Nature notes April 2013

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I can't find the Great Outdoors topic #thicko

Anyway

I thought it would be interesting to note things like

First cuckoo, when/where

First swallow, when/where (hollow laugh at thinking we might see them in April this year)

Plants and animals you see out and about, as well as in yer garden and local environs

We did this loads last year, jolly good fun it was too

Well blow me down

House martin, wye valley

[pleased face]

Lots of primroses, anenomes (those wee white woodland flowers) ransome spears appearing

I saw crocuses at the weekend, and this morning I heard (but didn't see) swifts in North Bedfordshire.

In the past week blackbirds and robins have started claiming their territories

The Great Outdoors topic.

First swifts here in Cambridge city!! Oh how I wish I were somewhere where I could hear a cuckoo!

Stunning ariel display of swallows over a large pond in Suffolk.

My heart aches it's so beautiful.

There seems to be a bonanza of pied wagtails here!

Not bad on the goldfinch front either, but where, oh where are the chiff chaffs this year?

Amazing walk through the bluebells over the bank holiday, plus some gorgeous really deep red/purple (nearly black) tulips.

I recall seeing the first swifts around the 20th May which is rather later than normal.