A wildlife safari at Wobrun

 Nice long walk around Woburn Park today- dodged most of the showers but it was amazing to see the hale stones lay so long on the ground which must still be quite cold. But it was a good day for wildlife - the highlight my first two swallows for the year- it knocks me out every time I think that these small guys have just flwon 12000 miles from South Africa and yet were so full of energy and zazz.

Some other nice sightings- two buzzardsm 4 shelducks including the pair in the photo, mandarin ducks, tufted ducks and so much bird song.

This time of year so many birds are in their finest plummage not least these four handsome drakes- all dozing in the spring sunshine. This mute swan was in a fowl (sorry!) mood- chasing geese off the water and away from her and her mate. She was one angry bird today.

There were so many deer in the park including the lovely Pere Davids, but also many of the others, including the little muntjac. Good to see so many close up and to thrill as they bound away. Not quite springboks but not bad! And spring is really here with the primroses, bluebells and so many plants in

evidence. Nice way to spend the day.

Chiff Chaff at last

Struggling to keep my head above the blackness today, so took myself for a walk across Flitwick and Flitton Moors. Could say there was nothing to report except- four new wildflowers for my list this year including this shy speedwell - would have been so easy to have missed this little beauty. A hoverfly- dont ask me which. And lots of song birds. And best of all standing still for a while paid off and I finally saw the chiff chaff as well as hear it. And the robins, wrens, blackbirds, chaffinchs, carrion crows, jackdaws, rook, starlings, sparrows and wrens were in abundance. Just need to get rid of this headache but the walk was good and just looked at the cuckoo web site and Martin the cuckoo has made it to North Africa- hurry up back Martin!

T-wit T-woo or not

"Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime"- Martin Luther

What wonderful words and so true this week as we travel towards Easter. The balmy weather has seen a lot of things spring into life,and I love the pussy willow - a promise to the future. Been walking a lot on Flitwick Moor and twice now we have ventured our just beofre darkness to try and see or at least hear the tawny owls. The first night we did hear one t-wit as we were leaving, but last evening not one owl. But the sounds as dusk falls are full of the last songs of the day- so many robins, wrens and blackbirds, aided by dunnocks and the tone of the chorus not lifted by the pheasants who like me should not be in the choir. But sweetest of all last evening- the songthrush. And hastening out for his nights sorties the most beautiful fox...............the owls may have been silent but it was still worth the wait. And tomorrows another day.

Moths and butterflies

Had the moth trap out a couple of nights now and last nigth just one moth but a nice one - a Hebrew Character - lovely clear markings. I contrast it against the comma butterfly that I saw last week at Paxton Pits and they show that beauty comes in many different forms. ised to like butterflies and be a little wary of moths- just thought of them as things to be avoided in the linen cupboard by the use of the cloe smelling moth balls or worse. But last year having had a moth trap as a birthday present I came to see that they are lovely creatures, some having a lot of colour, no less than the butterfly, and some just this different king of gentle beauty.

And as the year rolls onwards so many of butterflies and so many moths to see and get to know.

What a wonderful world

 Depression is a horrible illness and recovery is a long slow process with its ups and downs along the way. Having had a really happy few days last week the black mist was there when I woke up on Sunday and it really saddened me - but am hanging on in as the overall direction is towards wellness. So yesterday we went for a walk around a new reserve for us and the area around it -- Sandy Smith. It was a joy to see the first bluebells in the woodland, shy quiet flowers but heralds of spring. A little earlier than some years due to the balmy weather

 Getting out has made a big contribution to my recovery and earlier this month we went on a fantastic Field Studies Council weekend at Flatford Mill. Sorting out my photos and they reminded me of the day we spent at RSPB Minsere Reserve - where we saw such a lot of different birds and animals. Amongst the birds was my first view of the shy Bittern- just in front of Bittern Hide!

On the journey there we had stopped at a sandy heathland and we were lucky enought to see a small flock of crossbills, including this one in the pine trees and a slo worm on the ground.

Minsmere was wondeful- not just birds but red deer, fallow deer, common lizard,  muntjac and a nicely rounded water vole. Learned a lot about habitats and birds - highlights included the barn owl in flight at dusk and superb views of marsh harriers.

This last week the good weather and the will to be healed of depression have taken me out a lot and close to home its been good to see so many ladybirds, Brimstone butterflies, hear the tawny owl and see bats in the twilight on Flitwick Moor, red kites, buzzards and everywhere the lovely song of the robin, blackbirds and thrush. What a wonderful creation we have to enjoy. How much it contributes to our wellness.

Harbingers of spring

My first visit to DENR for many months. Its a place I love but I have had to work through depression and somehow I thought that going there would tint the place with the pervasive sadness that I felt and the pain that caused it. So it was wonderful today when the sun shone at lunchtime to feel that at last I could go to this special place. And I was not disappointed and the visit made me feel that these harbingers of spring are signs that the season is indeed turning and sunnier, brighter days are around the corner. And it dawned on me that by this time next month I should be able to gaze at a damselfly or two...............wow!

Spring ....at last

It has been a long dark winter of ill health and unwellness. But spring has arrived and so we gathered our energy and strolled in the sunshine at Regents Park- a time to see the heronry and get close with these fantastic birds. It was strange to hear parakeets calling and see the flashes of green as they flew by. It was a real treat as was the stroll along the canal to Camden Lock and onwards to St Pancras. And toay I found some words that sound just right

I marvel at the way that hope keeps breaking thorugh; It is the Life in me that keeps on reenacting Resurrection. So be it.