Not long to go
Despite Storm Ciara bringing fearsome winds and horizontal rain, there have been plenty of hints in recent weeks that spring isn’t a million miles away. The extremes of weather which Ciara brought have done little to detract from the fact that this winter has, so far, been exceptionally mild and the frantic rush of plants growing and flowering weeks or even months ahead of schedule continues.
In addition to the carpets of Daffodils, Snowdrops and Primroses around Gate Street Barn and the winder area, this past week the first Magnolias and Azaleas beginning to bloom. Even more remarkable – and pleasing – was the discovery a few days ago, on a nearby hill, of a little, mauve flower spiking out among the myriad green spikes pushing through the leaf litter: a Bluebell!
Of course, their best displays are still a couple of months away, but certainly many of the bird songsters associated with such promising April days are already in voice. Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and Robins are singing on most calm and mild mornings, while woodpeckers are beginning to drum – albeit not as frantically as they will in a few weeks – when it’s warm enough.
Gate Street Barn is special in that all three of Britain’s resident woodpecker species can still be found in the wider area. Of this three, Great Spotted and Green (the latter of which doesn’t drum) are familiar and will often appear in gardens. Lesser Spotted, however, is far rarer, and elusive to boot. This is a hard bird to see these days, but on a fine, pleasant early spring morning, one may get lucky …
It won’t be too long before winter visitors depart – Redwings, Fieldfares and a suite of finches will depart north. But in their place will come the true harbingers of spring and summer. Indeed, it’s not long to go until the first flitting Swallow, rhythmic Chiffchaff or tuneful Cuckoo will be noted around Gate Street Barn.
In addition to the carpets of Daffodils, Snowdrops and Primroses around Gate Street Barn and the winder area, this past week the first Magnolias and Azaleas beginning to bloom. Even more remarkable – and pleasing – was the discovery a few days ago, on a nearby hill, of a little, mauve flower spiking out among the myriad green spikes pushing through the leaf litter: a Bluebell!
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| Primroses. |
Of course, their best displays are still a couple of months away, but certainly many of the bird songsters associated with such promising April days are already in voice. Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and Robins are singing on most calm and mild mornings, while woodpeckers are beginning to drum – albeit not as frantically as they will in a few weeks – when it’s warm enough.
Gate Street Barn is special in that all three of Britain’s resident woodpecker species can still be found in the wider area. Of this three, Great Spotted and Green (the latter of which doesn’t drum) are familiar and will often appear in gardens. Lesser Spotted, however, is far rarer, and elusive to boot. This is a hard bird to see these days, but on a fine, pleasant early spring morning, one may get lucky …
It won’t be too long before winter visitors depart – Redwings, Fieldfares and a suite of finches will depart north. But in their place will come the true harbingers of spring and summer. Indeed, it’s not long to go until the first flitting Swallow, rhythmic Chiffchaff or tuneful Cuckoo will be noted around Gate Street Barn.
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