First signs of spring

Good news LB! Hope they continue to flock to your garden seeing as you've gone to so much effort

Like many of you have quite a bit of snow around today so hard to see if anything new has come up yet even though I've planted lots of bulbs but my Mexican orange blossom is still in full flower.

Yes, many early signs of spring will be now covered by a blanket of snow!  The up-side is that, as many of you have commented, birds will be very active in gardens in their search for food.  Unusual species to watch out for include fieldfares, redwings, bramblings and siskins.  Waxwings may also appear but could find the supply of their favourite berries very much depleted.  We have though, had one report of an early nesting song thrush.  This bird has chosen a warm, sheltered but rather unusual nest site - traffic lights in Leeds city centre - the amber one actually.  One bird is sitting tight on the nest so perhaps it contains eggs.  We'll wait to see exactly what develops - hatches.

went walking the otherday in my local woods near IronBridge and noticed the snowdrops was pokeing out above the snow.. they are nearly ready to flower, seen Robins Mateing in my garden... first egg layed in nest ( in old kettle) last year FED 28TH so they could be early again this year......blue tits are also visiting both of my nest boxes on the side of the house...

My Camelia buds attempted to open up today even in the snow which I thought was bizarre. It was starting to thaw but still snowing, maybe plants are confused aswell.

my garden was fine till it snowed before and after christmas now all covered in snow and ice

white hearther in flower as always  at this time of year they will be ok in snow but as for the rest not much chance no spring bulbs in flower so the winter goes on

 very few birds blackbird thrish and robinn

seagulls fly over  most days i dont feed them

blue tits and great tits now and then i  think some one else must be feeding them

Noticed birds actually singing today.   Not just chirrupping.   Could be one of the tit family?   blackbird?  any number of finches?   Wish I could identify the song.   Much deep snow still around so many flock to feed:  blue, great and long-tail tits (my favourites!), about 6 or 7 blackbirds (hooray),  20 or so chaffinches/greenfinches, a thrush, a pheasant, 2 or 3 robins, one starling (where have they all gone), 8 - 12 woodpigeons, greater spotted wood-pecker,  a couple of jays.   Can't remember if there are any more!   We have green wood-peckers but only see them as they fly across the next-door field.  In the summer they almost come to the back door.   Surprisingly, haven't seen a magpie (used to have many).   At night the owls (tawny and barn) make a bit of a racket but I love listening to them.  The tawnys especially are very vocal - would they be getting ready to mate? 

But it was the happy song of my unknown bird today which made me realise that Spring is not far away.

PS As you can imagine, its costing me a fortune in bird food!

PPS:  On re-reading, it sounds as if I'm trying to win a bird spotting competition.  Not intended as such!   I'm just so excited to see so many - later in the year, they are not so visible but they repay in spades with their bird-song.

Watched Collared Doves mating yesterday and the feral pigeons were doing it today !!

Cheer up spring is on the way!!!!

Nigel

Hello all !

Today i noticed that our corkscrew willow is starting to bud up, its always first to bud and its started today. Also noticed the snowdrops pushing through in the front garden. Hoping for a good year this year as 2009 was the a very testing year !!! Best wishes and a very happy year to everyone !!

Neil

The rooks have started working on their nests, was watching them breaking branches off a tree next to where all the nests are today.