Black-headed gulls living up to their name.Except they don't do they ? They should be called chocolate-headed gulls :)
Daffs starting to appear next to the canal in Harrison Park, not flowering yet. Give them another week I reckon...
(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.
(http://www.ivytodd.com/images/msg3.jpg)
crocuses are out. :thumbsup:
(saved Reg the effort) ;)
A Butterfly this morning ;)
Underneath our bird feeder spilled seed is starting to sprout.
First daffodils in bloom today.
First daffodils in bloom today.
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
Me cycling in shorts. If this keeps up I'll have to switch to sandals soon. :thumbsup:
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. :-\
Curlews :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: I think they are great.
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.
But, but, but... ???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 :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
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
The slackliners and drummers are back in action on the Meadows during my homeward commute ...
the woodpecker hammered, and I grinned like a loon.
On a tree, you daft erbert! ::-) ;)
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).
Never mind Spring, Summer has arrived in Aberdeen:When that view was first posted, the camera was covered in rain......
(http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/web/images/webcam/harbour_00001.jpg)
::-)
Mossie on my widow :PI didn't know you were dead :o
I heard a cuckoo this morning.
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?
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?
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 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.
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.Yes yacf is very green :)
Daffs'll be out soon then.
But it didn't start - it was just recycled!
We have purple crocuses in the park. Haven't noticed any yellow ones yet.
Saw my first snowdrops of the year on the second of February on Lullington village green :)
Our grass needs mowing.She'll get her own back in late summer and autumn, though. :)
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.
Saw our first lambs of the year today, East Lothian. No daffs yet but lots of snowdrops and one dandelion.
Saw our first lambs of the year today, East Lothian. No daffs yet but lots of snowdrops and one dandelion.
A Satanic Spring Rite??
There were Daffs in flower as I came past Wisley yesterday.Daffs starting here too - proper wild ones, not escaped garden ones
Now I look like my picture again.
Tons of blossom out already down here. Lovely.(http://dez.yacf.net/20110319-Spring/Spring1.jpg) (http://dez.yacf.net/20110319-Spring/Spring1.jpg)
A bumble bee :)(http://dez.yacf.net/20110319-Spring/Spring4.jpg) (http://dez.yacf.net/20110319-Spring/Spring4.jpg)
King cups in flower.
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?
A mozzie in the meeting room last night.
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 am sitting in the garden. Either I am hallucinating or #2 son is cutting the grass.
Wow.
Without being asked.
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...
Orange tip and holly blue today. And a mozzie in the shed.
The first housemartins have appeared. Seems very early this year.
Saw ... a male flashing his bum trying to attract a female... :thumbsup:Outside the pub at chucking-out time?
Put this in seen today, but should have been here: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 :).
a tadpole.
Well, they won't if they are in a jam jar.Is that true for all values of jam-jar? ;)
Quite a few disappeared, presumably gobbled by their sibs.
A crocus in a border at Hebden Bridge (while it snowed) today!
Our great spotted woodpecker is back
Frogs are out here, hopping round the streets and getting themselves squashed.
Its motorists driven to kermit murder :facepalm: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 :(
Is that why you call yourself JayP?Its motorists driven to kermit murder :facepalm: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 :(
If it was drumming, it was a GSW.
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.
Some may blossom in cambridgeshire
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.
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.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.
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 could be mistaken but I thought I saw some may blossom this morning.I thought I saw some here. Apple too.
d.
That reminds me, there was a migrating toad roadsign on yesterday's ride, somewhere around Clapton.
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.
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?
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.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 .
Cat brought in a sign of spring:
(admin note: image is a bit gross)(click to show/hide)
Cowslips on the railway banks :).
Butterflies, bumble bees and several thousand midges were spotted (and in a couple of unfortunate cases, swallowed) on our pootle this afternoon...
Spring ! I'm still waiting forFTFYthis year'ssummer ??
The birds are begining to give it "tweet" at dawn.
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!
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?
The birds are begining to give it "tweet" at dawn.
There's a hawthorn near us which is in flower already!
You can cast your clouts, the may is out.
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.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.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.
As in sloe gin? I shall let you know in the autumn!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.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.
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.
I saw three riders in shorts yesterday!Only three?
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.
It must be spring. The teenage boys are loud and lairy.
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.
Tutbury/Hatton not Warwickshire Hatton, I take it? Nice part of the world...
Tutbury/Hatton not Warwickshire Hatton, I take it? Nice part of the world...
Squashed toads on the road to school.
Of course not - they're far too fast for me.Squashed toads on the road to school.
Did you?
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
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.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.
I suspect Simon will refuse to walk him wearing it ;D
I have just ordered him a knitted argyle jumper from Amazon
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
Sudden death allergy attack? Marvellous...
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 :-\
Just heard an ice cream van...
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?
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.
Ducklings in the village.Why did I read that as duckings, & have a sudden vision of revived ancient practices?
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.
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”.
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.
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.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 .
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.
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.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.
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.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.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.
First cuckoo. Down on the marshes yesterday.Where's the smiley for envious ;) .
DUCKLINGS!
(Spotted on the canal near Bournville station)
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).
DUCKLINGS!
(Spotted on the canal near Bournville station)
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.
I saw them this morning1, except they were goslings, not ducklings.
What? Basil cycling on the tow path? With no-one holding a gun to his head?
A magpie shifting nesting material today.
A skylark in Feb? Wow.
Did anyone else hear the chaffinch on R4's Tweet Of The Day this morning?Yes :) .
A feel good sound if ever there was one. :D
CROCUS! :thumbsup:
... No sign of any frogspawn in the place it normally turns up.
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!
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.
Signs of frog carnage on the roads yesterday. I think that's very early, isn't it?
I met some frog, toad and newt searchers on Wednesday evening, they said it was still a bit cold for them.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.
Hedge strimming in part of the playground this morning.
"The smell of two-stroke, the smell of summer."
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!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.
I suppose this means I'm going to have to start thinking about cetirizine at some point.
"Hey ho!" said Roly.
"Hey ho!" said Roly.
Bit of frog wooing going on?
"Hey ho!" said Roly.
Bit of frog wooing going on?
Frogs' porn a-plenty.
You must be further south or lower down than us as our daffs only started flowering at the weekend.
Daffodils in my garden are open.
Ice cream van chimes in the street.
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?
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?
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?
Wild garlic in full bloom/aroma :D :D
Cleeve Hill holds a lot of personal memories...
More importantly, the first definite hare* of the year, giving me a Look before bounding off across the field.Do hares hibernate? I think I've been seeing them all winter?
*There was a possible hare last week closer to home, but it was too far away for me to be certain.
More importantly, the first definite hare* of the year, giving me a Look before bounding off across the field.Do hares hibernate? I think I've been seeing them all winter?
*There was a possible hare last week closer to home, but it was too far away for me to be certain.
There are a lot round here though.
More importantly, the first definite hare* of the year, giving me a Look before bounding off across the field.Do hares hibernate? I think I've been seeing them all winter?
*There was a possible hare last week closer to home, but it was too far away for me to be certain.
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.
Two cyclists in shorts.
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.
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.
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.
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...
Asparagus for sale at the Spargelhof down the road
My allergies have kicked in.Think I beat you by a week on that one.
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.
Five little foxes gambolling around at the end of my garden for the last few days.
I have heard song thrushes singing in both Southend and Maidstone.
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.
I'm not convinced this is spring yet, more we've had a very long autumn.
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.I'm not convinced this is spring yet, more we've had a very long autumn.
are you thinking 2014 March ? April type Spring ??
Yeah, spring is just around the corner(click to show/hide)
Jane and I heard a skylark on Sunday while we were out.
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.
1 x Swallow near Builth Wells on Saturday was followed by several hours of heavy snow / hail storms (see Audax Elenydd reports !! )
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.
Today I am wearing shorts! Long Itchers be warned!
Heard my first swifts of the year this morning. :)
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.
I may, or may not, have mentioned this in connetion ith Helly's post above.Oak before ash, we'll have a splash!
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.
Yeah, it got so bad I had to resort to gloop (many thanks to Butterfly OTP), though a few hours later than strictly optimal.
I have been casting clouts left, right and centre!
I have been casting clouts left, right and centre!
I saw a small tree with pink flowers, cherry blossoms?
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.
Et voila!
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15401018_1724121214573747_4202749016703584000_n.jpg?oh=f0fe14c6bd146d01f430470b2b6c5653&oe=58C41DE5)
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 ?
African or European mussel shell?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.
Suburban trees in full white blossom. Don't know which, sorry!
Just seen a large bumble bee amongst the shrubs.One here as well.
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.
Flies.
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.
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'm calling it: Hayfever season is officially open.
Twittering from the trees seems much louder and more noticeable today.
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).
Time to get your tent out then Kim ;D
My lawn is beginning to grow again.
By bonsai cherry trees in blossom
Blackbird singing at 4.30 am, the silly bugger.
A patch of wild bluebells flowering on the roadside.
Seems early. They're usually a May thing around here.
What are these lawns of which people speak?
Primroses and bluebells are out.
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.
Question is, what's on my trouser leg?
Pollen.
The first wasp of the year in the house this morning :)
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/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
Oh, I also saw a pair of terns.Of course you saw them in a pair: one good tern deserves another.
No picture visible here, Wow.
'Sticky Buds' on the chestnut trees. :thumbsup:
Crocuses
I saw my first lambs of the year today. :D
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?
First ice cream van of the year!oohhh now where is my flip flops ?
First ice cream van of the year!
Someone was mowing their lawn the other day.
Mine gets mowed 2 or 3 times a year whether it needs it or not.
Someone was mowing their lawn the other day.
Mine gets mowed 2 or 3 times a year whether it needs it or not.
Skylark near Selby yesterday. Don't think I've heard one this early in the year before.
First aspirated midge of the year. >:(
First ice cream van of the year!
That IS early!
Ours will probably return in 2-3 weeks' time...
At Nieffern today::thumbsup:
(https://pbase.com/image/168839179.jpg)
We have storks all year round, but now they're nesting.
At Nieffern today:Congratulations, didn't know you were expecting - boy or girl ?
(https://pbase.com/image/168839179.jpg)
We have storks all year round, but now they're nesting.
Ours was round last night, about six.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.
At Nieffern today:Congratulations, didn't know you were expecting - boy or girl ?
(https://pbase.com/image/168839179.jpg)
We have storks all year round, but now they're nesting.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/22/naturalists-concerned-for-early-emerging-spring-species-in-uk
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'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.
Bloody hay fever. In February!
There seems to be a massive amount of catkins this year. Or perhaps I've never noticed them before.
Serenaded by singing ribbits in my neighbours pond this morning.
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.
Bloody hay fever. In February!
+1
...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...
...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
And the first picking of wild garlic leaves for tonight’s mash.
A brace of avian percussionists communicating.Presumably Greater?
There is a bluebottle buzzing round my kitchen.Splat!
You duhtty rotten swine! You dedded me!
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)
What's probably blackthorn at this time of year.I dare say.
What's probably blackthorn at this time of year.I dare say.
In a hedge, thorny, and no leaves to help with the ID
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.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.
First ice cream van of the year!
This year's crop of Japanese Knotweed has suddenly started to appear and is sprouting surprisingly quickly by the river. :(
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'.
A pair of swallows.
Grass appears greener, longer, thicker.This.
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....
Facebook friend in Kingston upon Thames posted photo frogspawn yesterday.
Six days later than mine this year!
I think yours beat mine last year!
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
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
12 geese flying south in classic formation this morning. Since then, many smaller groups either seen or heard throughout the day.
Perhaps a Sign of the End Times! (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=115084.0)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)
A bumble bee the size of a beluga whale has just bumped into my home office window.
(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)
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.
A few bluebells are out today :)
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 to that stage where I'm having to delayer when going outside and then relayer inside.
Shirtless men are back.
So far this year I've seen three shirtlessmen: two walking over Prince St Bridge and one sunbathing on a bench.Shirtless men are back.
With or without BSOs (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=29530.msg2462821#msg2462821)?
I failed to mention the St. George's Day cuckoos I heard and saw.
The house martins are back! First sighting this morning.They come in a caravan, all for love.
First swifts of the year :thumbsup:
Neighbour's pond heaving with croaking frogs.Great photo.
(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
Today, the year's first midge-in-nostril incident.
Neighbour's pond heaving with croaking frogs.Great photo.
(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
Are they croaking bud wei ser ;DIf they were, I think Mr. Pingu would have killed them.
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.
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?
His twin :) I could have quoted my mother. She probably taught it to Alfred and Albert.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.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... ;)
It will be Blackthorn rather than Hawthorn. May flowers in May.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.
Prior to which one must not cast a clout...It will be Blackthorn rather than Hawthorn. May flowers in May.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.
Prior to which one must not cast a clout...It will be Blackthorn rather than Hawthorn. May flowers in May.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.
Heard a cuckoo.
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.
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.
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
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.
The first snowdrops have flowered in Priory Park.
Seen today: two separate dogwalkers - both wearing shorts.
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.
Is it normal to be hearing woodpecker activity in late January?
The neighbours are putting in a swimming pool.
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.
Daffs are out here.Out here too (wild ones, not the garden varieties, which I don't count)
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.
2/3 of the Summer Triangle visible at 3 am.
2/3 of the Summer Triangle visible at 3 am.
Are we talking ...'bikini line'?
2/3 of the Summer Triangle visible at 3 am.
Are we talking ...'bikini line'?
First ice cream van of the year just chimed.Tardy. Haven't the students been back about two and a half months by now.
First ice cream van of the year just chimed.
No, they're definitely seasonal. But not in a term time way, which would make sense.
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.
A bumblebeeI 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.
A peacock butterfly fluttering across the garden.
(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...(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.
This morning we had our third air frost of the "winter": -0.4°C at 6.21am.
Isn't that a sign of winter 🤔 ;)
'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...
Hawthorn (R) is in full blossom.
Do I wait until Hawthorn (L) blossoms to cast my clouts?
'May' refers to hawthorn (may) blossom, not the month, to the best of my knowledge.
'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.
The last couple of days, around 6am, there have been the first stirrings of the dawn chorus from the hedge opposite the house.
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
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.
Mirabelle plum tree is in full blossom today.
?Jam tomorrow?
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.
We had an ice cream van down the road, chimes going, on New Year's Day.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.
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... ???
The frogs were in fine voice a few nights ago and there was spawn in our pond this morning.
Wolverhampton, so 52 deg 35 min North according to WikipediaThe frogs were in fine voice a few nights ago and there was spawn in our pond this morning.
How far south are you?
But on 21st Feb 2021 we had bees as well. Not yet this year.
Magnolia has started to pop out around here.
This one's at the pink/magenta end of the spectrum.Magnolia has started to pop out around here.
Bloody landlords.
Magnolia has started to pop out around here.
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.
12th-century, aubergine eating, Persian polymath wokerati!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!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
Blackbirds singing Barbie Girl yesterday evening.Ah, I thought that it was just South East London blackbirds that sang that tune!
Blackbirds singing Barbie Girl yesterday evening.Ah, I thought that it was just South East London blackbirds that sang that tune!
Randy storks clapping their beaks all over the place yesterday.Cool!
Blackthorn 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.Blackthorn out.
Blackthorn out! Blackthorn Blackthorn Blackthorn! Out Out Out!
“Beechgrove” is back on the telly.And Landward!
Bluebells in Slough trading estate this morning :o :). Also 2 red admiral butterflies.
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)
Quite a bit of hawthorn, or maybe it's blackthorn, in blossom. And shedding already!