Signs of Spring

[Glow worm]

Why is Springwatch on telly always in Summer?

Hi Fnaar - I think it's mainly because it gives them plenty of time to shoot lots of footage through Spring to broadcast in early summer, so it's a kind of summary of what happened through Spring, and they can then use the live stuff for updates. It also gives the crew plenty of time to research where the wildlife and nests etc are most likely to be found for when the programme goes out rather than just turning up and hoping for the best.

 

[biggs682]

snow drops and a pr of ladybirds

 

[palinurus]

Two "signs of spring" threads on different cycling forums in the last week.

 

[palinurus]

Took a load of peelings to the allotment yesterday afternoon. Tulips are about six inches tall now.

 

[palinurus]

Going to ride my road bike to work tomorrow, no mudguards.

 

[palinurus]

Now it's getting a bit nicer I must get around to starting my "winter training".

 

[rich p]

Lots of ladybirds

First lesser celandines

Bumble bees

Wearing shorts in the garden

Hung the washing out

A young man's fancy turned to thoughts of......

 

[Aperitif]

Lots of ladybirds

First lesser celandines

Bumble bees

Wearing shorts in the garden

Hung the washing out

A young man's fancy turned to thoughts of......a Brazilian in the garden.

Stop! Don't do it Rich - it'll be itching for ages.

I noticed a tree in blossom in the pub car park opposite.
Also, in deepest London, the Ugg boots are being worn 'turned down', so it must be getting warmer.
The green shoots of recovery... wither?

 

[goo_mason]

This morning the smell of the wild garlic on the Roseburn Path was heavenly. Mmmmmmm!

 

[rich p]

Keep your brazil nuts to yourself, Ape.

The lovely Luisa, I would but I got called Greedo mk2 last time I exposed her!

 

[Aperitif]

Keep your brazil nuts to yourself, Ape.

The lovely Luisa, I would but I got called Greedo mk2 last time I exposed her!

Those nuts are full of selenium Rich. I though Greedo was a Kim Karwashandsherecomescharlie, or whatever her name is, person. Luisa is just a family friend who came to lay around on your old sod, I thought.

 

[rich p]

. Luisa is just a family friend who came to lay around on your old sod, I thought.

I wouldn't have turfed her out but I think she'd have grassed me up

 

[Glow worm]

I hate to see it when people pull down the nests or even put up devices to stop them nesting. House Martins are wonderful birds and we should be honored they have come so far to see us. I come across the following on a farmhouse while out cycling. They had clearly discouraged the birds from nesting above the window but had built this on the gable end. Good on them.

That's superb! When we first moved here I was annoyed at a woman down the road who hung up plastic bags from her eaves in an effort to prevent martins from nesting there. Turns out that in truth she was so sad at their nests collapsing (as they did on our house due to crap plastic eaves) she couldn't bear to pick up any more dead young martins from her doorstep, so the bags are to stop them even trying to nest- so fair play.

I'm hoping to put up some swifts nest boxes this year- I'll have a few extra weeks to get them set up too before the tardy so and so's get here!

On another note- here's a fun quiz for any birders out there. Now I thought I knew a bit about birds, but my top score so far is just 6/10!

Bird ID Quiz

 

[Clandy]

On Sunday, a roadie in shorts and s/s jersey.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

We has had a flutterby in the garding. It fluttered by too quickly to be indentified.....