Bees and deer but not much else

Good to see plenty of bumble bees out and about, but sad that there were few birds in evidence. I had heard several chiffchaffs last week, but this time there was only one singing, and no blackcaps either. Perhaps it was the chilly wind that had sprung up, or maybe it was just the time of day, but they stayed resolutely quiet. I had heard reed buntings previously, but again, nothing today.With luck, I'll get better luck next time.

However, I did see this muntjac in the last area we cut. It clearly had an idea that I was in the vicinity because it maintained its pose for several minutes, looking in my direction. As I crept closer it finally felt the need to slink off into the bushes, but not before I had manged several photos.

After that, once I had crossed the Beck and emerged into the Warren Road side of the common, another muntjac calmly walked off into the bushes there.

Getting there at last

A beautiful day; completely clear blue sky, wall to wall sunshine, and the cold wind has gone. At last the spring migrants have begun to arrive and the flowers are coming out. The warm sunshine has brought some insects to life too; peacock and brimstone butterflies are in evidence, as well as lots of bumble bees.

I heard my first blackcap of the year on School Common this morning, and my first swallow of the area near The Hill. I counted at least six singing chiffchaffs across School Common and the main Common itself; including this obliging individual.

The section of the Common between Warren Road and the Beck is looking very colourful, partly thanks to a fine display of lesser celandines:

Could this be spring?

At last! A warm day, or at least what passes for one in this shivering year. The wind has dropped and this is the second sunny day in a row. No summer migrants have yet made it to the Common, although a reed bunting has been singing. But the frogs are very busy, as evidenced by the decent quantities of frogspawn.