First Signs of Spring

[Reynard]

Loads of blackthorn blossom, daffodils and pussy willow to be seen out on this afternoon's bicycular bimble.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Spotted in Derby this morning five men in shorts and T shirts at different locations, popping home now to wake up my lawnmower.

I saw an elderly bloke today wearing a wolly hat tea shirt, shorts and flip flops!😏

 

[laurentian]

I dont know the timescale between eggs being laid and hatched but saw a (what looked like) fresh shell, probably pigeons at the side of a track today.
That seems very early ?

Unlike many British birds, pigeons lay eggs pretty much all year round

 

[matticus]

My preferred season start dates are.
Spring March April May
Summer June July August
Autumn September October November
Winter December January February
I think they fit best with the weather and nature.
The equinoxes don’t really work for me.

Yea, that works for me. This being the UK every year is different, but it's a good baseline!

The meteorological first day of spring is the 1st of March.

My view is that's as good a system as any; but i believe the meteoroligists chose it - and in fact a "whole months" system for all seasons - because it makes data gathering/analysys so much simpler.

 

[Reynard]

First brimstone butterfly of the year spotted this afternoon, flitting about in the garden.

There's also bird nesting going on in my eaves going by the dropped twigs and bits of horse hair on the path.

Plum and damson trees are almost in full bloom, and my napoleon bigarreau cherry is on the cusp of flowering. I've also got cowslips dotted about, and the forget-me-nots are also beginning to flower.

 

[Accy cyclist]

The daffodil season is coming to an end, but they are still looking good. Like this one photod yesterday on my dad's grave.

 

[biggs682]

I have noticed a few partial remains of small white bird eggs laying around

 

[Punkawallah]

I have noticed a few partial remains of small white bird eggs laying around

It wasn’t me.

 

[Reynard]

Had a walk around the community orchard this morning. The two pear trees are in full bloom, as are all the various varieties of plum.

A week of mild weather should see the earliest of the apples get going.

I sincerely hope we won't have any frost...

 

[Jenkins]

Swarms of blackflies on some of the Norfolk backroads this morning and loads of wild primroses in the roadside ditches.

 

[Accy cyclist]

The last bunch of daffodils I put on my dad's grave seem to have a pink, not yellow middle bit. 🤔

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

The last bunch of daffodils I put on my dad's grave seem to have a pink, not yellow middle bit. 🤔

View attachment 804352

Funny, I had gardeners question time on in the background earlier in the week and someone mentioned pink daffodils. Never seen them, I thought. Well, now I have!

 

[Reynard]

I used to have some pink daffs, but they have been quite elusive of late. More likely, I suspect someone has nommed the bulbs.

My Napoleon Bigarreau cherry tree is in full blossom, and the forget-me-nots are a carpet of blue. I also have cowslips and violets flowering.

The leaf spears from the Lilly of the Valley have also put in an appearance over the last few days.

Is it just me, or does everything seem a fortnight or so early this year?

 

[geocycle]

Saw a swallow in Cumbria yesterday, first of the year for me. Lots of spring arrivals including chiffchaff and blackcaps. The Ospreys are also back from Africa to Foulshaw and I am enjoying watching the nest building commence.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Funny, I had gardeners question time on in the background earlier in the week and someone mentioned pink daffodils. Never seen them, I thought. Well, now I have!

A bit more close up, taken this evening.