mark his territory.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 27 December, 2023, 12:01:18 pm
On the Thursday before Christmas, someone showed me a photo of a daffodil growing in their garden, take  that morning in one of the more exposed parts of Bristol (just off the Downs).
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 30 January, 2024, 05:09:23 pm
There is a blackbird singing at 5.10pm behind Chateau Wowbagger.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 30 January, 2024, 06:03:29 pm
Spotted my first celandine of the year today.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 31 January, 2024, 08:50:26 am
Spotted my first celandine of the year today.
(https://cdn.masto.host/tootwales/media_attachments/files/111/846/619/713/691/414/original/96244e8a2c728391.jpg)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 31 January, 2024, 02:11:42 pm
Anti-frog-migration netting strung along one side of the road in the forest near here. Rishi would be proud.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: rafletcher on 31 January, 2024, 08:53:55 pm
We have aconites, Thomasinias and snowdrops in flower.  And now we helibores and crocuses, plus the daphne. And the blackthorn is in blossom.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: hellymedic on 16 February, 2024, 04:17:26 pm
I’ve just heard the first dulcet chimes of a ice cream van.
It’s the last day of half-term, so I might have missed others.
Greensleeves...
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 16 February, 2024, 06:56:01 pm
Crocues and daffodils in hershall Park this afternoon

https://photos.app.goo.gl/sde4bgD5tvSUNfS48
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: graculus on 18 February, 2024, 03:14:43 pm
Frogspawn in our pond (Wolverhampton). Must have been very recent as it has not yet swollen to full size. They kept very quiet about it.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 18 February, 2024, 06:09:54 pm
In a park in Slough


https://photos.app.goo.gl/UeXpGa3SPjzjb8zh6
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: De Sisti on 18 February, 2024, 06:35:22 pm
Birdsong in and around my back garden this weekend (Sat/Sun, 17/18 Feb).
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 18 February, 2024, 06:36:10 pm
First larks and lambs of the year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: slowfen on 19 February, 2024, 07:10:14 am

Hedgehog out and about
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Tomsk on 19 February, 2024, 08:30:54 am
Yesterday: smooth newt in the back garden - very sluggish though. Squashed frog out on an Essex lane. Also first icecream van in the Recreation Ground over the road, which always sets next-door's dogs off howling!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 19 February, 2024, 12:22:22 pm
Quite a bit of hawthorn, or maybe it's blackthorn, in blossom. And shedding already!
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 19 February, 2024, 01:26:38 pm
Quite a bit of hawthorn, or maybe it's blackthorn, in blossom. And shedding already!

It will be blackthorn this early. There's a reason hawthorn is also known as the may tree.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Flite on 19 February, 2024, 05:04:21 pm
Blackthorn flowers before the leaves come out.
Hawthorn leaves come out before the flowers.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 19 February, 2024, 06:31:47 pm
Definitely more morning birdsong..I  haven't seen any sign of nesting yet but it currently feels very spring like so some birdis may be fooled
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Jurek on 25 February, 2024, 12:07:44 pm
Magnolia is flowering in the garden of a house in my road.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: cycleman on 25 February, 2024, 07:32:55 pm
Cherry trees in blossom locally  :)
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: JellyLegs on 25 February, 2024, 08:21:09 pm
The ornamental plum in the sheltered part of the back garden is coming in to blossom.  That’s at least a month earlier than usual.  A couple of daffodils now in bloom along with snowdrops.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 17 March, 2024, 05:02:21 pm
First chiffchaff of the year.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Basil on 17 March, 2024, 05:11:13 pm
Just spotted the first bluebells in full bloom.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Kim on 18 March, 2024, 12:04:24 am
Midge bites?!?
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 18 March, 2024, 07:53:59 am
Our "lawn" is getting tall enough to hide the violets.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Pingu on 18 March, 2024, 06:00:45 pm
Amorous amphibians.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53596253200_33247456aa_z.jpg)
 (https://flic.kr/p/2pE7NP3)IMG_5602_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2pE7NP3) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: JefO on 20 March, 2024, 07:49:19 pm
First Brimstone Butterfly of the year for me today.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: Wowbagger on 24 March, 2024, 10:31:49 pm
Two reports in Essex today of swallows. One in Frinton, the other Langham, both N. Essex. I've not seen one.
Title: Re: Signs of Spring
Post by: T42 on 25 March, 2024, 08:25:40 am
Last week was balmy with a real temperature rise that brought the bumble-bees out in force, so this week we're down to 2°C overnight with dead bees here & there.