Spring has sprung

[mrs fish]

It really feels and looks very springlike here to-day

A spring pic

[canonman]

Hi Mrs Fish
Must agree with you Spring is almost here, best time of the year
Mick

[smartie]

Yes, I'm just about to take a couple of drinks (non-acoholic, of course at this time of day ) out into the garden so we can sit by the pond and enjoy the sunshine. Still need a cardi, but it's definitely spring. Must be, I've pruned the buddleia

[Ben!]

I love Spring, it's definately the best time of the year. Nice picture Mrs. Fish.

[batwing]

I hardly saw a ladybird at all last year but today I have noticed approx 12 in my garden! Does this indicate a hot summer to come? Does anyone else remember the swarms of ladybirds on the south coast in the summer of 1976? Also saw my first butterfly of the year - a Brimstone I think.

[Kerry]

Originally Posted by batwing

I hardly saw a ladybird at all last year but today I have noticed approx 12 in my garden! Does this indicate a hot summer to come? Does anyone else remember the swarms of ladybirds on the south coast in the summer of 1976? Also saw my first butterfly of the year - a Brimstone I think.

We had the swarms up north in 76 as well; there were thousands of them everywhere. I don't know where you are all experiencing spring but here in North Wales it is more winterish than it has been for weeks: it is freezing, grey and blowing a gale. Roll on summer.

Kerry

[smartie]

I've just seen my first butterfly as well. A camera-shy comma.

[GuyF]

I went to a place near me which is good for Sand Lizards to see if there were any out yet and I found both species of Lizard enjoying the sun as well as lots of Bumblebees and Droneflies and one Peacock Butterfly. I saw 2 Sand Lizards and 6 Common Lizards.
Heres a male Sand Lizard, he will turn bright green by the end of May but at the moment he's still quite dull coloured.

And heres one of the Common Lizards showing it's great camouflage

Guy

[Kerry]

Which end of the country are you in Guy?

I have been checking for snakes in a graveyard near to me but so far no sign.

Kerry

[GuyF]

Originally Posted by Kerry

Which end of the country are you in Guy?

I have been checking for snakes in a graveyard near to me but so far no sign.

Kerry

I'm down in Dorset. We've had almost solid sunshine for the last 3 days so I thought it would be worth checking for some recently emerged lizards. It's still quite cold down here though so it was a bit strange seeing the lizards.
Guy

[Kerry]

Originally Posted by GuyF

I'm down in Dorset. We've had almost solid sunshine for the last 3 days so I thought it would be worth checking for some recently emerged lizards. It's still quite cold down here though so it was a bit strange seeing the lizards.
Guy

Solid sunshine! Oh you lucky thing. We are actually colder here than at the beginning of January. Back in the first couple of weeks of Jan we had in bloom the following: dog violet, fumitory, bramble, hawksbit, dandelion, sowthistle to name but a few, plus butterflies out and about. We now seem to be having the winter that missed us: everything is late with no frog spawn yet and many flowers late in bloom. Hopefully things will improve soon.

Kerry

[aeshna5]

Guy, I also went looking for Sand Lizard in Surrey. Saw a movement which I could see briefly as a lizard, but the view was so poor, I couldn't ID it for certain.

Plenty of butterflies: 5 (4 male) Brimstones, 2 Red Admirals + 1 Comma. Also several Bombus terrestis, unID'ed hoverfly + a very early Tiger Beetle.

A lovely display of Lesser Celandine, Red Deadnettle + some white Sweet Violets.

[badgerwatcher]

I have lesser celandine just appearing in the garden, along with violets and primroses.
The house is full of ladybirds, stretching and rubbing their eyes.
And outside, I have just seen a lacewing. (Hope that's what they're called, I know nothing.) Plus a small beige moth as well, so I must go through my list of recommended books and get myself a decent moth/butterfly one!

[almostnormal]

Originally Posted by badgerwatcher

I have lesser celandine just appearing in the garden, along with violets and primroses.
The house is full of ladybirds, stretching and rubbing their eyes.
And outside, I have just seen a lacewing. (Hope that's what they're called, I know nothing.) Plus a small beige moth as well, so I must go through my list of recommended books and get myself a decent moth/butterfly one!

yup...our lesser celendine is popping up all over the place, and the first of our bluebells are budding (a mite early me thinks). we've also got a couple of roses flowering, and that really concerns me!

the best moth book that i've found out there is:

Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland (Paperback) by Paul Waring (Author), Martin Townsend (Author), Richard Lewington (Illustrator)

easily the most user friendly one, with classy illustrations of lots of common moths (and some not so common ones). I've been using it to great effect for the last year and my moth id skills have vastly improved!

[Susie]

What a fantastic day! I could get used to this. It was so warm and sunny and driving past Box Hill, Surrey, I counted ten Brimstones and two "something elses" flying. I wonder how many I would have spotted had I stopped the car and gone for a walk.

[Kymba]

I have spent all weekend out in my garden digging and clearing so we have almost got a blank canvas ( at last) to transform.. Today I have been digging out and collecting all the stones from a drystone wall that was there that has collapsed several years ago by the looks of it, which we are going to rebuild..
I have spent today Insect spotting as i worked, Lots of ladybirds, 3 Butterflies, several bumble bees, along with worms, woodlice and other mini beasts ( i must get small insect book to take out there with me)
I thought great spring is here..THEN!! I came in and watched the news and Next Week they are forecasting More snow!!!!!!
This could be disasterous for all the wildlife that think winter is over

[badgerwatcher]

Yes! I saw that Kym!