OK, I know we're still in the depths of winter, with much to come, but spring is waiting in the wings! It will be great to hear from you any details of these first signs be it early nesting birds, the first blossom, or a butterfly venturing forth in weak sunshine. If you have dates from previous years for comparison, these will certainly add interest, but we'll gradually build these up in years to come. Look forward to hearing from you - I'm sure it won't be long!
Watch out for swifts
i saw 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers chasing each other about yesterday. and they were calling repeatedly one after the over. maybe male and female
Camera always at the ready!!
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the Kestrel and Jays were very active.
i actually heard the Kestrel which was nice because they dont call that often
First snowdrops appearing in the garden and this morning I heard the first blackbird actually singing instead of making those stroppy "bink" noises at the other blackbirds.
A closed mouth gathers no foot.
Also heard chaffinches, great tits and blue tits doing their 'spring song'! Also heard a skylark yesterday, actually hovering as they do and singing its heart out!!
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
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I have 2 coal tits who appear to have paired up. They are busy pecking at the bark of a shrub, intermittently swooping down for a morsel of food, then back up again.
I also can't help but notice the starlings. Their beaks have turned bright yellow - the colour they go in summer. hardly any of them have their dark beaks now.
Cheers, Linda.
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First snowdrop in bloom in Banbury today. Also great spotted woodpecker drumming on Sunday just gone, and great crested grebes displaying (head-shaking ceremony) on the local reservoir.
Hi,
Great Tit singing today, Blue tit investigating nest box
S
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I have seen egg shells along the road where I live, small white ones, they can't be breeding now can they?
My snowdrop are up and looking nice.
Hey farmer, farmer, put away the D.D.T now. Give me spots on my apples, but leave me the birds and the bees, please!
Janet D said: I have seen egg shells along the road where I live, small white ones, they can't be breeding now can they?
Those sound like they could be feral pigeon eggs which breed throughout the year.
First Song Thrush singing in the garden today (a long stayer after the cold snap). Other winter thrushes moved on but feeder activity back up after a lull immediately following the thaw. Everything singing now in the garden. Long Tailed Tits flocking through for the first time in many years through the garden. Male Blackcap (winter migrant) still around. However, as everyone knows, our garden/feeders will be devoid of birds this coming weekend since they always mysteriously vanish during the Big Garden Watch!!!
However, it's the Vixens that have the last say for this Spring Watch today, being extremely vocal as they go about their Spring business!
Daffodils are sprouting in earnest (although only those which are nestled right up against the house wall).
This morning (20th January 2010) a male chaffinch was singing his little heart out.
Daddy blackbird has been singing softly to himself ("practising") for several months, every now and then he'll give a little burst for everybody else to hear, too.
Song and mistle thrushes singing regularly for a month or two now.