27th February 2022 - a walk around Granta Park one sunny morning, solidly affirmed that spring is well on its way. Flowers and fresh green shoots were popping up everywhere, and all around birds in their best breeding plumage were singing loudly, but aspects of winter still remain! Andy M.
Meadow Pipit, one of a small still gathered together in a winter feeding flock
Meadow Pipit
In the shady patches, the night's frost still lingered on the Aconites
But elsewhere in the sun, some Aconites were still in flower ... just!
In the woods...
... the Long-tailed Tit were starting to pair up ...
Long-tailed Tit
Long-tailed Tit
...
... whilst the Blue Tit were very much in evidence
calling to attract a mate and establish territories ...
as were the Great Tit.
Great Tit
A little further along, many of the Snowdrop flowers were
now over, but one or two pockets still remain in full flower ...
Snowdrops
Snowdrops
Snowdrop
Snowdrops
remaining berries, building up their reserves before heading north later this month
and in the bee hives, the Honey Bees were also busy,
getting out and about in the warm sun.
In the more open areas, other plants were bursting into foliage and flower ...
... like the Wild Arum ...
Wild Arum
... and the shoots of Dog's Mercury ...
Dog's Mercury
... and in one or two spots the sun, the first Celandines ...
Celandine
Celandine
and Sweet Violet flowers were starting to show.
The bright sun highlights the pale bark against the blue sky ...
... and up in the trees, the Rook are busy
building, and noisily defending their nests ...
... keeping a watchful eye above the rookery.
Also soaring above, a Red Kite ...
... and a Buzzard.
Buzzard
Down by the river, now running fast and clear again after the recent storms ...
... a Grey Heron struts around in search of something to eat ...
Grey Heron
... and around the lake, the old stems of the reeds are largely broken off,
evidence perhaps of the Starling flocks that use this as a winter roost.
Not much in the way of birds on the lake, but
around the edge small group of Canada Geese rest and feed.
Canada Goose
And in amongst all the newly emerging spring life, the evidence of the recent winter storm,
Storm Eunice, whose strong winds had toppled or simply snapped off a number of large trees.
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