Time marches on

The signs of a change in the season are everywhere now with the Hazel catkins looking good, the willow trees coming into leaf, Daffodils in the garden and the return of the Pied Wagtail setting the boundaries for his territory.

A nice calm day but still overcast - I'm sure the weather will improve soon.

I finally caught up with a Tawny Owl the other morning - he was going to bed just as I was getting up! The place is alive with birds singing at the moment but it's all the common birds like Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Robin, Wren and Song Thrush.

Even the Great Northern Divers were calling to each other.

The Common Crossbills are seen every day at the moment and some views are better than others but you can always hear the male singing.

The gulls will start searching out their breeding sites but for now they are still gathering on the shore but the display flights are becoming more regular - time marches on.

Squat

Here's a one for ya - Sunny day, 8C not a sign of a snake anywhere. Sunny day, 3C and there is an Adder! Only a fortnight late but it was nice to see a sign of spring instead of being wet.

The rain was back the following day but you can't let that stop you. If you don't go out you will see squat and even going out I got squat - Squat Lobster, caught and eaten by this Otter.

A Black Guillemot was still in winter plumage...

...while the Otter decided to come a bit closer - quality!

Another couple of Otters were seen after this but with the tide out it's better to find a place to have lunch. Found a spot but there was also a WT Eagle sitting there so no lunch.

A couple of Golden Eagle were briefly seen, a young WT Eagle was watched as it checked out a nest site while the owners were away and the runt Otter has definitely gone as the mum and single cub were seen. The Mistle Thrush will sing in the rain so they can cheer up a dull day but it's even better if you can get close to them - stunning bird.

Back to the old favourites after that - goose or heron? The Grey Heron is just looking tremendous at the moment so it wins hands down.

End of February

We have had a few problems with the internet over the last week so I'll keep this brief. The Hen Harriers have been showing well over the last week with most of the sightings involving a male bird.

Crossbills are a daily sighting at the moment but you have to there at the right time. A male bird tends to stick to the top of the conifers while he sings...

...while a female bird has showed in some better positions.

A good sighting for the month was a small flock of six Long-tailed Tits that hung around for a couple of days.

The bird feeders have been busy with the local birds building themselves up as the breeding season approaches - a healthy looking female Chaffinch...

...and the dapper male.

Plenty of Great and Coal Tits but you can't beat the stunning Blue Tit.

Common Buzzard is a regular sight at the roadside but it was nice to see this pair in bonding flight.

I've had a look for Adders through February but never connected as the weather has not been the best. There is usually Frog spawn in the pools from the middle of the month but I never came across any until the end of February.

Patchwork Challenge - Species 69, points 91.