I can’t believe March has arrived already. Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), Sweet violet (Viola odorata) and Daffodils are in full bloom.
It wasn’t so long ago that we had the stormy weather and Snowdrops were at their best; the year seems to be advancing in leaps and bounds now.
The temperature last Thursday reached 16°C which encouraged butterflies to flutter about. I noticed several Brimstones (Gonepteryx rhamni) as well as the Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) below.
Along with these beautiful sightings, there were a couple of amazing nature experiences that particularly stood out over the past few weeks.
The first was due to the recent storms. While clearing up tree debris a few days later, I found a Red kite (Milvus milvus) feather which had blown to the ground. I have since added it to my version of a nature table (a vintage printing tray) along with my other treasure finds.
The second took place last Wednesday. While carefully tidying up another garden, to allow for the new spring growth which is already appearing, I noticed a young male Blackbird (Turdus merula) following and closely foraging next to me, just like Robins (Erithacus rubecula) often do in gardens. At one point, it appeared to watch me as I worked (seemingly unphased as I kept my movements to a minimum, so as to not alarm him). Eventually it moved further away but started to make a low repetitive ‘pok pok’ call, at both me and my colleague who was a short distance away (presumably thinking we were predators). This interactive experience was particularly moving; I am used to Robins being close by and making themselves known but never a Blackbird before. The call I heard the blackbird make can be heard on the Sussex Wildlife Trust website.
Bee in the Moment 