Spring has sprung...

...the grass is riz,

and our Border Reiver

was about his blogging biz

Warmth in the air

Out with the lark

Summer time is hear

Nearly 8 before dark

Spring has definitely sprung down here in the warm south west. Saturday morning had an hour down at Sand Bay. Winter birds are dwindling, but a couple of Wheatears were a nice find. The one on the right is a juvenile (I think). It crept about in the rubbish on the beach so hard to spot. But it has a mottled buff/white head which made me think juvenile rather than female. But any suggestions welcome. Later in the garden had a singing Chiffchaff in the tree, and then this buff tailed bumble bee which kept coming into the consrevatory to talk to my bi-coloured muscari.

Sunday : I'll let the pictures below of Priddy Mineries up on the Mendips do the talking with this posting. What a glorious, glorious time of the year to be up there. Because I went to bed an hour before I got up due to the arrival of BST, I found myself on the Mendips at 7am, 6am old money!! Glorious.

Reflections in Blue

As it was so early explored this pool, which usually is a waste of time. However today, 2 Chiffchaffs, my first Willow Warbler (126), a Reed Bunting, and a number of Skylarks on the hill display/courtship flying. The air was so still birdsong everywhere, but cutting through it all, a Raven, Cronk-Cronking from a tree perch about half a mile away, letting all and sundry know he was there... can there be anything as atmospheric as being on the hills and hearing a Raven's call, drifting over the valley.

Eventually though the populous of Somerset started to arrive, and the atmosphere was lost. I then headed to Chew Valley Lake to look for the Gargany, not found. But a duetting Little Grebe pair were wonderful (completely ingnored by a sleeping Tufted duck)

Other signs of Spring. In the garden at Dorset yestrday, 3 butterflies; a Brimstone, Small White and Painted Lady, 2 seven spot ladybirds, a red tailed bumble bee and bizarrely a common wasp. And a Swallow over Wick St Lawrence as I drove home yesterday afternoon.

March Wasp......

Postscript : After writing my blog, thought I'd add this link to Shirl's blog http://blog.shirlsgardenwatch.co.uk/2008/03/spot-birdie.html as those of you interested in birds, can view a presumed leucistic Siskin. I have checked with a colleague and he's confident this is what it is.