It may be hard to believe today, but in a matter of weeks - yes, weeks! - spring will be upon us. And so, as we huddle indoors, escaping winter winds and biting cold, can we start to look forward to some of the joys of spring?
Let's take a look at five sights, sounds and, yes, maybe even smells that we can look forward to this coming spring . . .
1. Cuckoo call
The call of the cuckoo (it's two note sing-song call being a "cuck-oo") is synonymous with the season of spring. Apart from their call, they are probably best known for their sinister breeding strategy of parasitising the nests of smaller birds.
The cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) has declined in recent years, unfortunately.
It's patterning isn't all that dissimilar from that of a sparrowhawk, with its grey colouring and barred underparts.
I can't think of a time when I have gotten a good view of this bird, but I have heard it call from the trees on some path, when I've been out walking. It's a sound that makes me stop a while. Like, perhaps, Wordsworth did . . .
2. House martin nests
Some of these black and white relatives of the swallow used to nest under the eaves of my childhood home. Now and then, a little black head, black eyes shining, would emerge from the mud nest, awaiting a visit from a parent bringing food.
My parents still live in that house and these birds don't nest their any more. However, I saw nests, on other houses, last year, when I was out traipsing and wandering, and it made me smile.
It is a great joy to share space with wildlife, to have those connections with it, and most of these little birds begin their lives in our towns and villages. Right outside our homes!
Cherish it.
3. The return of my strawberries
Throughout winter, my strawberry plants have rested, dormant. Protected from the darker and colder months of the year by layers of straw, they await the return of the sun's light and warmth.
My interest in gardening is relatively recent, and driven by my love for wildlife and nature.
However, in itself, I discovered a great sense of joy and satisfaction in watching the plants grow. To see the flowers bloom, and then become fruit, is wonderful. Not just with strawberries, but with all plants, there is something profound in nurturing plant life. It is a slight connection to something upon which civilisations have been built.
The pride of tasting a fruit, not bought but grown, its sweetness bursting on your tongue, is one of the most direct links to the earth that one can have.
4. Butterflies and moths
Like the cuckoo call, butterflies on flowers are synonymous with spring and summer. However, we ought not to forget the moths, which can be just as beautiful, and which are equally important ecologically.
Similar to the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch, Butterfly Conservation, a nonprofit environmentalist organisation dedicated to the conservation of butterflies, moths, and their environment, runs a citizen science project every year; the Big Butterfly Count.
Their website also has suggestions for how you can help throughout the year, from monitoring and recording programmes to monetary donations. We all know that our pollinators are in trouble, so do consider visiting the site.
5. The rain should be warmer . . .
This is Britain, even when summer rolls around, we only really get about a week's worth of really hot weather, then it rains off and on for six weeks, then we start complaining about how people are already talking about Christmas.
"I swear, it comes around earlier and earlier every year!"
Still, the rain in spring ought to be warmer and, if it does come as a break from warmer and sunnier days, it can be a refreshing treat. It also promises the reward of flowers and lush green, unlike the winter which can be rolling grey, and overbearing in its cold monotone.
The scent of rain on the air, slightly metallic, as it mixes with the aromas coaxed forth from the plants by warm weather, stirs nostalgia in heart and mind.
Thank you for reading. Just before you go, can I ask that you consider supporting this blog with a coffee from ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me daydreaming about sunnier days!
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Thank you to all readers and supporters!
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