There have been what has seemed to be some very long and dreary weeks since Christmas, without much going on in the countryside, but as I write this at last Spring is in the air. We have had a very much colder winter this year, much more normal than the last few winters.
The first frog’s spawn I saw was on the 14th March (three weeks later than last year). The pussy willow is just beginning to flower as are the first primroses, I expect this year we will have a very blossomy spring with all the different trees, shrubs and flowers all out together.
During the Winter we have had much larger flocks of Red Wings and Fieldfares than usual. The Birds as country law has it, usually pair up around Valentine’s day. I have not seen much evidence of many building nests yet! (except for the Rooks and Magpies) as a result, I believe they will have more success this time around.
In some parts of the country they are beginning to see our summer visiting birds, as yet I have not seen many! I have however, seen a Red Kite circling over the Village, and a large flock of Golden Plover in the area.
We should be seeing Wheatears on their way north, they usually spend a few days resting mostly on bare ground before continuing their journey. Wheatears have a very distinctive white rump, they fly quite close to the ground, and like to perch on large stones or clods. Chiffchaffs singing in woodland are a good indicator of the arrival of our earlier visitors.
I do hope we hear the Cuckoo in the village this year, I didn’t hear it here at all last year (I know I am getting deaf). If anyone hears it I suggest you let our webmaster know. It is several years since we had a young one in a Hedge Sparrow’s nest in our garden.
On the farms the early nitrogen dressing have been applied to all the Autumn sown crops, any spraying for grass weeds that was not done in the Autumn has now been done. The Spring Beans were sown during the frosty weather in February. The ground is now warming up, so it is now time to sow field peas and sugar beet.
Most of the Spring beans grown in this area are exported to Muslim countries. It has been a full time job keeping the wood pigeons from destroying the oil seed rape crops. As the hedgerow buds begin to swell and the peas etc begin to grow perhaps they will begin to leave the rape.
March came in like a Lamb! I wonder if it will go out like a Lion as the saying goes. (If March comes in like a Lion It will go out like a Lamb or vice-versa)