A wonderful spring day

Even though the biggest horse race of the year was run today, that was not enough to stop every dog owner in the area going out - I suppose its selfish to think that we should have this glorious countryside to ourselves.

It has been the warmest day in 2010 so far, and we chose a walk in the Cotswolds near Uley.  Here the majestic beech woodlands tower over deep, lush limestone valleys.  The countryside was a picture with limestone villages bursting with blossom and daffodils.

Primroses and lesser celandine

 wood-sorrel

 violet

The sun also bought out the woodland flowers (wood anemone, wood sorrel, violets, primroses and lesser celandine) and the butterflies (such as commas, peacocks and brimstones), as well as some birds, such as chiff-chaffs singing heartily.

The primroses love the woodland edge and creep out into the fields.  They shine out like blobs of yellow-gold against the starkness of the bare trees, and can be seen from a considerable distance in their spreading clumps.

We also came across a couple of roe deer (with a buzzard gliding low over their heads for scenic effect) which regarded us suspiciously through the trees, but were reassured as we walked on without disturbing them.

 

Comma

Peacocks getting jiggy (These are tatty individuals that have overwintered as adults)

 Woodland floor carpetted in ramsons - aka wild garlic

Last year at this time I the woodland floor was a mass of bluebells - no sign of them yet apart from a few buds here and there.  Apparently we have to wait till mid-May this year for the peak - I can wait.

Not wildlife - just a typical village scene...

A good day to be in England - and we haven't even won the 2010 world cup yet!

Lunchtime walk

It was too nice not to go out today, so sauntered along a riverside walk during the lunch hour.  I did my best to ignore the shopping trolley in the river and graffitti on the underpass, along this small urban nature reserve.

Nothing spectacular but lots of common butterflies on the wing, including the rather lovely yellow brimstone fluttering about.  Also enjoyed the singing willow warbler and chiff chaff.  Just occasionally, I can hear them whilst it sit at my desk - as long as the window is open and the gossip around the kettle is not too loud!  Also a male chaffinch can be clearly heard singing outside the gents - echoes quite well!  A mute swan was on one of the small ponds on the reserve busying itself with its nest - fussing with one stick at a time.  I expect that it is on eggs already - hope it does not mind the empty beer cans.

Tonight saw my first bat of the year - its close proximity to the river and its size suggests a Daubenton's- but this is really only a guess.

No April Fool - took the day off just in case

I had a day off work today before Easter, and dodged the showers.  Birding can be very sociable, meeting like-minded people, however just occasionally you meet people who don't know when you want to watch wildlife in peace...ho hum.

Saw three squabbling marsh-harriers, heard booming bittern, saw loads of sand martins and my first swallows of the year chattering away (to me personally I like to think). Chiff-chaffs were singing last week, but this week also heard my first willow warblers, with their golden liquid cadence of a song.  Great-crested grebes where doing their courting dance in a sort of half hearted way too.

Here are today's efforts:

 Roe deer

 Willow warblers

Also came across a slow worm basking and one under corrugated iron again with an adder.