I have been eagerly awaiting signs of spring for a few weeks now - often from the middle of February onwards there is always the chance of a warm, sunny and calm day that brings out the odd queen bumblebee looking for a nesting site, or the first butterfly of the year. February too often brings the first chiffchaff song (23rd Feb last year) and a multitude of other bird species in song.
However, it wasn't until this Tuesday 10th March that I finally managed to see my first butterfly, a small tortoiseshell on the wing in Gainsborough on the way back from Beckingham Marshes. Back at Langford on the same afternoon, I was also treated to my first bumblebee spp. of the year feeding on willow catkins, followed by another at Beckingham Marshes yesterday. A chiffchaff has been seen twice on the southern public footpath in the last few days (thanks to John Ellis, Stuart Carlton, Tasia Dolby for this), but no singing as yet. And despite the good weather today, that has been our lot so far and with cooler and windy conditions forecast for the next week or so, I think it maybe a slow spring...
There is plenty to look forward too though over the coming weeks. It is always worth keeping an eye open for the first sand martins any time now and there are numerous wheatear in the country, swallow and osprey through. Little ringed plover won't be long arriving on site and as time moves on, listen out for the first blackcaps, willow warblers (first on 31st March last year!) and passage waders such as dunlin, sanderling, black-tailed godwit and whimbrel - all species that turn up at Langford on spring passage.
The first butterfly species of the year are usually brimstone, small tortoiseshell, peacock or comma - all species that overwinter as imago (adult) insects. Overwintering as adults means they are the first to emerge after the winter's hibernation. Any of these species are possible now on warm days, so keep a look out, especially along the eastern public footpath - this sheltered area is often the first place I see butterflies in the spring.
And finally, it won't be long now before the fabulous display of cowslips near the Beach Hut comes into bloom. This is well worth seeing and it certainly adds a splash of welcome colour at the end of the long, cold winter.