The first mild, warm, and sunny day since last Autumn!!

It's been just *wonderful* having the sun out most of the day - and very little breeze this morning, till about lunchtime!

Aaaa... sigh of relief... At least we've had ONE day of Springtime!  It seems like we've been in Winter since December!  We've just finished March, which was the second coldest on record, and April had hardly begun when the Met Office said that the 2nd of April was the coldest April day on record, too!  And all the time, during march and April so far, we've battled bitingly-cold Easterly winds; and the March snow still lies many feet deep "up North"!

So it's been a real respite-day, today, to have the day mild - even warm this morning while there was no wind - and sunny most of the day... Aaaa...  We even opened the Summerhouse doors to air it out!!  Wa-hey!!  Springtime has finally arrived, if only for one day!

So, I wonder... How many of you, like me, had a bit of a clear up in the garden, as the sun shone warm this morning?  And while the male Blackbird sang his velvety-song to his lady-love? I was even happy to see the first fly of the year! Well, the first I've seen.

Another, pleasant surprise, was a pretty little male Siskin has visited the bird table again this morning, while the male Bluetit continues to drum on the nestbox under the eaves to attract his lady-love.

After all, that's what they've always said, innit? When Springtime comes, a young man's fancy turns to courtin'!

RIP "Waggy" the Pied Wagtail

It was a very sad morning for my Ann.
She was in our lounge when she heard "squeeking" noises from the garden; and she looked up just as "our" Pied Wagtail - who we've had, and fed, since last Spring - flew up from the ground, into the lounge window with a bang...  As it fell back to the ground the reason for the "squeeking" and it's frightened flight into the window became clear in the next second...

Our local Sparrowhawk had got the Wagtail...

She, (we know it was a female, as they have slate-grey backs, whereas males have a black back), has been my constant companion for well over 9 months, getting more and more confident of coming down when I'm still out putting down the various bird food we feed.  But now she is no more...

As I said to Ann when she brought me the sad news, "You're actually very fortunate to have seen it. (a) We now know why we'll not see "Waggy" again, and (b) you've seen the Sparrowhawk get fed from our "bird feeding stations", cos  after all, Sparrowhawks don't eat mealworms, nuts, seed, coconut or fat scraps.  For the Sparrowhawk the bird table provides... birds... ..." 

But, nonetheless, RIP "Waggy"...  I *will* miss you're friendly twitter.