Friday 20th. February 2009

On and off this week , it has really felt as if Spring has arrived , well almost . Seeing as the Hedgelaying finished a bit earlier than anticipated , I set off for an area of woodland in Biggin Hill , tucked away amongst farmland and horse paddocks , to see what evidence , if any , of that long awaited Spring .

Birdwise the walk was quiet , apart from a flock of Woodpigeon , numbering I would estimate in excess of 500 , on what looked like a field of Winter cereal . A small flock of Chaffinches was seen in one of the ploughed fields , Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker were seen and the latter heard drumming . Mixed Corvid flocks were in many of the horse paddocks , and most hedgerows held a mixture of Tits . I heard , but did not see a couple of Bullfinches , and saw a few Greenfinches and Goldfinches .

When I arrived at the woodland , which is absolutely superb for Bluebells , I started looking for the evidence , The first found were those mentioned Bluebells , well above ground level .

In the same area , Primroses-Primula vulgaris .A bit further along the track , Lords and Ladies-Arum maculatum .And of course the very common Dog's Mercury-Mercurialis perennis , already in bud .

In the hedgerows , most of the Hazel catkins are opening , and now is the time to easily find those female flowers , fully open to be polinated from the male catkins .

The Alder catkins are fully open as well , and still carries last years cones , mini supermarkets for the likes of Siskins . Incidentally , the Alder is the only European broad leaved tree to produce cones .

And it looks as if next Winter's berries should be good , given the number of flower buds ready to burst open on the Holly .

And finally , the main purpose of the visit , to see if the Early Purple Orchids were showing , and they didn't let me down , even though they are not meant to be in flower until late April . I found 14 plants , some only just pushing through the leaf litter , so there could well be more . I think I will be re-visiting before the end of March ..

As I walked back to the car , I passed a Robin in the hedge , singing his heart out , and reminded me of Warren's posting yesterday . As I looked back , he didn't move , and carried on singing in the sunshine . No doubt , trying to outsing Warren's bird .

If a further pointer is needed , a Lesser Whitethroat was reported in Hove this morning . Back under the Downs at Dorking hedgelaying tomorrow , Buzzards ?