It is midday, gray and overcast. The wind is blustery, squally, unsettling the birds and making the boughs of the big Italian Poplar swirl and twist like a fine seaweed caught in a strong ocean current. You can hear the gusts approaching along the valley and then the branches start to sway – such power, to move such a majestic tree and make it look as easy as blowing seeds off a dandelion head.

Earlier this morning, the sun was shining and there was that bright promise of new life in the air. Goldfinches were flicking their tails and trying to get the attention of females, the robin chased his rival from the garden, the pair of magpies worked to detach twigs from the alder and the buzzard checked out his favourite courting branch in the poplar. We even had a cock pheasant in the garden, after months of not seeing one at all. For years we had a resident cock with his harem of ‘three fat ladies’ as they were knicknamed. One summer a proud mum brought her brood up the bank to visit and they became regulars too, even copying the adults who learned to fly up to the feeder tray.

We had a lovely sunny afternoon yesterday, and I saw, and heard, my first big fat bumblebee of the year, a queen Bufftail, I think, plus two hoverflies of different species, a rather handsome fly (Pollenia rudis) and a 24 spot ladybird.

After a couple of very boring weeks, grey skies, vague scatters of snow, and a few days of bitter cold (-4.3c), we have a breath of Spring in the air. The temperature has risen, we have primroses and snowdrops, fattening buds and a decent patch of blue sky. The best sign for me is the Song Thrush, which has been singing its heart out this morning.

There are plenty of other birds that have heard the whisper of Spring; robins beginning to stamp their authority on ‘their’ patch, male dunnocks flicking their wings and tail feathers as they defend their territory and, out in the copse, the crows are noisily laying down their own rules of entry. I have seen the occasional buzzard, but no courting behaviour yet.

The hazel bushes are a lovely sight, covered with pale yellow catkins – plenty of pollen for any early bees that venture out, while in the garden our Christmas roses offer plenty, too.

So far this morning, we have had fewer birds than usual and hopefully that means more natural sources are open to them, rather than depending so much on our feeders. It has been good to see that our neighbours on either side of us have also put out feeders this year. Unfortunately, they don’t have such good anti-squirrel measures in place, so there is a fair amount of clapping and shouting when a marauding gang invade! I’m sure our local squirrels stay in family groups, you rarely see just one!

Well, it’s the first day of February – rather cold, gray and dull although we do have snowdrops and the merest glimmer of colour from early primroses.

Yesterday was the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch and we chose an hour in the morning when the garden is usually busy. Our final count gave us Goldfinches 8, Chaffinches 5, Lesser Redpoll 4, Coal Tit 1, Blackbirds 3, Robin 1, Great Tit 2, Blue Tit 4, Starling 1, Siskins 3, Longtailed Tit 1, Dunnock 2, Sparrow 2, Song Thrush 1, Nuthatch 1, Greenfinch 3, Carrion Crow 2, Magpie 1, Wren 1 and just as I put the pencil down, like a goal in extra time, the Sparrowhawk dashed through! It wasn’t really a good representation of our usual garden birds though, no Great Spotted Woodpecker, only three Blackbirds and hardly any Blue or Coal Tits compared to a normal morning. And why did the Crows decide to visit the garden? Not seen one so close to the house for months!

We are lucky to have the Lesser Redpolls and Siskins as such regular visitors. With the rear of the garden opening onto the rough bank which provides such a variety of habitats, eventually stretching to the River Severn and the Severn corridor, we draw in more than you might expect from a suburban garden.

Now, at three in the afternoon, the garden is a hive of activity … wait – a sudden whoosh, flashing wings, and there is not a bird to be seen! The Sparrowhawk making its presence felt! Yet, as on so many occasions, it leaves empty clawed. The smaller birds are daring to come out of hiding now, it’s going to be an early dusk so they need to stock up to keep themselves going through the long, cold night.