Memory Rings

All is very quiet in the bird box, the Blue Tits must have successfully  launched their young.  Last May's  loss is still poignant but they do seem to have got it right this time. There appears  not to be a second sitting  which considering the wet weather is just as well.

May is the month for the most vociferous songs and outbursts of excitement, slowly settling into mature regular singing as we drift into June.  Birdsong apps that record and supposedly identify birdsong fail at this time because all the birds  sing at the same time.  Only the Robin and Blackbird seem to have clear lines of demarcation.  The Robin ranges from high pitched clicks to baritone warbles barely drawing a breath whilst the baritone Blackbird enhances his reportoire.

 

The dawn chorus is now fading and loosing its strength  to a solo performance every morning by an increasingly enthusiastic  blackbird who seems to welling up to a.........words can  not describe or do justice to what he is doing.

Reed Warbler

I am yet again concentrating on differentiating between warblers, but unless they all line up together and take it in turns, I shall not have much success.

I feel very proud of Wirral this  week, to be able to go and search for rare Cattle Egrets on the marshes after their successful breeding at Burton Mere RSPB Reserve.  Although you cannot see the heronery you can hear it and the most unbirdly gurgling  emanates from the tree tops. This has to be experienced to appreciate the weirdness of it. Together with the regular presence of the Avocet and Spoonbill we must be doing something right.

Currently watching the live webcams from the BBC Springwatch which gets better and more sophisticated as the years pass by.  Part of me loves getting closely involved in the lives of other life forms but also part feels voyeuristic in the anthropomorphic aspect of it. We should let them be themselves and be less manipulative in the interpretation of motivation into our narrow sphere of human understanding. 

Wirral Council have cutback all the wildflower verges again at the peak of their best.  Is this ignorance or deliberate the effect is the same.  I shall refer this to the Woodland Trust who are campaigning with Councils to stop doing this before the wildflowers have seeded.

The trees have all finished blossoming and are developing their seeds ready to shed.  All this growth and verdant life is held and recorded in their growth creating a memory in the rings of the tree. The natural year moves appears to move faster than I can keep up with.

Wildflowers to look out for :
Yellow Rattle,Thrift ( another favourite), Oxeye Daisy, Hedgerows if Dog Rose, Spotted Orchid, Common Ragwort in the pavements, Yellow Iris in boggy areas.

March and Hares

No excuses anymore its time to get out there and watch the spring close up.  My spring resolution is 2 walks a week to lose Christmas and operation weight gain.  No coffees unless I get off the bus if at least one if not 2 bus stops early......and no cake until Easter.
 

The first walk today was a wonderful one of discovery.  Visiting a tiny  local wood looked after by the National Trust I came across a brand new rookery in the making. The chatter amongst the rooks about was tremendous, mixed in with  exuberant Blue Tit,  Wren,  Greenfinch and Robin song.

The walk also produced some interesting pieces of windfall wood which is being collected for a new long-term art project I have been researching.  More details are this are available on my other artists blog Rareharedesigns.blogspot.com

 http://www.resurgence.org/magazine/article4824-soft-songs-that-can-yet-sound-a-new-dawn.html?utm_source=Friends+of+Resurgence+Mar%2FApr&utm_campaign=FoR299&utm_medium=email

There has been much diy noise coming from the ancient Bluetit box under the window and repeated repelling of a pair of Robins who have designs on the des-res. Pairs of Dunnocks, Greenfinch and Wood pigeon have also rented accommadation in the garden.  

From the top of the bus Magpies can be seen sitting on their eggs already. Hopefully nothing freexingly unpleasant turns up in the coming  weather.

It was a voyage of discovery taking a walk through an ancient woodland on Wirral this week. (I did not know there was any ancient woodland in Wirral ) Carpets of white Wood Anemone and Yellow Celendine were blossoming all over with carpets of wild garlic and bluebells hovering ready to burst come  April.

Wood Anemone

Lesser Celandine

Primrose

AND the birdsong is so  breathe taking after such a long winter silence.  Song duels are resounding  in the undergrowth and tree tops.  Ground nesting birds such as the Skylark and Grasshopper Warbler are calling to potential mates from their hidden nests, whilst Magpies are already sitting on their eggs in the tree tops.

AND saw the first Comma butterfly of spring.

 Sadly no hares spotted this year....

Buzzard in Prenton

 

A small (relatively speaking ) Buzzard has been seen in  Prenton  recently on house tops and  more amazingly in a tree at the bottom of a friends garden.  You usually hear them high in the ether rather than see them.  But there is no mistaking when you see one so close even a small one.  This photograph does not do it justice but gives an impression.  
Hoping for a better one from my friend soon.


The troglodyte wrens are starting appear higher up in the trees as they start to sing out their ownership.  Vocal competitions are a delight to listen too and they can go on for up to 30 minutes at a time.  I will be posting a recording in the next week.

Any day now we will start to hear Chiffchaffs arriving from Europe, but as the climate has got warmer some birds stay and over winter in this country so they will have a head start on their migrant cousins.

Black-headed gulls  little spot behind the eye has now turned into beautiful full brown mask covering the whole face. (Not the whole head as indicated by the name ).

Despite the 'warmer ' climate, Spring is taking its time and not rushing headlong.  One nice warm day does not mean anything if followed by bitter wind the next.  Fortunately unlike us nature is not so easily fooled.  Heading into a chilly March start only one or two more wildflowers are evident, the blue Comfrey and  Speedwell are starting to a
mix with the yellow Daffodil, Primrose and Cowslip.