Some OBVIOUS signs of spring (and some not so OBVIOUS)

It hasn’t felt like spring over recent days with the sun only showing itself on just a few occasions and rain making itself know on most days. However I have been out and about a little with the camera and taken occasional opportunities to snap some of the below images on my mobile phone.

Just your standard duck to some but the iridescent green of of male mallards head looks particularly resplendent in the spring

Spring is just around the corner and many signs of activity relating to the new season have been apparent over the last few weeks. Along with spring colour and singing birds, flowering plants and buds appearing, a handful of summer migrant birds have already arrived to claim territory and will eventually breed in the area.

Chiffchaffs have started to arrive in the area over the last few weeks and across the country

Already the dawn chorus is quite impressive with thrushes and robins perhaps the most obvious. Both Dartford Warbler and Woodlark are heartily singing on our local heathlands including Woolmer Forest and Broxhead common and I’ve already heard Firecrests and Chiffchaff singing locally in Bordon Inclosure and in Woolmer Forest.

Dartford Warbler showing and singing very well recently on Broxhead Common and no doubt Woolmer and Longmoor

Wild primrose are popping up all over at the moment as well as the less wild ones in our gardens

Adders will be coming out of hibernation this month and I suspect this is the shed skin of one that i found this week on Broxhead Common

Not everyone’s first thought when you think of spring colour but the red of the fruiting bodies on these lichen are really vibrant and easily picked out among the heather on broxhead common at the moment.

More traditionally spring colour photographed this week, Daffodils

..and these awesome lesser celandine are one of my favorites

Dunnocks are unobtrusive and secretive but become particularly obvious at this time of year.

It has seemed as if I’ve been hardly out of earshot of a singing Dunnock over the part few days. With few leaves on the trees they are often pretty easy to spot singing from an exposed perch on a hedge, fence or rooftop.

Richard Ford
www.Digitalwildlife.co.uk