Sound track to Spring

Spring must be on its way.    As I leave the garden early each morning to walk the dogs the sound of bird song is getting louder.    The garden is full of Blackbirds, Thrushes, Robins (yes several – 3 or 4 often spotted at one time), Dunnocks, Long Tailed Tits, Blue and Great Tits to name just a few of the residents.  There is often a Wren spotted hopping around under the box topiary and a Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch visit on a regular basis.   As I carry on along the lane I can hear the sound of Woodpeckers drumming in nearby woodland.      This morning a great treat was to look up and see a solitary swan slowly flying overhead, I hope it’s  mate was somewhere nearby.   Swans can often be seen flying along the line of the nearby River Severn and a pair have in the past nested at the nearby fishing lakes.    The hedgerow was alive with the sound of unseen birds this morning and when I finally reached a field where the dogs could run Skylarks could be heard.   I didn’t actually see any this morning but they are a regular sight, and sound.  Many has been the morning when a Skylark has flown up from right by my feet, although close inspection has always revealed that I wasn’t in danger of treading on a nest.   I assume they have the sense to nest away from the paths that people walk their dogs along.   However it’s not just birds – bees too.    Just a few honey bees flying today and not so pleased with me for getting in close to the Mahonia.   Keep calm as they say and hopefully the bees will do likewise and not sting! Good to hear them again in the garden though.

A walk around the garden with the camera has yielded more encouraging signs of spring and here are just a few.  Lovely scent from Mahonia, Lonicera purpusii, and Hamamelis with a large Sacoccoca covered in buds, not yet out.  Colour to be had too from Iris reticulata around the garden and in pots, Hellebores in many colours from the white of the Christmas Rose through to deep red with everything in between!