Filling the Silence

This recent spell of warm weather has brought the insects out in numbers. Butterflies bask in the sunlight, and a multitude of buzzing things hover amongst the succulent blossom. The Bee Fly has become a regular inhabitant in my garden in the past few years, now that my cowslips have established themselves in lemony patches across my wildflower patch, and they are always a joy to watch.

Migrant birds are busily filling in the gaps left between the winter regulars. last year my garden cut through two Blackcap territories, and the first of last year's males returned ten days ago, with the econd not long afterwards. It took six days before I glimpsed a female pottering around the bramble where last year's nest was, and hopefully this portends another busy Spring and Summer for them there. 

Just across the yard, in the copse, the regular Chiffchaff chortles every morning, and as I walk down to Thistle corner and up the lane towards the river, others punctuate the warm air with their joyful song and shy calls. There seem to be equal numbers of Chiffchaff and Blackcap, and the males of both species are bold in this early part of the season - perching in the open and allowing close approach. My fears about the management have proved, so far, to be not fully realised, as the creaky voices of Linnets are still carried across the remaining scrubbery, and a surprising shout from a Cetti's Warbler greeted me as I reached the beginning of the lane. Yellowhammers too are spread along the field edges, mostly in their heartland across the railway line. A couple of Common Whitethroats are making use of what's left of the flailed field edge, and hopefully there's still enough cover for them - but so far no Lesser 'throats and it seems just a bit too bare and open for their liking. The first Swallow belted across with intent, and soon their gargling voices will fill the quiet that recent weeks has given us.