Has anyone heard a lark yet? They usually start rising and singing here in mid-March. I don't think any bred around here last year so I am worried there will be none. Lying snow has all gone but it's still going down to -5 at nights. Am I just being impatient or should I be concerned? There is a lurking Peregrine which years ago we saw take a lark at the height of his song
We lost our wrens three years ago and have only heard or seen a couple passing through since then.
Hard times for birds
On the upside, our flock of tree sparrows have mostly come through the winter and are building nests, and there are great, blue and coal tits galore, a couple of pairs of yellow hammers, and all the usual blackbirds, robins, dunnocks and so on working away at building their nests.
There is a pair of magpies unfortunately - they are the only bird I'm not pleased to see as they take most of the eggs and nestlings. Aldrin the buzzard isn't too popular at the moment as he has been picking off my Scots Greys over the winter - wish he'd stick to rabbits
Swallows and martins are expected next week, or once we get a southerly wind. There are absolutely no flies for them still, not even a mozzie, so I hope they hold off for a bit. Maybe the southerly wind when it comes will bring flies as well as swallows and martins