Yesterday evening, 5.35pm to be precise, I thought I heard it as I was walking across open fields with the Jack Rascal Terrorist, out on his final rampage of the day. Light was starting to fade. I heard it again, above the howling North wind that had frozen my cheeks and made my nose drip.
As I tramped across the rough grass the sound got louder. Then it seemed to be right above me, blasting away lungfuls of uncontrolled joy. Singing for all it's tiny might. The birdsong equivalent of a Van Halen guitar riff. I gazed up and searched for it, focussing on the sound and then tracking upwind because those near gale force gusts were carrying the notes southwards. There it was, fluttering, hovering, dipping and jinking in the gale. A lone Skylark. I could hardly believe it. If there's one sure fire indicator that Spring is kicking its way through Winter's drafty door, its a Skylark. Oh joy. Now I really will gunk off the ACF 50 from both bikes. I may even remove the duvet lining from my riding trousers and dust off the leathers Oo-er :-/
Then it did its classic landing. Dipping down in short swoops, 20 feet at a time, hovering, jinking, scanning the ground for its selected site. Three more swooping dips and it was down and gone, vanished from sight, no more sound. Before too long, farmers ploughing plans permitting, there will be a nest amongst the tussocks, crudely scraped out, nothing fancy. Then, when the eggs hatch its returns to earth will be with a beak full of insects for the chicks. It will be a sneaky, tactical landing many yards away from the destination with the final part of the journey made overland, hopping through the cover of the grass so as not to give away the true location of its precious nest. "They think I'm there, but I'm really here". Sniper tactics from natures little bringer of joy.
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Yes, I do believe it's Spring
Yesterday evening, 5.35pm to be precise, I thought I heard it as I was walking across open fields with the Jack Rascal Terrorist, out on his final rampage of the day. Light was starting to fade. I heard it again, above the howling North wind that had frozen my cheeks and made my nose drip.
As I tramped across the rough grass the sound got louder. Then it seemed to be right above me, blasting away lungfuls of uncontrolled joy. Singing for all it's tiny might. The birdsong equivalent of a Van Halen guitar riff. I gazed up and searched for it, focussing on the sound and then tracking upwind because those near gale force gusts were carrying the notes southwards. There it was, fluttering, hovering, dipping and jinking in the gale. A lone Skylark. I could hardly believe it. If there's one sure fire indicator that Spring is kicking its way through Winter's drafty door, its a Skylark. Oh joy. Now I really will gunk off the ACF 50 from both bikes. I may even remove the duvet lining from my riding trousers and dust off the leathers Oo-er :-/
Then it did its classic landing. Dipping down in short swoops, 20 feet at a time, hovering, jinking, scanning the ground for its selected site. Three more swooping dips and it was down and gone, vanished from sight, no more sound. Before too long, farmers ploughing plans permitting, there will be a nest amongst the tussocks, crudely scraped out, nothing fancy. Then, when the eggs hatch its returns to earth will be with a beak full of insects for the chicks. It will be a sneaky, tactical landing many yards away from the destination with the final part of the journey made overland, hopping through the cover of the grass so as not to give away the true location of its precious nest. "They think I'm there, but I'm really here". Sniper tactics from natures little bringer of joy.
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I only remove the socks from my trousers when the temperature hits 30 degrees. I've an image to maintain, dontchya know.
Ah, right, I'll keep an eye out for the first `Mudlark` then.
Must rush out and cut back some of the garden today .. before it takes over
Thanks for the warning
SoC: Ditto. The village "Britain In Bloom" society left me spring bedding plants to put in, but the beds have been overshadowed by a green thing - such is my horticultural knowledge. Am awaiting instructions from the pansy controller. I dig hole, I stick in plant I'm given, I slay slugs. Thats it.
I got a sunburn yesterday!
Just a little one, but a sunburn nonetheless.
I like the little bird tactics, they are pretty clever, hey?
Even surer sign of spring? Frogspawn in the pond ;)
Stressed Out Cop, no wonder you're so stressed - gardening is meant to be a leisure activity. No rushing required!
Planted my first potatoes today. At least you'll know when summer has started Hog - that'll be one month before farce orders that summer uniform can be worn!
JuliaM: Frogspawn? Ponds?? I predict a long hot summer lol. (In the Vale of York a pond is known as a place guaranteed not to be subject to flooding).
Lizzie: You tell him
Allcopped: `Good morning comrades, here is tomorrow's news`.
I was watching tearfits yesterday. They are quite magnificent fliers. Oh and I found a nice clump of Crocus in the Arboretum. Unfortunately I stood on them, but it beats the usual smelly stuff that idle dog owners leave behind.
No frogspawn as yet.
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