April 2022
17. Last frost, rice seedlings grow
29/04/22 09:38
April 25-29
Grain rains - last frost, rice seedlings grow.
Rain refreshes parched ground
Magnolia in flower
Warm days and cold nights
Fern unfold
Mallard chicks
Blackcap singing
(Based on 'Light Rains Sometimes Fall' by Lev Parikian. Used with permission - thank you)
Grain rains - last frost, rice seedlings grow.
Rain refreshes parched ground
Magnolia in flower
Warm days and cold nights
Fern unfold
Mallard chicks
Blackcap singing
(Based on 'Light Rains Sometimes Fall' by Lev Parikian. Used with permission - thank you)
Big Garden Bird Watch - results are in
27/04/22 11:20
The RSPB published the results of the Big Garden Bird Watch this week.
Their top ten:
House sparrow
Blue tit
Starling
Woodpigeon
Blackbird
Robin
Goldfinch
Great tit
Magpie
Chaffinch
This is a bit different to the list from Springhill:
Jackdaw 4
Wood pigeon 3
Blackbird 2
Great tit 2
Magpie 2
Robin 2
Dunnock 2
Carrion crow 2
House sparrow 1
Largely the same birds but the order of frequency differed. The ones on their 'top ten' list not seen in Springhill were blue tit, starling, goldfinch and chaffinch. Springhill had jackdaw, dunnock, carrion crow which weren't on the RSPB 'top ten' - we only had nine species.
Their top ten:
House sparrow
Blue tit
Starling
Woodpigeon
Blackbird
Robin
Goldfinch
Great tit
Magpie
Chaffinch
This is a bit different to the list from Springhill:
Jackdaw 4
Wood pigeon 3
Blackbird 2
Great tit 2
Magpie 2
Robin 2
Dunnock 2
Carrion crow 2
House sparrow 1
Largely the same birds but the order of frequency differed. The ones on their 'top ten' list not seen in Springhill were blue tit, starling, goldfinch and chaffinch. Springhill had jackdaw, dunnock, carrion crow which weren't on the RSPB 'top ten' - we only had nine species.
16. First reeds sprout
24/04/22 09:37
April 20-24
Grain rains - first reeds sprout
Lily of the valley blooms
Two swallows - summer
Apple blossom falling
Cherry in blossom
Bees pollinating tulips
Whitethroat returned
May in flower
(Based on 'Light Rains Sometimes Fall' by Lev Parikian. Used with permission - thank you)
Grain rains - first reeds sprout
Lily of the valley blooms
Two swallows - summer
Apple blossom falling
Cherry in blossom
Bees pollinating tulips
Whitethroat returned
May in flower
(Based on 'Light Rains Sometimes Fall' by Lev Parikian. Used with permission - thank you)
15. First Rainbows
19/04/22 09:35
April 15-19
Pure and clear - first rainbows
Spring butterflies add colour
Cherry blossom and violet in flower
Magnolia opening
Tadpoles - no legs
Water boatmen skimming the surface of ponds
Drainage ditches dry
House martins scurrying in the eaves
Wild garlic aroma in the woods
Emerald shield beetles scuttling among the stones
(Based on 'Light Rains Sometimes Fall' by Lev Parikian. Used with permission - thank you)
Pure and clear - first rainbows
Spring butterflies add colour
Cherry blossom and violet in flower
Magnolia opening
Tadpoles - no legs
Water boatmen skimming the surface of ponds
Drainage ditches dry
House martins scurrying in the eaves
Wild garlic aroma in the woods
Emerald shield beetles scuttling among the stones
(Based on 'Light Rains Sometimes Fall' by Lev Parikian. Used with permission - thank you)
14. Wild geese fly north
14/04/22 22:12
April 10-14
Pure and clear - wild geese fly north
Migrant birds arrive from Africa
Larch in flower
Frost on the leaves again
Mist in the morning
(Based on 'Light Rains Sometimes Fall' by Lev Parikian. Used with permission - thank you)
Pure and clear - wild geese fly north
Migrant birds arrive from Africa
Larch in flower
Frost on the leaves again
Mist in the morning
(Based on 'Light Rains Sometimes Fall' by Lev Parikian. Used with permission - thank you)
13. Swallows return
09/04/22 22:11
April 5-9
Pure and clear - swallows return
Dawn chorus intensifies
Daffodils fading, tulips opening
Orange tip and peacock butterflies on the wing
Newborn calf in the field
Wheatear returned, no hirundines yet
Thunder in the air, 5 mm hailstones
(Based on 'Light Rains Sometimes Fall' by Lev Parikian. Used with permission - thank you)
Pure and clear - swallows return
Dawn chorus intensifies
Daffodils fading, tulips opening
Orange tip and peacock butterflies on the wing
Newborn calf in the field
Wheatear returned, no hirundines yet
Thunder in the air, 5 mm hailstones
(Based on 'Light Rains Sometimes Fall' by Lev Parikian. Used with permission - thank you)
12. Distant thunder
04/04/22 22:10
March 31-April 4
Spring equinox - distant thunder
Great tits scout for nesting sites
Daisies open and magnolia opening
Bittern booming and grebe courting*
New season's spruce seedlings pushing through the gravel
Baby bunnies in the field
*not in Springhill - these were in Leighton Moss
(Based on 'Light Rains Sometimes Fall' by Lev Parikian. Used with permission - thank you)
Spring equinox - distant thunder
Great tits scout for nesting sites
Daisies open and magnolia opening
Bittern booming and grebe courting*
New season's spruce seedlings pushing through the gravel
Baby bunnies in the field
*not in Springhill - these were in Leighton Moss
(Based on 'Light Rains Sometimes Fall' by Lev Parikian. Used with permission - thank you)
