Easter primroses

these primroses, in a small patch on the road into our village, are an unusually rich buttery yellow (compared with the normal pale yellow see post below)

four for a boy

In addition to all the other birds a group of magpies have started hanging around. I am not quite sure what they are up to, (courting?),  but usually it is trouble.

at the Venterdon motorway service station

It has been a hectic Good Friday get away at the bird feeders this afternoon. I don't know whether there is a specific collective noun for green finches but a gang of them (holiday makers, I suspect) descended on the garden and proceeded to harass the locals. There is definitely something in the air today (snow?) that is exciting our avian visitors.

primroses!

                                         Upon this Primrose hill,
                                         Where, if Heav'n would distil
                                         A shower of rain, each several drop might go
                                         To his own primrose, and grow manna so;
                                         And where their form and their infinity
                                         Make a terrestrial Galaxy,
                                         As the small stars do in the sky:

from a poem by John Donne

worm hunting

One of the pair of mistle thrushes that has decided to nest in our garden. They hunt like blackbirds, occasionally cocking an ear to the ground to listen for grubs or worms. They have a very easy to recognise alarm call that sounds like a loud rattle .... brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr which sums up the weather as well.

late opening

well, something is trying to get out and pretend it's Spring. And what about this for an amazing discovery in the parish (link to Old School News, Stoke Climsland, April 2013). Can't get enough of old bones myself.