[Dave K]

Meteorological spring has started, always the prospect of a return to wintry weather but some places no doubt will see spring start earlier than others. Please report your sightings of indicators of the progression of spring flora and fauna here

I hope that previous thread will encourage folks to look out for flowers etc, if you see something and are not sure what it is then don't be afraid to post a pic here and ask, we have some knowledgable members (and their other halves ) who will try and identify anything.

There are some photos for reference on last year's thread: http://www.ukweather...ar-spring-2011/

[Halo]

Posted on 23 February 2012

The main emphasis seems to be ladybirds so far, numerous about. I seem to recall there were loads last year, and these have carried over. A little more activity in the pond today, one or two frogs, water boatman, and and several small pond skaters. New growth appearing, marsh marigold, yellow flag, and the yellow skunk cabbage which had planted itself a few years ago and has been growing ever since. A pair of buzzards flew over this afternoon.

A blob of frogspawn has appeared in the pond. Newts observed, also in the pond - 29 February 2012

[Bazmundo]

Cherry Blossoms near the canal in Stoke have started flowering, hadn't even noticed they were in budburst.

[diddy12345]

The signs of spring seem to be appearing slower than last year.
I am sure this time last year I already had frogspawn in the pond.

11 frogs in the pond (some paired up) but no frog spawn yet.

Bulbs growing but not flowered yet.
Thats about it really.

[Nigel Bolton]

Just seen my first slow worm basking in the sun on the compost heap. A nice, fat grey one, curled up like a Cumberland sausage. Is good. Perhaps he can now munch his way through some of my slugs before I start planting out.

N.

[Flatlander]

Lesser Celandine in flower
Brimstone butterfly seen flying
Early Dog Violet in flower
Comma butterfly seen flying

All at lunchtime today.

[Halo]

Saw my first bumblebee today - 1 March 2012

Noticed the dreaded ground elder leaves are fully open.

[Ed.]

Ditto re bumblebee, saw one buzzing around last Saturday, fair size too.Made the sunshine feel that bit warmer.No wasps as yet lol

[Flash]

Huge queen wasp out sunning herself on a box bush in the garden last Saturday and literally dozens of ladybirds also emerging from hibernation.

Forsythia was just starting to flower before the major cold snap of a couple of weeks back but now seems reluctant to continue,

The seven resident male pheasants who have lived in harmony in the back garden all winter have now all sprouted their little tufts of head feathers and are fighting for dominance of the corn feeder.

Spring is sprung!!

[Dave K]

Heard a song thrush singing this morning for the first time this year but still haven't heard the local blackbirds singing.

[Nigel Bolton]

Several queen wasps and bumblebees flying around today. Strangely, I have seen no ladybirds, which is a shame, as I would want them here for blackfly prevention. Ants starting to emerge, but are still rather torpid, though a disturbed common yellow ant nest brought to the surface by digging did reveal smal pupae.

Trees starting to look vaguely green, indicating buds must be swelling. Grass getting horribly long.

Certainly felt like Spring today, despite a strong southwesterly breeze for a time, one or two gusts stong enough to bring some small dead wood out of the Magnolia.

N.

[scrapemedic]

We got dafs, but we will have trees by the end of the week. Stopped at an RTC on the M4 near Heathrow today, it was dark and the phone pic is blurry, but you can just about make out the leaf burst.

[skanky]

First signs of leaf burst in the hawthorn.

[Paul Corfield]

Female Blackbird started nest building in the garden today. She's taking mouthfuls of moss into the same bush as she's used for the last two years previous. Blue Tits still carrying bundles of grass and moss into the nest box too.

Paul.

[Dave K]

Still no great signs that spring is really settled in the starting blocks here yet on a riverside stroll. Plenty of low fresh growth though of nettles, bedstraw, cleavers and some of the cow parsley is now up to a foot high. The only tree showing any leafburst was a weeping willow, nothing at all on the hawthorn thickets.

[Halo]

Quite a lot of coltsfoot in flower, a lovely delightful bunch near a pool. (9 March 2012).

[Bazmundo]

Saw my first bumblebee of the season today, going too fast to tell if it was a white-tail or buff-tail, definitely big enough to be a queen. Saw another about 100yds later, slightly smaller than the first.

[Uskys]

Bats about tonight for 1st time this year.

[Halo]

A couple of blackthorns are in flower I noticed this morning on the way up - 11 March 2012

[Halo]

Lesser celandine first seen in flower - 13 March 2012