A Spring Air*

Spring is here, the days grow long,
Skies are clear now Winter's gone
and dreams of love approach reality.
The once bare boughs of lilac trees
are haunted now by honey bees
and all the world exudes vitality.
*Lyrics © The Amazing Blondel

After so many weeks of cold cheerless weather, I had started to imagine what it must be like for the creatures hibernating through this years seemingly endless winter. Do they long to awake and go out into the fresh new world?

Whilst not exactly in a state of hibernation, I was certainly getting more than a little disenchanted, with what seemed, like an interminable age for spring to get started and for the sun to deliver some new faces down at the local reserve.

Then last Thursday the Great Weather Controller in the Sky decided enough was enough and flicked the switch – within hours it seemed the first House and Sand Martins and a few Swallows were flicking across the main lake. A pair of Oystercatchers had teamed up on the newly water-free area of the bund, which  once again divides the lake and plaintive “cweeeks” in the sky announced the arrival of the first dazzling, dancing, Common Terns of the year.

Willow Warbler

From high vantage points around the woods Chiffchaffs were reminding everyone of their name and the first Blackcaps appeared sneaking through the bushes. Then Willow Warblers started to join the chorus, only to be interrupted by the yaffling laugh of Green Woodpeckers and the lonesome whickering cries of Little Grebes looking for a mate on the ponds and backwaters amongst the trees.

Blackcap

Also in the ponds, Mr Toad (and Mr Frog and Mr Newt) was a courting and I checked back to confirm that this year they were just over three weeks later than last (although of course last March was the exact opposite of this, but with equally unseasonal temperatures of up to 20c by mid-month). 
 

He ain't heavy - two Toad tango

Peacock, Brimstone and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies were also out and about and seemed to be enjoying brief encounters with the opposite sex, as they competed with a few Bumble Bees for the first drops of pollen and nectar among the bushes and trees, which at last, were showing signs of flower and leaf.

Brief encounter - Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies

Not long now and we should hear the first Cuckcoo, the Damsel and Dragon flies will appear and then with luck the Hobbies will return to perform their aerial acrobatics over the lakes and trees in search of prey. Among the fresh meadow flowers the Pyramidal and Bee Orchids will raise their faces to the sun and Grass snakes will come out to bask in warm sheltered places. 

I can’t wait.

It’s good to wake up to spring.