Monday March 4th. It’s an atmospheric, frosted early morning as orange sun rays pierce the mist through sycamore trees, and later a solitary bee visits our spring bulbs.
Tuesday March 5th. A walk alongside Eccup reservoir, seeing the flax fields.
Wednesday March 6th. Visit Golden Acre park and talk to a falconer showing his Harris’s Hawk. Beautiful bird, native to S America and southern states of N America.
Thursday March 7th. A cold, misty walk along the canal at Rodley, seeing a shed boat and a Heron.
Friday March 8th. The goats at Apperley Bridge have a donkey ride!
Thursday March 14th. Once more to Apperley Bridge canal, where Song Thrushes sing loud, and I hear my first Chiffchaff of the year. Pink blossom at its best too.
Monday March 18th. It feels like the first real day of spring. An awakening for the Comma, basking in the warmth of March sunshine on the railway track path, and for me too, hearing the Chiffchaff and Blackbird song and seeing our first garden tulips.
Tuesday March 19th. Another awakening! Hedgehog, fresh from winter slumbers, scavenges for worms on Grangefield.
Sunday March 24th. A visit to St Aidens reserve, to see Goldeneye and Black-necked Grebe.
Wednesday March 27th. A visit to the East coast on a blustery day of cold sunshine and cloud. Walk down Hoddy Cows Lane, loving the fresh green hedgerows and bright yellow gorse where Chaffinch and Chiffchaff sing; bracing ourselves near the ploughed fields where flocks of Linnet settle then skip; then balance on Buckton cliffs to peer at a lone Puffin who just sits and stares whilst Guillemot and Kittiwake huddle and Gannet soar and dive.
Thursday March 29th. The blooming Magnolia tree once more gives life and colour to our local streets.
Saturday March 30th. Bright, sunny spring day, visiting Rodley nature reserve.
Favourite 12 for March 2024
