Spring has Sprung!

So it's been nearly two weeks since I've had the chance to get out properly, and how things can change. On Friday at the Wetlands Trust, Chiffchaffs were singing and a stunning Long-tailed Tits nest was found. A morning walk around Henfield Levels yesterday in glorious sunshine was an excellent start to the weekend, with Chiffchaff, Bullfinch, Yellowhammer, Mistle and Song Thrush and many others in full song, with males chasing females and no less than six species of butterfly seen; Peacock, Tortoiseshell, Holly Blue, Comma, Brimstone and Red Admiral.
This morning started out quite different, a six o'clock start for ringing and it was quite chilly!! This didn't last long, and by lunch time the sun was blazing. The bird numbers at the Mumbles are starting to drop slightly as they all head off to set up their breeding territories, but this didn't stop no less than seven Chiffs being caught, as well as two fine male Blackcaps and the usual others (Goldfinch, Wren,Robin, Reed Bunting, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Blue Tit and Great Tit). It's amazing to think that some of the Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs have just arrived having travelled all the way from Southern Europe, and in the case of the Chiff potentially Northern or Western Africa! Then as we were packing up, a Small White flitted past taking the weekend total to seven species of butterfly. With the sound of Chiffs everywhere, and more and more Butterflies appearing, spring is well and truly here. It won't be long until our local flock of nesting Swifts return, the Chiffs are joined by the Willow Warblers and Whitethroats and it'll be time to get the flower I.D book out!

Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita

Blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla