Today, Tuesday 21st April, the riverside burst into a new song - robins
and wrens gave way to new arrivals, migrant Common Whitethroats which seemed
to be singing from each Blackthorn thicket along the river, with blackcaps heard amongst the blossom too.
Along the damp river banks and over the Wild flower Field, Orange tip butterflies were seen for the first time this year, hassled in some areas by Small Tortoiseshells
Fresh Blackthorn Blossom
April 2015 so far has been dry, dusty and windy. The ground is cracking wherever it lies bare, dried by the sun and the North wind. These conditions mean birds find foraging difficult and are naturally attracted to the river banks and damp riverine vegetation for food and shelter from the wind.
Compared to last year, the flowering of plants and blossom is still late but sunshine certainly brought Lesser Celandine flowers out in profusion where they are normally only seen in small clumps here and there.
Earlier this month, on 6th April, signs of the land warming up:
Here on the river bank more Lesser Celandine pushed up through deep layers
of last year's leaves, fallen twigs and flood debris
and here a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly perches on dry debris to warm up
A couple of days later, on 8th April:
A fine Peacock butterfly was seen on the river bank Cuckooflower, which this year is flourishing - good news for butterflies.
Then on the 21st April, yet another fine day and warm too, the Wild Garlic was flowering after a slow start:
and Blackthorn blossom was at its best (see first photo)
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