A mixed bag of Springy goings-on

- March 16, 2017

This is, at least for me, always an exciting time of year. I'm not desperate to be rid of Winter 2016-17, for it has been relatively comfortable, 'unseasonal', some might say, followed by 'we need a good freeze to get rid of pests'. I'm not convinced with this argument, although I do enjoy wintery seasonal conditions, you know - threatening, moody skies followed by heavy snow, resulting in standstill on the roads, or bright clear night skies followed by hard, hoary frost. I do sympathise however with those poor unsteady-on-feet souls during such conditions, and falls can be fatal for elderly people; indeed it seems that most years an inevitable 'fatal fall' happens somewhere in my extended family, as it did this year to a 99 year old. The 100th celebration will continue later this year however.

The 'pest wipe-out' argument' also results in many small bird species declining, and in some cases, quite devastatingly, although often recovering in numbers the following breeding season.

This Winter I have both witnessed and received reports of Goldcrests galore, together with positive sightings of Wrens, Dunnocks and Goldfinches locally.

For now it is Spring with loads of changes taking place as we read/speak; and rapid plans are afoot for the coming seasons. I'm somewhat perturbed by the frantic nature of human behaviour at this time of year. For some, it's as if they've been cooped up for the past 16 weeks, and have now burst in to action with overgrown excitement.

Aah but hang on, that's perfectly natural, look at the Blackbirds dancing on the lawn, listen to the early morning song of Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Robin and Blackbird, see the aerial cavorting of Crows and Buzzards, hark the drumming GS Woodpecker or the yaffling Green, smile at the antics of Blue Tits.

All animal behaviour changes in Britain during early Spring.

Which brings us to the 'Spring Clean', there are plenty of site clean-ups around, so let's spend some of that built up and stored energy out and about tidying up a littered green space.

For there is much litter.......