Springwatch 2014

[Ken L]

The catkins have been out since the turn of the year but I've just ridden through the local woods and the wild snowdrops are up and in flower. We may be still waiting for the first propper bite of winter but sping is springing.

[chesters1]

Chap up the roads daffodils are halfway up ,but they generally are this time of the year

[poledark]

Last week, alternate wet and windy days, I put up a new fence. Had to remove lots of undergrowth to get old fencing away. On the thursday a Peacock butterfly appeared, I assumed I had maybe disturbed it from hibernation.

 

Today, went for a walk to Crundale, fabulous views, one of our favourite walks, especially coming back down About midday, sat in conservatory, bright sun, admiring my new fence and spotted this butterfly down the garden on a viburnham bush. Went to get a closer look and it was a large (probably male) Red Admiral. Called wife to come and see while I rushed in for camera. Too late, the RA had flown.

 

Back in conservatory and another butterfly appeared, not the RA, but a pristine Peacock! Got a fine closeup of him sunning himself on the window ledge.

 

So, off down the garden hoping RA would come back..he didn't, but the viburnham was smothered in at least 4 different kinds of Bees!

 

 

Our "early" dafs are well up showing just a tiny bit of yellow on the tips of the buds.

 

Robin has been singing his little head off right up into dusk, all in all, a very pleasant day

 

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/MGQaYoucF_mHYVsztXCf2S0T8ic0WphjnLmb3VYQdw=w460-h259-p-no

 

Den

Edited January 19, 2014 by poledark

[Ken L]

A month on and the crocus are in flower and the skylarks are in full voice but the only daffs out are the little rockery ones.

Not seen any frog activity yey but we don't seen to have many around here yet so I might simply have missed them.

[ayjay]

Not seen any frog activity yey but we don't seen to have many around here yet so I might simply have missed them.

I noticed frogspawn in my pond yesterday, not sure how long it's been there (haven't been up there much the last few days).

[Ken L]

Tomorrow will be 4.00 minutes longer than today.

We're getting closer to the Spring equinox and the days are rapidly lengthening.

Looking out across the valey from my lounge window, I can see the weeping willows around the pool starting to green up and despite todays wind, it's actually starting to feel like spring with a tenperature of better than 11 degrees.

[Steve Burke]

Down here in East Kent the elders are already in leaf. The flowering current in our garden is in flower, as are masses of blackthorns along our lane.

 

The sooner the leaves come on the trees the better as that's what'll do most to lower water levels.

 

And still 5 weeks to go before the clocks go forward!

[Vagabond]

Despite the wind and rain, our local wildlife has perceived this as a warm winter.

 

The woodlarks, which usually forsake the High Weald for lower terrain, have stayed up on Ashdown Forest this winter - one was singing at ground level in January and this last week they have appeared on their usual tree perches.

 

The first stonechats have come up from the coast, the woodpeckers are flying in pairs, and the winter thrushes seem to have gone.

 

Obviously time to send off for my new season's salmon licence !

[Ken L]

No Blackthorn or wild plum (we have loads of wild plums) in flower up here yet so Y reckon I'll miss them this year because I'm off on my hollidays on Tuesday.

 

Is it worth a salmon licence? I would have thought most of them would have gone straight through on the high rivers by now.

[Vagabond]

 

Is it worth a salmon licence?

 

Yes