Spring is on the way

The recent cold biting north and north easterly winds may be persuading us to think it is still winter and to stay indoors in the warm.  However, perhaps spring is closer than we think.  Indeed, this morning I watched a robin in the garden at Wrenthorpe busy collecting nesting material and taking it to an old nesting box at the back of the garden shed. Blue tits have also been ‘viewing homes’ before deciding on the best nest boxes for them.  A surprise sighting yesterday in the garden was of two firecrests.  Sadly, they did not stay long and I guess they will nest elsewhere. Robin

Flowers are understandably scarce at the moment.  However, recent visits toNostell Priory have been rewarded with seeing fantastic carpets of snowdrops

Snowdrops at Nostell

Brockadale sightings

A trip to Brockodale YWT reserve today yielded a flock of around 20 yellowhammers in the fields adjacent to the car park, the first lesser celandine by the river and primrose in flower on the south bank of the woods. Stinking helibore (Helleborus foetidus) all in flower too.

Lesser celandinePauline also noted two pairs of goosander at Chantry Bridge plus the return of the regular mute swans (cob Y127, pen Y567). A hedgehog in Pauline’s garden last night suggests that the weather is milder and spring is on the way.