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In the garden it looks like spring has almost sprung.

In my flower blog last week I mentioned that the flowering blackthorn was recorded on the phenology website. Phenology is the study and recording the timing of natural events such as budburst, first flowering, fruiting, autumn leaf fall, hibernation, migration of birds, first songs, nesting, first butterflies...

Friday is normally litter pick day so Chris and I went over to Lodmoor and as well as litter picking we also decided to spot how many plants we could find in flower on this sunny mild January day. All these photos were taken today. The surprise of the day was Blackthorn flowering. This shrub...

Plenty to report once again this week I'm pleased to say with lots of interesting sightings! The Yellow Browed Warbler is still present and often seen at the same location as before - the first wooden No Entry gate along the footpath side of the main drain, by the wood. It's often seen with other...

Have you seen them yet? If not, get out and about and have a look, there are some great blooms already in many parks and gardens so the woodland sites known for snowdrops would be well worth checking out soon. If you have them in your garden then we would love to see them, please post your pictures...

I took a walk around the reserve yesterday and it was hard to think we are still in January. Great tits, robins, goldcrests and even a mistle thrush were singing, the snowdrops are coming up and it felt just too mild for a winters day. I noticed that the temperature at 8pm last night was around 10 degrees...

This Saturday and Sunday are your chance to contribute to the official Big Garden Birdwatch - and a great opportunity to observe the birds in your garden, park, or other open space. It's also a great time to come down to Flatford Wildlife Garden and get involved. We had great fun last weekend...

Snowdrops emerge, brushing away the memory of Autumn This week's work-party gave me a chance to see the very first snowdrops emerging in the garden. Being an Antipodean who frequently struggles with the long dark winter here, I always feel a moment of disproportionate wild joy when the first...

Firstly we would like to wish all of our followers a Happy New Year. Hopefully 2012 will be a fantastic wildlife packed year for all! The weather so far this winter has been quite remarkable, the past week has felt more like early spring than the beginning of January. Mistle and Song Thrushes have...

Hopefully if we do get a harsh spell it won't catch too many amphibians out, although the mild winter is likely to encourage early spawning. If you do spy some early spawn, report it via the Natures Calendar site linked here . Just had a look at this yeards records for frog spawn and there are...

In winter, plant growth slows as low light levels and cold temperatures enclose them. Many lose their leaves or die back to survive the harsh conditions and at this time, inevitably, the mind of many a gardener turns to spring. Not being so different ourselves, we’ve been planting many...

My favourite bird's song is that of the song thrush. It is a shame that this bird has become so rare. I also love the blackbird, the black cap, the robin and the dunnock when it's courting in spring. I do wish the wood pigeons would shut up though. Kind regards John Moore

St Marks flies seem to be a favourite for blackbirds at the moment having just seen a female gathering a beak full before heading off to feed some hungry chicks. With the dry ground, worms must be pretty much off the menu at the moment so the dangly legged St Marks flies are most welcome from that point...

The spotted flycatchers have arrived on the reserve, they're very early, we don't normally see them until May!

With the stunning weather we're having at the moment (keep your bird baths topped up!), many of us will be planning to spend at least some of the Easter weekend out and about. With the array of fantastic landscapes the UK has on offer, we all have to choose where to spend our time this spring. ...

This morning we heard our first cuckoo of the year! Also now arrived are sedge warblers, reed warblers and whitethroats. Most of the winter visitors have left now but the Greenland white fronted geese are still here.

Signs of spring are coming thick and fast at Ynys-hir, and earlier this year than previous years. I will update this post as more sightings come in! So far we have: Birds: Chiffchaff - lots and lots of them! Sand martin Wheatear Pied flycatcher - arrived 10 days earlier than last year...

Thank you for taking the time to vote and comment. The swift came out on top closely followed by the swallow with the osprey in third spot. We won't be seeing the swifts for a little while yet but already reports of swallows are trickling in such as the one at the Portland bird observatory...

One of the best days since i joined the RSPB was this Saturday morning when on my way to the hide i came across 4 fox cubs playing about just outside their den. I was so close to them that could almost touch them truely amazing moment.

Just getting ready to leave Strathbeg for the day and saw a Robin coming to and from the feeder table. Watched where she was going and so 3 fledglings on the ground.This little fellow was doing his best to blend into the background. Just brilliant.

The warm sun is peeking out from behind a big black cloud. Oh... no it's gone again.

Another indication that spring is here. This little Pea and Bean weevil has put in an appearance - but on our windows..!!! - perhaps it's not wokeen properly from hibernation yet ;-)

A farmer making ready for the coming summer months, Spring is in the air at last

Insects starting to re-establish their presense during my favorite time of year, everything is fresh and new, even the flies are a reminder of this wonderful time of the year. Oh I do like Spring........

Feb 28th lovely day at Chatham Dockyard and then spot this, spring is just about here and that will be followed by summer,

Here's a couple of newly fledged starlings. I saw these in my garden in the spring of 2008. They certainly brought a smile to my face.

Here's a couple of newly fledged starlings. I saw these in my garden in the spring of 2008. They certainly brought a smile to my face.