Author Topic: Signs of Spring  (Read 208830 times)

Re: Signs of Spring
« Reply #350 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.

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: Signs of Spring
« Reply #351 on: 10 May, 2011, 07:23:25 pm »
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

Re: Signs of Spring
« Reply #352 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.

border-rider

Re: Signs of Spring
« Reply #353 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.

Wowbagger

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Re: Signs of Spring
« Reply #354 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.
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

Re: Signs of Spring
« Reply #355 on: 01 December, 2011, 11:40:55 am »
While cantering my horse along a bridleway at the weekend, I saw dandelions just coming through!



border-rider

Re: Signs of Spring
« Reply #356 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...

Re: Signs of Spring
« Reply #357 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...
Haggerty F, Haggerty R, Tomkins, Noble, Carrick, Robson, Crapper, Dewhurst, Macintyre, Treadmore, Davitt.

Cudzoziemiec

  • Ride adventurously and stop for a brew.
Re: Signs of Spring
« Reply #358 on: 02 December, 2011, 12:04:40 am »
Someone was telling me today she's got snowdrops in her garden.
Riding a concrete path through the nebulous and chaotic future.

Wowbagger

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Re: Signs of Spring
« Reply #359 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.
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

Re: Signs of Spring
« Reply #360 on: 09 December, 2011, 06:47:33 pm »
A crocus in a border at Hebden Bridge (while it snowed) today!

Basil

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Re: Signs of Spring
« Reply #361 on: 29 December, 2011, 05:25:30 pm »
Photo taken 25th December 2011



Bit of a difference from last year.

Admission.  I'm actually not that fussed about cake.

Wowbagger

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Re: Signs of Spring
« Reply #362 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.
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

Wowbagger

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Re: Signs of Spring
« Reply #363 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.
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

Chris S

Re: Signs of Spring
« Reply #364 on: 18 January, 2012, 11:28:23 am »
There was a lot of birdsong in the sunny (but frosty) Suffolk lanes yesterday.

Re: Signs of Spring
« Reply #365 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.

LindaG

Re: Signs of Spring
« Reply #366 on: 24 January, 2012, 08:39:49 am »
Crinklylion, on a train, transporting CAIK mad distances for her fellow cyclists.

Wowbagger

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Re: Signs of Spring
« Reply #367 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.
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

Wowbagger

  • Former Sylph
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Re: Signs of Spring
« Reply #368 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.
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

Chris S

Re: Signs of Spring
« Reply #369 on: 23 February, 2012, 11:46:52 am »
Just been outside. It's gorgeous!

Re: Signs of Spring
« Reply #370 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.

Kim

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Re: Signs of Spring
« Reply #371 on: 23 February, 2012, 09:04:43 pm »
Women!  Sane-looking ones!  On bicycles!  In Birmingham!

Re: Signs of Spring
« Reply #372 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.

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: Signs of Spring
« Reply #373 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.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

citoyen

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Signs of Spring
« Reply #374 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.
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."