Having lived for most of my life in the home counties and London and watched the decline in so many species it is easy here in Devon to take for granted what is quite rare in other parts of the country. We were involved with breeding bird surveys and although Sussex is very rich in birdlife it simply does not compare with Payhembury, where we are blessed with an abundance of nature in all its glorious forms. Despite the really cold patch in April, many old favourites have returned to breed: male blackcaps and chiffchaffs are vocal in setting up their territories and wrens, blackbirds,
house sparrows and robins are already sitting on eggs, whilst blue and great tits are busy prospecting new bird boxes and pairs of siskins, greenfinches, goldfinches, long-tailed tits and coal tits continue to appear at the feeders. Indeed, there are 22 breeding bird species already in evidence in close proximity to the house with more still to come.
We have a new budding bird watcher in the family. Our 7 year old granddaughter was so pleased with herself when she spotted a pair of treecreepers working our silver birch for insects when she came on a recent visit. She could barely wait to tell her other grandparents, another pair of avid birdwatchers.
Many of us in the village already hugely enjoy the sight, and sounds, of our local hedgehogs. When we lived in Sussex they had already become incredibly rare. Finding a hazel nut with a neat hole gnawed in the side raised our hopes that dormice might also be present. Unfortunately, after doing some research we decided it was far more likely to be a bank vole, or possibly a wood mouse. Apparently it’s all to do with the shape and markings around the hole.
Did you spot the bee flies last year when we had that really beautiful spell of warm weather at the start of the first Covid 
lock-down? They put in another early appearance this year during the brief spell of sunshine in late March, but have been largely torpid since after the beastly cold weather and nights returned.
For many of us the 12 April was a welcome relief, as we gathered outside the Six Bells to enjoy a pint and some food, the first time in so many miserable moths. Spring has sprung, so let us all enjoy it!
Paul (841696)
