A Spring Walk and more Blossom

Easter weekend is four days long unless you're on US time, in which case it is a normal weekend.  We managed our time such that Saturday and Sunday were free for the outdoors (more work on the vegetable and flower bed we're digging in the lawn) and for walking to enjoy the sights and sounds of Spring!

We stayed local on Saturday, and enjoyed seeing a number of local birds, including this Long-tailed Tit:

And African Migrants, such as this Reed Warbler:

And a very bold Whitethroat:

As well as Willow Warbler:

We also saw and heard Blackcap, Garden Warbler and Chiffchaffs, the air was full of bird song, beautiful!

Meanwhile, back in the garden more of the trees are coming in to Blossom, including the Bird Cherry:

And finally the Hawthorn decided to join in too:

So the garden blossom is all out now, already! We also had a new garden visitor this morning. A hedgehog run across the lawn around 07:20 this morning, splendid!

 

more Spring Blossom

More trees in Blossom, this is a flowering Cherry: And this is Apple Blossom:

Nothing yet from the Hawthorn!

Spring 2011 - Blossom sequence

Spring is definitely Springing a little sooner this year, after another harsh and cold winter. I just hope all the beasties and animals that time their breeding to coincide with these natural cycles cope. Out in the garden, there's an obvious natural sequence of trees in blossom, the first each year is the Blackthorn or Sloe: Followed by the Plum: And Peach (this one is splayed against the house to keep it alive in winter): Next comes Pear, ready to unfurl: The Invincible Pear in full blossom:

Here in close-up:

Next to bloom will be the Hawthorn. We've only had a very limited blossom on the Hawthorns thus far, this looks set to be a very good year (which bodes well for winter food for the birds!):

I just hope I'm home to both see and photograph it!