Tuesday 18th. February 2013

A catch up on three days of Spring-like weather , once the sun got up and got rid of the overnight
frost .
On Sunday , I had a walk over the Common , in the hope of finding a Brimstone or Red Admiral , roused from it's hibernation by the warmth of the sun . But neither of those species were found , but

 two bumblebees were found , both I think Buff-tailed queens , one of them having collected a

group of hitchhikers during it's Winter slumber . Hopes for the coming Summer were raised with a

few Purple Hairstreak eggs being found on the buds of Oak , that will be the caterpillar's first meal . Back at home , the local Jackdaws were constant visitors to the feeders , and of an evening , large

numbers use the tall Limes trees in the road as a pre-roost .
After finishing a few chores this morning , I headed off to High Elms LNR , to see how Spring was progressing there . I had to search hard for one of the first flowers of the year , but finally found a few flower heads of Butterbur / Petasites hybridus , a member of the daisy family , emerging from the

ground . Apart from the leaves appearing after the flowers , the stamens and styles are found on separate plants . With lots of Hazels displaying lots of male catkins , it wasn't long before some of the female flowers were found , once pollinated , these will produce the Cobnuts . The pollen from the

male catkins can be seen on the left hand side of the twig . On my way back home , I find it very difficult not to stop at the horsefield where the juvenile Common Buzzard has taken up residence ,

and today was no different , especially with the light conditions , and as a bonus , the bird performed

very well too . But , eventually I had to tear myself away and head home , passing at least 25 Rooks in their chosen tree , and more on the ground in the surrounding area . As can be seen , some already

paired up , but no real sign of nest building yet .