A Spring Bouquet

After a long dark, and wet, winter it’s good to see some colour starting to reappear into our countryside as the spring flowers, once again, begin to bloom.

I photographed the following images, in various locations, while out and about  from the beginning of the month.



An early flowering Bluebell


Common Dog-violet


Early Dog-violet (with attendant Bee-Fly)


Hairy Violet


Wall Speedwell


Common Speedwell


Fritillary


Fritillary (white)


Green Alkanet


Red Campion


Shinning Crane’s-bill


Common Stork’s-bill


Greater Stitchwort


Marsh-marigold


Cuckooflower or Lady’s-smock


Wood Forget-me-not


Let’s hope this is the beginning of a warm (not too hot!) and colourful summer?

HIP, HIP HOORAY.....

....I got my camera back today!    (it was on Friday actually but it didn't scan as well!)

So, needing to test that it was working okay, I had two options...option 1.   to go out into the arctic conditions that seem to be passing as Springtime at the moment or option 2.  stay indoors in the warm and take pictures through the window of the birds visiting the garden.

Which option to choose was a no brainer really... so it was on with the thermals and the woolly hat and....ooops!!.. sorry,  I got carried away there, what I meant to say was ...on with the kettle, crank up the central heating, make the tea and then sit back and enjoy  the birds as they came down to feed in the garden!

After heavy snow on Friday evening/Saturday morning it snowed lightly, but continuously, for most of the weekend and the light was dull and grey meaning that high ISO's were required so not great images but at least I know that the camera is working okay once again.

Starling

Woodpigeon

This young Woodpigeon  was clearly on a steep learning curve as only a couple of days earlier it had crashed, not once but twice into my patio doors, thankfully with no apparent ill effects, and here it's sitting atop the bird table wondering what on earth all this white stuff is!

 

Goldfinch

female House Sparrow

Collared Dove

There are two Robins visiting the garden at the moment. I assume that they're a bonded pair as they tolerate each other and are feeding close together. A few days ago I saw, briefly, one of them clearly displaying to the other.

This female Blackbird, who I think is building a nest in a tall shrub at the end of the garden and 'sees off' any other Blackbird that comes into range, struck this weird rigid, contorted stance and held it for quite a few seconds. I don't know for what reason, maybe a threat or display?

I can't wait for the next couple of months to pass when we can move into Spring and experience some decent light during those warm sunny  days with the wild flowers starting to show their beautiful colours and the butterflies taking to the wing  and the build up to a long hot Summer....aahhh!....Oh!.. bugger!.... I forgot,  it IS Spring already!!

Take care and stay warm!

Stars of the week

A selection of photographs taken whilst out and about making the most of the beautiful early spring weather in various locations across the Three Counties during the early part of this week.

Chaffinch

Dunnock

House Sparrow

Nuthatch

Treecreeper

Treecreeper

Yellowhammer