Delayed Arrivals
14th May 2017
10th May
Delayed arrivals
"O, wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind?"
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Despite my early excitement, it seems Spring got delayed.
The weather conditions in the U.K. have been dominated by high pressure. Lengthening, dry days and bright sunshine, with only a few overcast, drizzly days, whilst Northern and Eastern Europe had experienced something quite different. The usual warmer continent having been gripped by a period of extended cold winter air. Even Spain and Greece were experiencing snow conditions.
The consequence of this wintery weather, I suspect, has meant the delay of a number of our migrating birds. Therefore, by the end of April many key spring visitors were still absent.
Looking back at my previous entries I notice that swallows and cuckoo have normally arrived by at least mid April. The Swallows having reached the Lakes by 11th and the Cuckoo by 21st April. This year, however, it has taken until the last week of April to see Swallows, followed unusually close by Swifts and then, at last, by the 10th May, the first Cuckoo to be heard.
As if trying to make up for lost time there is a flurry of activity and very much like the visitor lounge at a major airport, there is much toing and frowing as new arrivals appear each day. Today, I have seen my first Grey Wagtails and Sand Martins' of the year. These are now making home next to the earlier incomers - the Wheatears, Skylarks and Stonechats.
Meanwhile the hedgerows and meadows are filling with a pallete of wildflowers. Dog Violets giving way to Speedwells, Wood Anemone bowing to Wild Garlic and Daffodils conceding to Cowslips.
Though things started with a blip, the delay has been worth it as now the world is filled with life and variety.
"Nothing is so beautiful as Spring— When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush"
Gerald Manley Hopkins
Delayed arrivals
"O, wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind?"
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Despite my early excitement, it seems Spring got delayed.
The weather conditions in the U.K. have been dominated by high pressure. Lengthening, dry days and bright sunshine, with only a few overcast, drizzly days, whilst Northern and Eastern Europe had experienced something quite different. The usual warmer continent having been gripped by a period of extended cold winter air. Even Spain and Greece were experiencing snow conditions.
The consequence of this wintery weather, I suspect, has meant the delay of a number of our migrating birds. Therefore, by the end of April many key spring visitors were still absent.
Looking back at my previous entries I notice that swallows and cuckoo have normally arrived by at least mid April. The Swallows having reached the Lakes by 11th and the Cuckoo by 21st April. This year, however, it has taken until the last week of April to see Swallows, followed unusually close by Swifts and then, at last, by the 10th May, the first Cuckoo to be heard.
As if trying to make up for lost time there is a flurry of activity and very much like the visitor lounge at a major airport, there is much toing and frowing as new arrivals appear each day. Today, I have seen my first Grey Wagtails and Sand Martins' of the year. These are now making home next to the earlier incomers - the Wheatears, Skylarks and Stonechats.
Meanwhile the hedgerows and meadows are filling with a pallete of wildflowers. Dog Violets giving way to Speedwells, Wood Anemone bowing to Wild Garlic and Daffodils conceding to Cowslips.
Though things started with a blip, the delay has been worth it as now the world is filled with life and variety.
"Nothing is so beautiful as Spring— When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush"
Gerald Manley Hopkins