Swift Half update - 22nd March 2011

• Blossom buds coming through nicely on the damson trees and pear trees.
• Flower buds a week old now on the marsh marigolds.
• Plenty of bees around for the spostles to chase
• Newts doing well in the pond  - which is once again losing water quite quickly each day, after having a spell of losing none at all.
• Talking of the pond, I think the new lily (which a pal from work dropped by in late Autumn last year) is still alive (after being frozen during the winter) and the old lily has produced its first few tiny purple leaves underwater.
• Yala's foot seems better - but she'll no doubt stomp on another bee again and it'll blow up again!
• About a month now before we hope our swifts return...
• The photo is of a male feather-footed flower bee - the dragonfly of the bee world - supersonic wee mason bees these - a real hit in the garden and a delight to watch. Click the photo twice to enlarge.
• Tonight and last night I heard Redwing passing overhead, heading east at night - a clear sign our winter thrushes are heading to their scandanavian summer breeding grounds once more.
• At the weekend I saw two fieldfare overhead - they'll be doing the same now too.... I wonder if I'll see any more until they return in the early winter again...