It feels like winter has returned a bit in the last few days out on site, however the signs of spring have been apparent both during the warm weather and now.
There's nothing better than a singing skylark on a warm late winter day and they have been in full voice recently, one rose up singing yesterday afternoon even in the howling wind, as soon as the rain stopped! Several other species of bird have been heard singing too, including robin, dunnock, blue and great tits, chaffinch, reed bunting, Cetti's warbler and little grebes have been trilling away in the reedbed. Goldeneye have been performing their courtship displays, throwing their heads back in an attempt to attract a mate before they return to their more northerly breeding grounds.
Listen out for skylarks singing on warm (and cold!) days.
Three butterfly species were seen in the warm weather last week - brimstone, small tortoiseshell and peacock, as well as queen bumblebees on the wing.
The first coltsfoot plants are in flower and the cowslips on the grass bank by the Beach Hut are almost ready to burst. Blackthorn blossom is starting to come out and some hawthorn plants are even in leaf.
There are still some good birds on site too, with the bearded tits showing almost every day from the boardwalk, one of the great white egrets has been showing well from the Cromwell Trail and there are at least three bitterns around, albeit elusive.
Look out for the bearded tits from the floating bridge and boardwalk.