20th March 2019 and spring is on schedule here after very wet windy weather alternating with some unusually warm days. By 8th March Blackthorn blossom was appearing, Blackbirds were singing and Lesser Celandine flowers were opening on sunny banks.
Blackthorn blossom on a branch overhanging the fast-flowing river in an open location.
Many other Blackthorn trees only have tiny buds or still-bare branches. Early flowering of blossom here is an important source of sustenance for early insects such as bees and later for migrant warblers.
By 11th March singing birds were everywhere amongst the thickets - wrens, robins, dunnock, blue and great tits, long-tailed tits collecting nesting material, song thrushes and blackbirds.
A fine red kite sailed fast in the breeze over the river course.
A grey heron was seen most days over the river too, on its was to the ponds and drainage basins.
On the banks of the meandering river, young Wild Garlic covers the ground
under the Hazel copse.
Wood Anemone is flowering in patches along the banks here and there.
The Lesser Celandine and Wood Anemone are usually the first plants to flower.
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