SPRING IS READY TO GO, BUT HAS WINTER GOT A FINAL BITE?

Now that the second batch of bitterly cold Siberian weather this winter has relented, the wildlife has literally sprung into life.

I think we can technically say we’re in spring, even if the weather isn’t playing ball.

The blossom is blooming, the spring flowers are adding colour to the garden, and the birds are full of song.

There appears to be at least two robin territories close by, one which includes the garden.

A pair of blue tits are still making their interest in the original camera nest box known, while other birds seen regularly in pairs are great tit, robin, blackbird, dunnock, house sparrow and goldfinch.

Now that the snowdrops have gone for another year and the crocuses are giving their final fling, the daffodils have taken over.

Apart from the blossom, many bushes and small trees are showing signs of the cold winter, looking quite forlorn and not showing any interest in the spring sunshine – albeit it the sunshine isn’t too warm yet.

The honeysuckle and pyracantha are the worst looking, so it’ll be interesting to see how they fare when spring warmth final makes an appearance.

However, before any warmth it looks like winter will make another appearance over Easter, which makes me wonder just how the wildlife will react, particularly if any of the birds have laid any eggs.

SPRING WILL HAVE TO WAIT

Just when we thought winter had dealt it’s final cold blast, the ‘Beast from the East’ is returning, with more Siberian winds.

Luckily the birds are not in full-on nesting mode, but they certainly have been scouting for sites and one pair have been roosting overnight in one of the nest boxes.

Unfortunately the camera is not working in that box, so I’m not sure which bird it is although, given a pair of blue tits have been spending time around the box recently, I suspect it is them.

With both cameras seemingly down, an investment in another one is due, although depending on when it arrives, and the length of the cold spell, I might avoid the nest box in which I suspect the blue tits are planning on taking as a nest site.

Plenty of bird activity around the feeder, with the peanuts and seeds being favoured by most.

The robins are even feeding when we’re quite close, so I hope one day soon I can show my young girls how tame they can be.

The flora has taken the end of the cold spell to mean it can introduce buds and start the blossoming process, but I hope it’s not left too damaged by this new bout of cold weather.

The clocks spring forward soon, which means better opportunities to witness the wildlife in the evening, and not marginalise the viewing until the weekend.

WINTER’S FINAL FLING

So winter is unfurling a severe cold spell, just as people started to think about spring.

With snowdrops, crocus and daffodils all blooming in the garden, and many other places, Siberian winds are bringing the most serious winter test to wildlife.

The local birds appear to have already started to pair up – blue tits, blackbirds, robins and long tailed tits have all been seen in pairs in the garden over the weekend.

They, along with dunnocks, great tits and house sparrows, were making the most of the free food on offer, before appearing to greet the new batch of bird seed and peanuts with a variety of chattering in the bushes and trees, while I filled up the containers.

I suspect the feeders will need to be topped up a couple of times in the coming days, depending on just how cold it gets and for how long.

Hopefully this big freeze will not affect the buds known seen on most small trees, including the fruit tree in the garden. Only time will tell

We’ll probably find out in a few weeks, when the trees start to blossom fully.

The weather is probably making some winter visitors, from colder climes, wish they’d stayed put!

Will the garden get snow? I doubt it very much, but the cold will certainly see some casualties among the wildlife, sadly.

Hopefully the food being put out, the shelter (through nest boxes and bushes) and water (unfrozen) will help most, if not all, wildlife survive until spring.