SKYLARK SUE’S REFLECTIONS OF NATURE 

March 2014

 

 March 1st proved to be a mild day with some sun – it certainly didn’t roar in like a lion, so whether it will go out like a lamb we have yet to find out. On the 3rd, a female chaffinch was spotted on our neighbours’ fence, so it is good to know that they are around once more. Just as with goldfinches, chaffinches, although so common in many gardens, tend to elude us. Many of the usual birds, such as dunnocks, were around the garden and on the hanging feeders and trays.

There were eight magpies altogether in the tree.

Collared doves

Cheerful crocuses

 After a frosty start, the 4th of the month turned sunny. Eight very noisy magpies were in the tree across the road – whether they were parents with last year’s brood, or were just using the tree as a meeting place I have no idea. Certainly, magpies do breed in the oak tree opposite each year. March 5th saw the usual bird visitors to the garden, including two collared doves. These birds always look so ‘well-groomed’ and sleek, and they also appear gentle, yet can be very vicious, attacking other birds especially in the breeding season. Two doves and a robin were sharing the feeder, though, without animosity. The garden was very 'yellow', what with the crocuses, daffodils and forsythia. It looked so cheerful.

Egyptian goose

Egyptian goose



The grebes were starting to pair up at Hatfield Forest



Female mallard

 

Coltsfoot



On the 8th of March, I went to Hatfield Forest. It was still mild and sunny. One of the more unusual visitors at the lake was an Egyptian goose, quite an elegant bird, at least while it was on the water. Out of the water, it seemed ungainly and slightly podgy! The grebes were beginning to display, occasionally bobbing up and down though not holding weed in their beaks and dancing, and the black-headed gulls were getting their black heads back after moulting into white for the winter. There were swans, Canada geese, mallards and coots on the lake, too. Many of the woodland paths were still very muddy after the February rains, but there were a few primroses out, as well as coltsfoot, while the pussy willow was turning yellow with pollen. The next day, the 9th, was a glorious warm sunny day, with plenty of crocuses, kerria japonica, daffodils and snowdrops in bloom in the garden.  I saw several brimstones, too, and some darker butterflies which were too quick for me to identify but could well have been peacocks. It turned cooler on the 10th, but soon picked up again.



The pussy willow with its golden pollen

Black-headed gull




Bullrush or reed mace

Large bumble bee on purple crocus at Anglesey Abbey

Comma butterfly at Anglesey Abbey

A trip to Anglesey Abbey on March 12th revealed gardens that were ablaze with spring bulbs and flowers, including daffodils, crocuses, anemone blanda, hellebores, Daphne, aconites and narcissus. Bees, both large fluffy bumble bees and smaller honey bees were gathering pollen while a few early butterflies, including comma and brimstone, were in evidence. There were a mass of celandines by the mill stream, beautifully reflected in the water and moorhens were on the stream, too. Sticky buds were forming on the chestnut trees, and it was a glorious day with blue sky, and robins and blackbirds singing loudly. Maybe spring really is coming early? Certainly, birds were in full song, and what with the bees, butterflies and other insects, it was difficult to remember that it was only early March.



Bee on anemone blanda

Bee on anemone blanda



Iris

A host of daffodils

Reflections of celandines

Sticky bud

 

 

Starling, beautiful against the blue sky

On the 13th, there was a goldfinch in the garden again, I wish they would come more often – we certainly put out all types of food.  The warm weather continued and the 14th of March was beautiful. All the usual birds were around, including blackbirds, starlings and collared doves. A starling perched on the apple tree looked beautiful in the sunshine against the blue sky, with the light illuminating its feathers. Strangely, though, we still hadn’t seen any blue tits investigating the nest boxes, which was unusual as normally they would have chosen a box by now. The goldfinch was back on the 16th, as well as some peacock butterflies and several bees. It was still warm and sunny.

 

 

 

 

Dew-encrusted moss

The weather turned during the following week, and by the 22nd it was chilly.  The following day we had a heavy shower of hail. On the 24th I made a brief trip to Broxbourne, and noticed a thick crop of moss, encrusted with dew and sparkling in the sun.  We often ignore moss, yet it is so delicate and very pretty. I was looking back through my past records, and noticed that last year, on March 25th I had been photographing thick snow and icicles. Hopefully, we will be snow free now till next winter.



Oxlip

Cowslip



Small tortoiseshell emerging from garage

Scented violets

Spring snowflake

On the 26th, I saw a sparrow perched on our greengage tree pecking at the blossom, I hope it doesn’t continue to do that as we would like some fruit this year!  Yet again we had a very heavy hail storm, turning the garden white for a while.  On March 30th, a small tortoiseshell butterfly emerged from the confines of the garage where it had presumably been hibernating over the winter and was soon fluttering free.  There was a male chaffinch in the oak tree opposite. Flowers are quickly opening – in the garden, on the 30th March, there was a tub filled with scented violets (we grow them in a tub otherwise they become engulfed with the unscented dog violets), as well as cowslips, oxlips and fritillaries. There were also some pretty spring snowflakes (Leucojum vernum). On 31st March, I was pleased to see that the smooth newts are back in our small pond. Hopefully they will breed again; they seemed very successful last year.

 

 

Robin on the feeder

Blackthorn has been in bloom for the last two months

 March has been exceptionally mild, even though we did experience a few hailstorms. With plenty of sunshine, the bees and butterflies have appeared earlier than usual – hopefully, they will do well and we shall experience another ‘Butterfly Summer’, just as we did last year.

Morning sunlight illuminates pusssy willow at Hatfield Forest