Saturday 20 February
“It was one of those golden days which every now and again leak out of paradise and drip to earth. Spring had been late in coming, but now it was here with a burst, and the whole world was boiling with the sap of life. Never have I seen such a wealth of spring flowers, or such vividness of green, or heard such melodious business among the birds in the hedgerows; this walk through the meadows was a jubilee of festal ecstasy.” From ‘And No Bird Sings’ by E F Benson
Today it feels as if Spring has arrived early. Temperature in the early/mid-teens. The sun is out and even the abundance of hazy, scattered clouds don’t block it’s view of us and everything around us.
As we walk, despite deliberately minimising our layers of clothing before we left the house, zips and buttons are undone and we end up carrying jackets, scarves and hats that are no longer needed. We also slow down making a relatively short walk feel much longer. Partly due to the temperature but also because we simply want to soak in the vitamin D and enjoy the beauty of it all.
And all of a sudden, I feel like I may be returning to the blog posts I used to write. When I started putting these posts together Spring had sprung and my focus was elsewhere. This time, I am in the privileged position of ‘being their’ when nature is reborn. Like an expectant father I am excited to be there when it all happens.
As the trees and plants bud and shoot, so the insects reappear, we could easily see some butterflies by the end of the month. And of course, when the insects appear, the birds are never far behind. And it feels as though the recent birdsong, triggered by the gradual lengthening of daylight-time, was the audible alarm clock waking everything up.
Adora went on a walk with her friend this afternoon having plotted the route last night with me. Nothing too challenging, but a start. And I am hoping that both her and Stan appreciate the value of the simple act of walking in the countryside. Forget the fact that it contributes towards physical good health, but the priceless opportunity to talk, socialise and allow your senses to be tickled is so important.
The government are gradually releasing teasers of what changes we could expect after lockdown restrictions ease after March 8th. The priority, they say, is to get schools back in full operation. But they have announced today that one regular visitor will be allowed to see loved ones in care homes. Dad will be happy as he will be able to see Mum again.
The Bald Birder 