(Based on 'Light Rains Sometimes Fall' by Lev Parikian. Used with permission - thank you)

Actually the trends are quite interesting this month as January started warm and finished decidingly nippy.

Whilst the drop in atmospheric pressure on the 26th can clearly be seen, this wasn't even associated with the most rainfall of the month with a similar drop in pressure early in the month being associated with much more rainfall.

Even the wind for Arwen wasn't as severe as earlier in the month.

The temperature began to fall before Arwen hit and dropped quite sharply for the next two days with little snow but a thick frost on the car taking 15 min to defrost on Mon 29th.

Rather stupidly, there is a '1' missing from all the pressure readings…

Pressure and therefore temperature climbed later in the month, leading to some muggy nights and little rain or wind.

Interesting, that wasn't the coldest day in the month…

But certainly associated with a flurry of precipitation…

In comparison the first migrant we saw was the sand martin on March 31 followed by chiffchaff, blackcap and swallow on 3 April and house martin and garden warbler on 10 April. Our chiffchaff was therefore slightly late, the sand martin pretty much bang on and the swallow and house martin and garden warbler on the early side.

We do get winchat, whitethroat and swifts but may see the first two some time after they arrive as numbers are relatively small and the moorland is not. I don't think I've ever seen redstart or turtle doves round here so that would be good if they would put in an appearance.

Although not the coldest night of the month so far, we awoke to snow this morning.

Which brought the tree down…

And drowned the dog…

There are risks however and these come from two main sources, invasive species and pollution. The main invasive species are non-native: Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) and mink (probably Neovision vision but exact species uncertain) released from a farm somewhere - but not locally, so they have spread a fair way to get here. Pollution is mainly strips of plastic which catch on the plant life, the water itself is pretty clear.

This picture illustrates another phenomenon which has increased in recent years, erosion. The path was always prone to erosion, but this has increased in recent years. This is in part due to a change in the river course after a severe storm in 2015 and in part due to cyclists chewing up the footpath.

A stray of unknown name, known as FatCat.

Control is usually by 'balsam bashing', ideally before the seeds develop. So I spent the morning trying to get it out.

That's better!

• The gross condition of the lane and surrounding land hasn't changed. Adjacent land is recreational and has been for many years so it isn't due to changes in farming practice - there isn't an arable farm for miles, the land is poor quality and only used for pastoral farming.
• There haven't been any major changes in the use of adjacent land over the last 20 years or so
• Most of the birds are non-migratory so it is unlikely to be due to changes elsewhere.
• The local cat population hasn't increased and none were around today.
• One lucky person posted on Twitter that their sparse activity was due to the attention of a nearby sparrowhawk!

• a low, fat and squat shape, because the crown has retrenched through age
• a wide trunk compared with others of the same species
• hollowing of the trunk (not always visible)

Having not blogged about the lane for some time (due to my FTP problems) it is sad to recommence with the possible end of the field as we know it, but it appears that the council are minded to sell the field for development. Granted, this has been on the cards for some time but it will be a shame.

The land in question was marked as a paddock on deed maps so was probably used by Patrick for his horses. The flora would support that, with the healthy nettle crop suggesting a nitrogen-rich environment. Whilst there are few rare species there, it does host colonies of bees, butterflies and ladybirds which are declining nationally.

• House Sparrow - average of 4 per garden
• Starling
• Blue Tit
• Blackbird - seen in 88% of gardens but total numbers are dropping.
• Wood Pigeon
• Goldfinch
• Chaffinch
• Great Tit
• Robin
• Long Tailed Tit - new entry!

• House sparrow
• Common Gull
• Dunnock
• Blackbird
• Wood pigeon
• Magpie
• Carrion Crow
• Great Tit
• Robin
• Chaffinch

This is one of a number of neglected hedgerows along tumbledown walls in the Gambleside/Swinshaw area above Springhill.