Goldie M

[Goldie M]

I agree Wurzel, where is Spring! having said that I made a move in the garden yesterday to get rid of loads of Moss, i've never seen as much before, it also looks like my Boul's Mouve has been frozen out, I'll have to wait on that one, good news is, we'll be visiting Kent over Easter so we should see some thing if the temp's down there are better than here. Goldie

[Andrew555]

A 'charm' of Goldfinches ? I didn't know that, very nice Goldie.

[David M]

Those garden birds sure are keeping you sane, Goldie!!

Here's wishing you best of luck with the invertebrates over the next week or two....I'm sure there will be a butterfly passing your way very soon.

[Goldie M]

Thanks for your posts David and Andrew, with the prospect of more Snow forecast for here in the North this weekend I can't see any Butterflies here for another week, so I'm hoping for Kent, I'll have to rely on the Birds till then

A visit to Denge Woods in Canterbury may be too soon for Grizzed Skipper though, so I'll have to look in Blean Woods for Comma's etc, roll on!!! Goldie

[Goldie M]

Well we're in the grip of Winter once again but I was fascinated with the sky at teatime tonight, the wind was bitter cold so no way was I attempting to go out side but we've been let off with the Snow here, just dustings certainly nothing like Devon or Yorkshire have had .
Manchester Airport must have been busy because the Sun going down gave the jet streams a lovely golden colour, I couldn't resist taking a couple of shots, may be Butterflies next! Goldie

[Andrew555]

A reasonable amount of snow for me in the south east Goldie, but the roads were ok so I was able to go about my business with no issues.
Roll on the warmer weather.

[Wurzel]

All good things come to those that wait Goldie But that doesn't make the waiting any easier

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

...may be Butterflies next!

Hear, hear! This cold spell is proving to be most tiresome, Goldie, even though there HAS been the odd decent day down here in S. Wales.

You'll get your wish soon enough, I'm sure.

[David M]

Looks like you will get your wish very soon, Goldie. I've just watched the weather forecast and it said NW England should be in for a particularly pleasant, sunny Saturday this weekend with light winds and lots of sunshine!

[Goldie M]

Thanks for your post Wurzel, Andrew and David, I've not given up totally on seeing the Butterflies but I don't think it will be up here it will probably be when I get back from the South. It's much too cold for them yet here Hope fully I'll see some down there )
I was looking back yesterday on the photos I took of the Garden last year and comparing them to this year, the contrast is really stark, Flowers every where last year, this year, nothing close and snow is forecast for next week Any way I've been in the garden in spite of the weather and put lots of Bone Meal and tieded up by chopping and cutting down bushes etc ,whilst my Husband has been repairing the fences damaged by the wind, We've been absolutely frozen at times but at least we're ready for off now on Sunday and the garden is ready for Spring, ( when it finally arrives ) Goldie

[Goldie M]

I'm not seeing Butterflies yet but the Birds are certainly getting with it I was thrilled this afternoon when I was watching that nest I posted ,( a few posts back) I'd not seen any thing going into it yet so assumed we'd disturbed them, then suddenly this Coal Tit arrived and sat for a while before entering a nest it'd made higher up in the Climber, then a couple of Back Birds were flying in and out of the climber with twigs so it's all go now.
We're off on Sunday South bound hope fully the Butterflies will be out down there where it's a bit warmer than here. Goldie

[Neil Freeman]

Hi Goldie,

I have been trying to get a few things done in my garden too but so far most weekends have been too cold or wet or even snowy. I reckon most of the plants are on average nearly 3 weeks behind where they usually would be by now.

Cheers,

Neil.

[bugboy]

Still non for me either yet despite several rather nice springlike days down here recently (always while i'm at work though). This time last year I was up to 5 species already, but then we were spoilt last spring.

[essexbuzzard]

Hear hear. We really were spoilt last spring. This, in reality, is probably just a ‘normal’ spring, if such a thing exists . Won’t be long now

[Goldie M]

Many thanks for your posts Neil, bugboy and essex, it was a lovely Spring day today so I went for the first time this year to my local haunt Hall-Lee-Brook, What a shock, flower wise nothing there, not even a Dandelion, buds on the tree's were just starting to appear,so like we've all said we're really three weeks at least behind with Spring this year, having said that it could be a good thing in one way, may be we'll get a better Summer, than again unless the flowers appear soon the Butterflies won't have much nectar so I've put a big Question mark to the Spring a round here.
There was one bird who was happy though and we listened to him for a while singing his little heart out he certainly made us feel better about the day Goldie

[MikeOxon]

There are few things more cheerful than a Robin singing its heart out, Goldie, and nice that you captured him in full voice. While you were basking in Spring sunshine, Oxford has been really dull and gloomy today. We do have Spring flowers, though, and plenty of catkins on the trees.

Mike

[essexbuzzard]

Same in East Anglia. Very gloomy. You certainly had the best weather up north today! Good luck when you come to Kent, Goldie. If we get a bit of sunshine, there will certainly be a few butterflies about.

[Wurzel]

Lovely Coal Tit and spring like Robin Goldie - even if it doesn’t feel like spring They say everything comes in threes so after the final Beast blast hopefully we can move into Spring

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

Thanks for your posts, Mike, essex and Wurzel, we've arrived in Kent, we'd a good journey down but the hour we lost knocked us on the head a bit and we feel tired. When we set off the Sun was shining and was lovely burning off the mist has we drove but when we arrived here it was dull and felt cold, hope fully we'll see the Sun at some point before we leave, it's still great to see our family though Goldie

[essexbuzzard]

It been a poor March down here this year. Goldie. Often cold, but even on the milder days, the sun had been conspicuous by its absence, even by British standards. However, there should be some sun tomorrow morning, so that could be your best chance. Good luck!