Still no nuts

Our walnut tree, planted on Good Friday 1999, in keeping with everything else this year is way behind and is only now coming into leaf. This is the first catkin (male flower) it has ever borne, unfortunately whereas previously it has only produced female flowers this year there are none to be seen. Still no walnuts!

wending in the willows

the Inny at its greenest, and a female wide bodied chaser (or libellula) freshly emerged and drying off in the sun

sparrow fence

It turns out that sparrows are well know for bullying martins. On the advice of the RSPB (see link) we have made a sparrow barrier out of odds and ends. We shall watch developments with interest.

martinville

Somewhat later than usual the martins have returned. Looking back through the records on this blog they are at least two weeks and up to six weeks later than usual. Recently they have taken to arriving and then disappearing for a few weeks, no doubt to fatten up for the breeding season. I am not sure that these two have decided to nest here. They spend a lot of time chattering to each other and flying around just like a married couple looking for a new home to start a family. Almost immediately a male sparrow appeared on the guttering above which does not bode well for a peaceful few weeks.

flowers about

some images from two walks today, bluebells, ramsons and hedgerows.

brimstone and fire

Apart from a few small whites there really are very few butterflies around at the moment. I don't know whether they are simply late because of the cold weather this Spring, or absent because of last year's dismal weather. However, there are some brimstones in the woods. These are very fidgety butterflies. When a male and a virgin female meet they perform a spiral dance up into the canopy, whirling around feverishly before falling to the ground (in a swoon?) to mate (see link). In this photo the female is above the male who is obviously much more yellow. It makes a very attractive sight in the yellowish light  under the emerging canopy.