Whatever you think though is the first day of Spring, today definitely was Spring in Colinton Dell, by the Water of Leith. The snowdrops were beautiful,
the sun was shining and there were birds everywhere:
four bullfinches were chasing each other, squeaking
two dippers were taking it in turns to fly into their nesting hole and other dippers were chasing each other along the river
jackdaws were visiting nesting holes
robins, dunnocks, song thrushes, chaffinches and other birds were singing at full volume
we've still got some chill here in the states but i do look forward to Spring's vibrant colors (they should be just around the corner, :)
ReplyDeletethe snowdrops are beautiful. hope all is well.
I agree - spring starts when she wants to :)
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to see FOUR Bullfinches! I have seen one this year ... so far. Do you know, Juliet, whether we can get 'wild' (as opposed to 'garden escape', though I'm sure there is a better term that eludes me) snowdrops in the UK? I have often wondered. I came across an unexpected clump last w/e in a dell in Rendlesham Forest, which was a lovely surpise as the snowflakes drifted past!
ReplyDeleteHi Caroline - I'm just reading Weeds by Richard Mabey, in which he describes the snowdrop as an archaeophyte - a plant introduced to the UK before 1500, so although it's not actually native, it has been naturalised for a long time
ReplyDeleteIt's a glorious day, spring or no spring. Thanks for sharing the photo and for listing the birds - fantastic!
ReplyDeleteps snowdrops are my favourite flower :)
I take the view that spring begins on 14 February, St. Valentine's Day. Yes, the weather can be wintry after that, but we all know spring is a tease
ReplyDeleteThere is a sharp North Easterly blowing here today Juliet and it is definitely not Spring-like.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful chronicle of spring's horizon approaching... yes it's enough the feeling of entering March to make us sense we are in the season of births.
ReplyDeleteIn Minnesota, one of the first signs of Spring is always when the American robins return from down south and the pussy willows come out.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the history of snowdrops. I have often wondered if they were native or not.
ReplyDeleteToo grey and cold enough to chill your bones here today.
Here - when the daffodil blooms. We have snowdrops blooming - but no sun!
ReplyDeleteI think than in meteorological terms, March 1 is the first day of spring, but what does it really matter?
ReplyDeleteLovely photo and a great birding day.
We haven't had any snow all winter in WA State (except for the mountains). Birds have been singing, so spring is on the way. Snowdrops are beautiful.
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