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In common with lots of people I eagerly anticipate the start of spring since it means that nature is waking up again following the winter months and it promises countless enjoyable times wandering and taking part in the great outdoors. However when is the first day of Spring and what are the indicators that promise to you that it is more or less here? Historically Spring is connected with hearing the first cuckoo, well known for its distinctive call and very own life style. In fact, it is far from being the first of the migrant species to return nonetheless it is certainly one of the first to depart again, departing back to Africa in August. Cuckoos are, certainly, now uncommon in the UK and nobody is quite certain whether this is as a result of the very specialised conditions they demand for breeding or problems back in Africa. Whichever, it’s evident to me that we should have a better signal that spring has arrived or at the very least on its way. So at what point does Spring begin? The answer to that question does really count on where you may be. In the British Isles Spring takes pretty much 8 weeks to journey from the south coast of England to the north coast of Scotland. That’s basically walking pace. For the writer the initial indicator that Spring is imminent is the knocking of the woodpecker. Here in the North of England the male starts to establish his territory and lure mates in February. The local birds also become more vocal for the same purpose. Great tits specifically seem to generate a great assortment of really tuneful songs at this point. Before too long, without a doubt, we will see the daffodils and narcissi as they cover our semi wild areas. And then we will start to hear the first of those small but melodic birds the warblers. We commonly notice the first chiff chaff by the end of March followed a couple of weeks later by the Willow Warbler. These two birds are very difficult to differentiate except by way of their songs. The chiff chaff gets its name from its distinctive call whilst the willow warbler has a beautiful song which seems to encapsulate the essence of the English country idyll. The brand new growth, the rich greens and the countless kinds of blossom are also all among the indications for me that Spring definitely is here. Two events, nevertheless, ultimately do verify to me that we can officially announce that Spring is here; both of them are the arrival of particular birds. The first is the swifts as they dive and swoop through the air to catch flies and then land on telegraph wires for a rest. The second is the arrival, in the stream at the bottom of our garden of the Spotted Flycatcher from Africa. It’s a small bird with a dark back and practically white front that flies down to the stream to catch flying insects from just above the water. A wonderful bird and amazing to experience as it flits up and down from its perch. A certain indication that it won’t be long before I will be lighting my first barbecue of the year! Bruno Blackstone is Marketing Director of My Outdoor Store, the premier walking and hiking outdoor gear store. Investigate his store for anything from great outdoor gear to a barbecue.
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