Spring is on its way

[T0ny]

And that's official, folks. I was walking along one of our many lanes this morning, when a Mistle Thrush gave an alarm call and flew across the road in front of me, then swooped up to perch at the top of an old Yew tree. I watched and listened enthralled as he gave his full repertoire of song, trying to attract a mate. Then a little further on, in a grove of trees by the stream, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming for a good (good ? Superb !) ten minutes, with another (presumably female, although I couldn't get good enough views) prospecting the trees for nest holes.

Tony

[monkeyman]

Is it all a false alarm?

Just before the cold snap, two magpies started nest building in one of the lime trees in our road and the hedge sparrow started singing in the back garden fro the top of the (small) sycamore!

I shall depart tomorrow to a place that I know of where woodpeckers abound and listen intently!

[Gaye Horn]

We too have noticed mating behaviours in the avian world.. a bit early but the weather is really warm here for this time of year.. that may explain it.. we have out beloved magpies out back and they are displaying some rather interesting behaviours too. My Orphan Maggie will have nothing whatsoever to do with the big male from another clan and she is adamant about that.. he is trying to woo her though...

[T0ny]

Oddly enough, Gaye, this was the coldest morning so far this winter -3C when I went out. Maybe the males just want to find a way to keep warm !

Tony