What have you seen
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A couple of weeks ago, looking at the longer range weather forecast I predicted that we would see the first frogs in our garden pond onThursday 11th March. It was the first warmer night with rain forecast. Lo and behold, this morning there were about 12 frogs but also three lots of spawn. I hope there aren’t many more to come. Last year I counted 74 at one time with masses of spawn. They managed to pollute the water which killed off my fish.
The bluetits are also busy today. They have been in and out of one of the nest boxes checking out it’s suitability for raising a family. I hope they like it.
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We've got a blackbird nesting in a single laural bush, good cover but a visting squirrel passes this area so could be a threat.
Wondering as usual when we'll see the first Swallow, reading up about them, they can cover 200 miles in a day.
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We're quite excited as we've seen a pair of Ravens carrying nesting material to a tree nearby. It will be the first time that Raves will have nested here since we moved in some 35+ years ago. Mind you the local Crows aren't happy about it so they may get their way and evict the newcomers.
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Just seen our first swallow over our place today about a fortnight later than last year, have had a cirl bunting in the field and the blackcap is singing well next to OH's shed, the redstarts hav been busy looking around for nest sites so it is all go. A duller day today after very warm sunny day yesterday and there was plenty of butterflies flying about with the sun out nothing today as much cooler.
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Saw first Wood Anemones and wild Violets in flower today, as well as lots of Primroses. The Wild Cherries were in bloom, the various Willows were bearing Catkins and Pussy Willow buds and the May Blossom was starting to show on the Sloe bushes.
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Heard the Hoopoe calling today around the field and on a short walk this afternoon heard the Cuckoo as well, looked on last year's dates and they were here on the same day but around 13th March so a bit later this year.
A sunny day today and more flowers coming out and plenty of bees about.
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Spotted this in our garden, sunning itself on the leaves. I think it is type of oil beetle, not that common so it was a lucky find. Looks small on the photo but it was good size. Beautiful blue colour.
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I saw a couple of Peacock Butterflies and Large Tortoishell while out on our afternoon walk today. Yesterday it was a pair of Green Woodpeckers and a few Long Tailed Tits down in the local Sandstone Quarry.
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Had day out to Frensham Pond in the Moho. Saw masses of Brimstones, a couple of barnacle geese but not a lot else.
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Pliers
We took MiL to Bodnant for a birthday treat but in reality it was a treat for all of us. The ground plants were just as exciting as the Magnolias and fell in love with Brunnera Macrophylla "Jack Frost" a lovely little ground covering plant. So take with it that I forgot to take a photo of it. Doh!
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WN we've got the white Brunnera, I think it's called "Mr Morse" I was looking at the Jack Frost version yesterday at Abbotsbury, very attractive. Glad you all enjoyed Bodnant.
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Lots of wood anemones in flower yesterday, on our Ribble Valley walk. I really love white flowers.
A couple of oystercatchers turned up on our nearby farmers’ field today, they’ve certainly been blown off course, just slightly! 🙂
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We too saw a large bunch of Wood Anemones today, and lots of Celendines. Enjoyed watching the ducking and weaving of the Lapwings and hearing the trilling of the Skylarks during our morning walk.
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Earlier this week we spotted our first couple of bluebells in flower in our local woods such a delight to see
celendines have been flowering for a few weeks now along with the violets & the wood anemones for about a fortnight, more appearing each day. Primroses have been in flower in the area for several weeks but not in the woods, now we will have to check out the local orchids 2 -
We have had a lot of cowslips this year and violets the best year since we have been here in Spring.
Yesterday we had a male Hen Harrier flying around over the top of us whilst enjoying a coffee with friends here and this morning a Heron flew over near the kitchen window and at the same time our usual male pheasant plus he now has a female pheasant with him and decided to do the courtship outside our kitchen window all happening here, plenty of butterflies about wall brown, scarce swallowtail, green veined white, brimstones, cleopatras, small blue and holly blue so spring has arrived, have got two pairs of blue tits nesting in two nest boxes and a noisy collared dove nesting in a large conifer near our bedroom he coos most mornings about 7am and OH not an early riser.
Not see any primroses yet but do have wild orchids coming into flower around here and it looks like a good year for orchids.
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Managed to see a Chiffchaff yesterday on our walk and one today when it popped into the shrubs at the bottom of the garden. A rare visitor for us today, a Male Siskin that spent an age on the bird feeder.
The walk this morning was down quiet country lanes with bird song everywhere including quite a few Blackcaps. Good to see the blossom coming out on the Blackthorn.
Isn't Spring a wonderful time?
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We heard the Chiffchat yesterday, and a Blackcap today. We have a white violet in flower in the garden and OH pointed out the Blackthorns are starting to show their blossom.
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Saw our first bluebells out today, including a few of the white variety. Seems early to be seeing them.
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Not a very exciting thing to see but intriguing nonetheless. When it was a bit warmer, (up to last Sunday), and I was sat out in the garden having a cup of tea I noticed a hoverfly stationary over one particular spot on the lawn. It was flying about three feet up and the stayed within about a three feet diameter area. There was nothing that was apparently significant about the location to make it stay there. There were little gnats flying about and if one flew into his territory he went after it although I didn't see him/her actually catch one. He would return to exactly the same spot after his attempted hunting attack. At one point it looked as though the gnats were goading him with three or four flying up to him. He would stay in the one spot for half an hour or more. The energy he must have expended in flying was hardly made up for in what he caught. This occurrence happened at the same spot on three consecutive days at various times during the afternoon. He may have been there at other times but I didn't notice him.
By the way, I've christened him Hector the Hoverfly
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