Monday 01 March
I start the first day of the final month of my one-year blog. And I start it in good spirits, it wasn’t raining today but wasn’t sunny either. We had such wonderful weather over the weekend and then it turns grey on the Monday when I can’t be out enjoying it. That’s when I feel things are working in my favour.
I have been getting to sleep an hour or so earlier than normal the past few days and I feel it’s already starting to pay off. I felt more awake and energised this morning which is rare for me on a Monday morning in particular. And the day was productive too as the countdown continues towards the schools fully reopening and all of the kids coming back. Just one week to go.
My itchy eyes and sneezing could be down to the fact that the increased light and milder temperatures are bringing out some of the tree blooms. But I do feel my soul swelling when I see everything bursting into life, and the birds are bringing a soundtrack and an animation to it all.
Then, I get home, and Erica has sent me a picture of a beautiful warbler near their home in southern Italy today. At first I immediately think it’s a Eurasian blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) but the colour around its eye is not something I have noticed with the Blackcaps I have seen in Britain. Not that I’ve seen many. I’ve heard more than I’ve seen, on warm days perched deep amongst brambles and scrub.
So, with a bit of clicking here and there I think it’s actually a Sardinian warbler (Curruca melanocephala). They are very rare visitors to the UK and tend not to travel much further than their breeding grounds in the Mediterranean. Thanks, Erica, that really brightened up my evening.
The Bald Birder 