First swift of 2012

Thursday 10 May
(OK, I'm catching up!)

the first swift was seen swooping across a brilliant blue sky, I'm not sure what was more welcome the clear blue sky or the swift!  Either way the swift stayed with us longer and by early evening was part of a small squadron of five swooping and screaming across the now grey sky.  Oh, well close your eyes and listen and you can pretend summer's here.

Swifts

End of August.

The swifts have been noticeable by their absence for several days so they have already left for warmer climes - not surprising really as it's not eaxctly been a scorching summer - for which some of us are truely grateful!

Busy week, lots of firsts

This past week has had lovely warm spring sunshine which has brought out the first blackthorn flowers and the larches are greening up nicely.
We have also seen the first house martin and the first swift (Sat 24/4).
However, although the days have been lovely and warm we've had some fierce overnight frosts, the protective fleece on gunnera and the seedlings was like cardboard on Monday morning (19/4).