Nature notes

Looking out of the window this morning, there were starlings gleaning seed scattered from the bird feeder in the plum tree; and the first signs of buds breaking. In the road, two cock-robins faced off against each other, while a wren foraged in the flowerbed, and a hen blackbird scavenged nesting materials.

Out back, the water-lily pot submerged in the pond was heaped deeply with spawn. Maybe, being late, and with recent rain to freshen the pond, some of it might hatch, this year.

Fetching the cats back from their holiday, it was Bleys who sang all the way, just as on the way out. Perhaps he doesn't like riding in the front seat, separated from the others on the parcel shelf.