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!