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scillydave
22 March 2023 06:33:54
Lovely to see lots of Spring flowers out - and some stuff that seems to get earlier each year!

Ive seen 2 Horse Chesnut trees in leaf now - the first was on the 15th March!
Blackthorn is flowering well with first blossom out in early March similarly Magnolia too.

I've also seen Wood anenome, dog violet and primrose.

What's it like where you are?
Currently living at roughly 65m asl North of Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Formerly of, Birdlip, highest village in the Cotswolds and snow heaven in winter; Hawkinge in Kent - roof of the South downs and Isles of Scilly, paradise in the UK.
DEW
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22 March 2023 08:13:02

Lovely to see lots of Spring flowers out - and some stuff that seems to get earlier each year!

Ive seen 2 Horse Chestnut trees in leaf now - the first was on the 15th March!
Blackthorn is flowering well with first blossom out in early March similarly Magnolia too.

I've also seen Wood anemone, dog violet and primrose.

What's it like where you are?

Originally Posted by: scillydave 



Much the same on the South Coast with the addition of wild daffodils. Primroses seem to be having an especially good year.

But - pedant moment - probably cherry-plum, which always precedes blackthorn by a couple of weeks. 
https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/cherry-plum 
and a more comprehensive list of differences on
http://michaelpeverett.blogspot.com/2011/02/prunus-cerasifera-in-february.html 
(scroll down to below the pictures)
War does not determine who is right, only who is left - Bertrand Russell

Chichester 12m asl
NMA
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22 March 2023 09:27:48
My neighbours ‘borrowed view’ ornamental crab apple showing signs of life.
We carried out a combined climbing rose reduction over the winter (it had grown too much into the tree and along the wall over the years) which now means the crab apple shows its beauty more than ever. Daffs, primroses, cowslips (beginning to flower), Pulmonaria officinalis with its azure blue flowers and spotty leaves. One of my favourites.

Tadpoles doing well in an old antique potty my Mum had and I believe used but now a mini pond.
Blackthorn in bud but later if anything this year. Amelanchier lamarckii in bud so any day now I think. I’m planning to buy some more fish for a new raised pool I made in the winter but it still feels unpleasantly wintry with the rain, strong winds and temps still struggling into the teens.
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
scillydave
22 March 2023 12:27:04

Much the same on the South Coast with the addition of wild daffodils. Primroses seem to be having an especially good year.

But - pedant moment - probably cherry-plum, which always precedes blackthorn by a couple of weeks. 
https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/cherry-plum 
and a more comprehensive list of differences on
http://michaelpeverett.blogspot.com/2011/02/prunus-cerasifera-in-february.html 
(scroll down to below the pictures)

Originally Posted by: DEW 



Definitely Blackthorn  (though you're right that they're often confused). The Cherry-plum have been open since late Feb here and put on a particularly good display.
Primroses also seem to be thriving this year here too.

Thanks for moving the thread - definitely a more sensible place for it.
Currently living at roughly 65m asl North of Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Formerly of, Birdlip, highest village in the Cotswolds and snow heaven in winter; Hawkinge in Kent - roof of the South downs and Isles of Scilly, paradise in the UK.
fairweather
22 March 2023 16:12:42
Frog spawn laid at usual time  - March 20th which looking back always seems to be within a couple of days but daffodils only just in bloom which is much later than usual.
S.Essex, 42m ASL
Roger Parsons
22 March 2023 16:26:53
Several species of butterfly reported here, notably peacocks, brimstones and I think I saw a small tortoiseshell too. Also 2 reports of hummingbird hawkmoths. We filmed a hedgehog feeding in the garden last night - put the trailcam out after I noticed some HH poo on the lawn. A friend filmed two  hedgehogs "interacting".  Bit windy just now but we might try the camera again tonight.
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
Caz
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24 March 2023 07:10:45
Lovely to see daffs and hyacinths flowering. Feeling a bit guilty because frogs are very active and usually spawn around 20th March but we demolished our pond last autumn so they have nowhere to go.  I’ve left pots of water in the borders that I hope they might be grateful for but ideally they’ll migrate to our next door neighbours pond. 🙄
Market Warsop, North Nottinghamshire.
Join the fun and banter of the monthly CET competition.
four
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06 April 2023 22:10:14
I've seen swallows reported today on a farm facebook group - Cornwall not sure where exactly.
In the past have seen odd ones passing through here by now but the resident ones rarely arrive even for a look-see before St George's Day. 
North York Moors weather 
NMA
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07 April 2023 08:38:30
Swallows  have been spotted on Portland and other places near here  in the last few weeks.
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
Roger Parsons
07 April 2023 08:45:25
Cuckoos are on their way. See BTO Satellite tracking website: JAC is in Spain!
https://www.bto.org/cuckoos 
 
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
DEW
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07 April 2023 19:33:55
On the botanical front, I've seen today (in Somerset) Lady's Smock &  Cowslips. Violets generally seem to be having a good year.
War does not determine who is right, only who is left - Bertrand Russell

Chichester 12m asl
Roger Parsons
08 April 2023 12:47:11

On the botanical front, I've seen today (in Somerset) Lady's Smock &  Cowslips. Violets generally seem to be having a good year.

Originally Posted by: DEW 

A good walk in a local wood this morning. Roe deer and brown hare seen and impressive signs of badger activity. Few birds and insects noted.
For anyone wishing to test their recognition of early spring flowers try this Woodland Trust quiz.
Early spring flowers quiz: 13 flowering plants and shrubs
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2021/02/early-spring-flowers/ 
 
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
DEW
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08 April 2023 19:21:13
Some amazingly early hawthorn in flower (no, it wasn't blackthorn), just one tree in a hedgerow of other hawthorns in bud.

And ash trees in flower, just beginning to show leaves, long before any local oaks - so we shall have a soak? Ash dieback doesn't seem to have crossed the Somerset Levels yet though rampant on the nearby Mendips.
War does not determine who is right, only who is left - Bertrand Russell

Chichester 12m asl
Roger Parsons
09 April 2023 06:51:25
A couple of Ring Ouzel records yesterday. If you live in a likely area keep an eye out for them in places like grazed fields.
"When on spring and autumn migration they may be seen away from their breeding areas, often on the east and south coasts of the UK where they favour short grassy areas."
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/ring-ouzel/ 
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
Roger Parsons
09 April 2023 11:24:18

Cuckoos are on their way. See BTO Satellite tracking website: JAC is in Spain!
https://www.bto.org/cuckoos 
 

Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 


One reported in Lincolnshire today - Anderby Creek if you know it.
Note their fascist parking regs:
"Please pay by phone or online. There will be no facilities to take payment for parking on site either via cash or card, and visitors will be required to pay through APCOA Connect."
https://www.visitlincolnshire.com/things-to-do/anderby-creek/ 
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
NMA
  • NMA
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09 April 2023 11:49:33

One reported in Lincolnshire today - Anderby Creek if you know it.
Note their fascist parking regs:
"Please pay by phone or online. There will be no facilities to take payment for parking on site either via cash or card, and visitors will be required to pay through APCOA Connect."
https://www.visitlincolnshire.com/things-to-do/anderby-creek/ 

Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 



Interesting Roger. I've heard  that in Dorset the RSPB now charge £5 per person to park at Arne by Poole Harbour. It used to be £5 per car. 

To me that is a massive increase. So a car with five adults in it is now £25 for the pleasure of parking or so I read here.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g2141897-d2140991-Reviews-RSPB_Arne-Arne_Dorset_England.html 



 
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
DEW
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09 April 2023 19:06:03

Interesting Roger. I've heard  that in Dorset the RSPB now charge £5 per person to park at Arne by Poole Harbour. It used to be £5 per car. 

To me that is a massive increase. So a car with five adults in it is now £25 for the pleasure of parking or so I read here.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g2141897-d2140991-Reviews-RSPB_Arne-Arne_Dorset_England.html 
 

Originally Posted by: NMA 



What's with these seaside authorities? The Sussex award goes to Rother Council, for a parking charge of £18 for the day at Camber. In the 1950s it was free; in 1976 we thought 60p for the day was expensive. 

But for a more traditional sign of spring (or are parking charges just that?) I heard a first cuckoo today, just NW of Taunton.
War does not determine who is right, only who is left - Bertrand Russell

Chichester 12m asl
NMA
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10 April 2023 08:39:29
Very much a blackthorn winter here still, which is quite late I think for this far south. 

On another note Rainbow Wrack  or Magic Seaweed Cystoseira tamariscifolia is colourful this time of year. It fades later on in the season.

UserPostedImage

It flourishes off ledges like this at Kimmeridge, Dorset.

UserPostedImage
 
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
DEW
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22 April 2023 19:15:26
Out looking at flowers today (right-click to open full size in new tab)

UserPostedImage
Bluebells in Stoke Woods about 5 miles NW of Chichester

UserPostedImage
Also anemones

UserPostedImage
And cowslips in the Arboretum at West Dean

UserPostedImage
No Spring complete without an 'ooh-aah' photo

 
War does not determine who is right, only who is left - Bertrand Russell

Chichester 12m asl
+1
NMA
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23 April 2023 08:20:33
Beautiful pictures David.
Sand martins are back in the quarry restoration project across the road from me. perhaps 50 to 100 the other evening, though I'm just guessing the numbers. 
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
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