The warm weather over the Easter weekend has really set the Spring flowers on their way here in Aberdeenshire. Just a couple of days ago the first of the Wood Anenomes (Anenome nemorosa) began to flower, on this evening's walk they are everywhere in the woodland and along the banks of the River Don. Optimised to flower before the trees have their leaves in order to get maximum light, Wood Anenomes are a flower I love to see in Spring - a sign of warmer and longer days to come.
Although well behind the west side of Scotland, the Primroses (Primula vulgaris) are flowering too and attracting the early butterflies - I saw a Small Tortoiseshell and a Peacock butterfly feeding on the Primroses on this sunny bank.
On yesterday's longer walk the unmistakable coconut scent of Gorse (Ulex eurpopaeus) filled the air along a forest track which was in full sunshine. A shrub which can be a problem and which forms thick, prickly and impenetrable growth, it does provide good cover for some bird and animal species.
It's been a couple of days of arrivals and departures too - the weekend saw long skeins of Pink Footed Geese pass overhead. Throughout the winter the flocks have been a familiar sight and sound on the farmland but these were flying high, still climbing and straining northwards - going home to Greenland and Iceland; I'll miss their wild music until they return in Autumn.
The geese have been replaced by summer migrants coming home, a few days ago the first Sand Martins appeared over the River Don, yesterday the first House Martins and this morning the welcome warbling chatter of the first Swallow to arrive back here - about six days earlier than the average date we see them first.
All in all there's been some really good things over the last two days.
I'm really enjoying my local walks so far and I can see you are as well. Empty streets, empty lanes and countryside- spring at its best- what's not to like?
ReplyDeleteThere really is a lot to enjoy just now Bob - and less traffic is a bonus
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