The warm spell at the end of February came as a blessed relief and certainly boosted my spirits, which had flagged somewhat during all those wet, grey days. Butterflies emerged from hibernation, Great Spotted Woodpeckers started to drum at the bottom of the garden and the gentler sound of Nuthatches tapping was heard with Treecreepers also putting in an appearance on the birch trees.
One of the best times for us to watch our garden birds is over breakfast, as some of our bird 
feeders are just outside the dining room. We delighted in watching the transition into breeding plumage as more and more birds visited the feeders. Our siskins have paired off and are still around the feeders leaving us to wonder if they 
just might nest nearby. With such a plentiful food supply they must surely be tempted. This is such a special time of year, as we shift from the gloom of winter to the hope that spring brings with it, greatly enhanced by the drifts of daffodils in the garden. Although over now, did you see the glorious drifts of Snowdrops along the back lane to Upton this year? Despite Covid, the world is not broken after all and we can all look forwards to nature exploding out of its winter torpor. Then, of course, the wet weather and a prolonged period of cold returned just to remind us that nature always holds the upper hand.
As the end of February came a flock of Fieldfares made one last appearance and then they were gone, returning to their Scandinavian breeding grounds. There have been other sightings of migrating flocks. Andrew and Cherry alerted us to some Golden Plovers heading our way and we were just in time 
to see them as they circled overhead before heading off to the south. They also reported another flock, this one of Lapwings. For me they are a sure harbinger of spring, as it will not be long now before they start to lay eggs. When I was young it was always reckoned that the first eggs would appear on March 18th.
Our pond sprang a leak just at the wrong moment – the frogs had started to mate and so dollops of spawn have been distributed around the village. I refilled it as quickly as I could and it was not long before three frogs returned and a diving beetle. This is also a favourite place to see some of the many pheasants that are hanging out in the garden.
Paul 841696
