Spring has at last arrived! Wednesday, the temperature reached the low 20’s C. With respect to the pony grazing operation, March was a ‘hungry March’ (dryish and cool conditions) with grass growth being almost non-existent.
Have noticed that the herb Alexanders (an Umbellifer – cow parsley family) is slowly spreading out from a stronghold on Friston Hill along the coastal A259. Is this due to traffic carrying seed, the use of road salt in modern times or climate change? It provides those vibrant, bright green splashes of colour with pale greenish-cream flowers along some road verges, mainly near the sea.
Summer bird migrants are arriving in force now; here are my firsts – nothing notable though.
Sunday, April 12 – 2 swallows flew over the garden.
Monday, April 13 – heard a cuckoo calling on Old Lodge nature reserve; willow warbler at Hindover.
Tuesday, April 14 – a number of wheatears flitting about on the Seven Sisters.
Wednesday, April 15 – four house martins early evening wheeling about over village of Hartfield.