Monthly Archives: March 2015

The Changing Facets of Wind

19 Thursday Mar 2015

Posted by in nature, poetry

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

A whisper through the trees tells of tales,

Of a rustle at the nudge of summer breeze,

Then disconnect from branch in autumns rage,

This is how the wind doth know the leaves.

LIfting voices through the woods it goes

Notes that tumble like the drops of water in a stream,

Carrying the songs of birds to all who hear

A beauty that allows us chance to dream.

But when onward into winter heads the wind,

Then by drifting flakes of snow together makes it known

For those who doubt the power of the earth,

Through the wind it is that we are shown

The vagaries of Spring

18 Wednesday Mar 2015

Posted by in birds, nature

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

The morning had started with the smallest hint of sunshire, in a sky which was a whiter shade of grey to the one which persisted through the rest of the day. Inspired by that tiny glimpse of sun peaking out from behind the cloud I decided to take a chance and head out.

The air temperature was strikingly cold, despite the assurance of the weatherman that was to be no frost through the night. I thrust my hands deep into my pockets to try to protect them. The dog, as ever, trotted along seemingly oblivious of any such discomfort. I redirected my attention to the sounds of the birds coming from all around me. The Robin, the easiest to identify, was less easy to spot. Partially obscured by the dense thicket I finally spotted the familiar red breast, brown coat and silver waistcoat. Moving on, I then singled out the familiar notes of a Blackbird. Easier by far to spot, high up in the top branches. Through binoculars I could make out the early buds which had yet to break open. In the garden the Elder tree had already started to unfurl tiny green leaves, but here in the upper most branches the cold air kept the buds closed tight.

Making our way down the path, taking in the songs of the Wrens, the Blue tits and the Great tits as we went, I was saddend to note that the celandines had not made an appearence here yet. In the garden they shone like brilliant yellow stars and their heart shaped mottled green and white leaves really created a sense that spring was well underway. But here the verges were devoid of all but the remants of last years grasses and bare soil beneath the hedges. I decided to head to the edge of the woods, down by the bog in the hope that the sun may well have enticed some of the spring flowers out there.

Birds in the rain…

11 Wednesday Mar 2015

Posted by in birds, nature, ornithology

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

,

March this year started with ‘changeable’ weather. The morning started with blue skies and bright sunshine, but by the end of the afternoon lightening flashed and thunder roared and hail battered on my back door.

But this did not impede the wonderful array of birds that flitted in and out of my garden during the day.

The Sallow half way down the garden flexed and strained in the wind. The primroses pale yellow petals stood out from the dark brown of the bare soil beneath it. Tiny green leaf peaks from the bulbs pushed up from under the covering of last years leaves next to the path, heralding in the spring. Blue tits and Great tits scoured the branches for any tasty morsel that might be hidden under the bark or in the buds. Supplimenting this with the peanuts and fat cakes from the feeders.

A charm of goldfinches dropped in to take advantage of the niger seeds in the feeder at the upper end of the garden, by the hedge. Distinctive with their red face masks, their black hoods and their gold wing bars. Whilst the Greenfinches headed for the sunflower hearts in the feeders hanging from the side of the arch which divides the garden between the fruit and flower borders and the wild flower meadow and wildlife area. There were Dunnocks and a Chaffinch feeding beneath, picking up the crumbs that dropped from above.

There were also two home made feeders made from old flower pots hanging in the Elder tree by the house The female black cap had discovered them and had been making regular visits through the winter and more recently a pair of coal tits have also been visiting them.

The tree also hosted the parliament of sparrows which congregated noisily in the early morning and then again in the late afternoon. They made use of the feeding station in front of my dinning room window, using the seed dispenser and searching the ground and the plant pots for any stray seeds that might have drifted down or come in on the wind. They were joined by the two resident Robins and the leucistic Blackbird which was also a regular visitor. The latter were more interested in the mealworms which I have been putting out over the winter – and they all take advantage of the fat cakes which are hung, in cages, on the low wooden fence.

The leucistic BlackbirdSpring In Shropshire 004t

Back Garden Treasures 004And one of the resident Robins