I was all ready to set off to the north Norfolk coast yesterday – not to see birds but to see northern lights – but it was cloudy. The previous night there had been a great show of northern lights. They are on my British list – but not for years – dipped again!
Can it really be spring? According to the Met Office, today is the first day of spring, but I’m old-fashioned and still regard the vernal equinox as the start of spring. Although, actually, the first Sand Martin and the first singing Chiffchaff are what really persuade me that spring has arrived in Northamptonshire. A friend was telling me he had been hearing singing Chiffchaffs in Suffolk for quite a while. Anyway, it can’t be spring because there was a Blackcap in the garden yesterday – and that’s a sign of winter!
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A beautiful singing Song Thrush clearly considered it to be spring this morning as did a whole crowd of other resident song-birds near my home. No need to wait for fair weather visitors from the south!
Whatever the wildlife do I’m with Mark the BBC weather people are wrong for me the start of spring is the vernal equinox, plus the return of Ring Ousel and Wheatear ( at about the same time).
Local raven’s nest-building endeavours complete, and the bird probably now laying, although not yet incubating full-time. Spring has arrived (in Cornwall in any case).