Seasons Shifting

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

I personally don't think this year is that much different in timing to other years myself, certainly nothing out of the usual to me. In actual fact some stuff has been very late happening this year, the migration of birds for example, there still doesn't seem to be that many Warblers about, when last year despite being colder later there was plenty about

Everything will be fine i reckon, it should be a great summer for Butterflies what with the mildish winter, so things aren't all bad

[harasseddad]

Butterflies and dragonflies are certainly exceptionally early. (about two weeks earlier than usual).

The birds I think depends on where you are - the chiff-chaffs arrived very early here (Norfolk) as did the swallows, martins and swifts. But Willow warblers I thought were a bit late. Lots of nightingales, cuckoos etc arriving this week, along with the first spoonbills.

But we've already lost the ponds in two local nature reserves - dried up already - which doesn't bode well. If we don't get some rain soon we'll have a serious drought on our hands.

[Wild-Woman]

It seems to be a mixed bag then. Some late, some early. From the Kent side, mainly early, especially the Oil seed rape. Early odonates and butterflies. Spring flowers early too.
Perhaps things are more as they should be the further north.

[mrs fish]

Well it looks like we are well into May around here, cow parsley and elderflowers in April

[wildflower]

The hawthorn is flowering here and also i too have flower heads on my elderberry trees..and today i had my first of thousands ox eye daisy open.. Everything is very forward here by at least a month..even my raspbery canes are budding up..Think it will all come early and then nothing for the latter part.. I just hope its not as hot as last summer..