We've Only Just Begun - The Carpenters (Part II)

 Looking along the endless rows of still maturing hedge-rows, planted single-handedly by our friend Chris Sugden on behalf of the Solar Panel Companies, we can find a fine example of just how variable  Mother Nature can be. Looking at the mix of plants (Gelder Rose, Field Maple, Privet etc) during the winter I for one would not be able to identify one from the other except for the evergreen later but, for example come Spring the

BLACKTHORN (Sloe)

bursts into flower before it shows a single leaf, while the progession of

 HAWTHORN
is quite the opposite which might also be said about the recently arrived

SHEEP

which we find totally facinating, MORE did we hear you cry????
From the Irrigation Pond save for the Magpies

NEST BUILDING
there was nothing to report, but on the other hand the activity at the

Gravel Pit,

despite the worrying increase of invasive
Pond Weed,

as the
COOTs
also swing into construction mode

in the

Predicted Spot.
Outside of the Eco Recycling Works Gate

MAGPY's
are far more advanced but close to noon and that mug of
Douwe Egbers Pure Indulgence
came the familiar calls of not only the 'first'

SWALLOW

but also our first
True Migrant Bird.
The images, from the archive, are for illustration only as the brid in question was firstly identified on 'call' and then seen to circumnavigate the Farm House and Tennis Courd twice before departing in a northerly direction - "we,ve only just begun".