Signs of Spring?

As February rolls on, signs of Spring are certainly about, with Daffodils appearing in SSW in the first week of the month and more Snowdrops spreading along the banks.

Daffodils in SSW 4th February

Snowdrops along the churchyard banks

Cyclamen in the churchyard

Hazel catkins are also sprouting in the hedgerows and a few days of sunshine in the third week of the month even encouraged the spring cyclamen to flower in the churchyard by the South porch.

Hazel catkins  in lane near Woolhayes

On Monday 18th February the sun shone and I saw and heard my first Chiff Chaff of the year at the Combe sewage works. It is possible it was an over wintering bird but the warmer day must have encouraged it to start singing!

Another bird I saw enjoying the sunshine that day was a beautiful male Bullfinch near Clayhanger. I heard it first calling its rather boring single whistle but what it lacks in voice it makes up for in colour!
It was rather distant but even so the colours are very distinctive in the brown undergrowth.
Hopefully there will be more sunshine to come!