Friday 21 March 2008

Good Friday

Despite the cold north wind (the north wind doth blow, and we shall have snow......) the flowers in the hedgerows and fields are blooming one by one - the first new one that I saw today was the White Dead-Nettle, with its lovely pitcher-shaped flowers.

The work of the Coltsfoot flowers is nearly done, as most of them have turned to seed, to be blown by the winds. Below, there's a late bud alongside an early Dandelion.
And I was pleased to find the first of my favourite flower - the Forget-me-not, not in a garden but in a rough field. A cheery flower, lovely combination of colours and a great name.
Few birds around today, but I still clocked up Firecrest, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Peregrine, a pair of Kestrels, Black Redstart and - as I opened the back door - a cacophany of gulls, crows and jackdaws announced the passing of a large raptor with jesses hanging from its legs. It was like a buzzard with a broad white tail band - from the books I'd hazard a guess at a Rough-legged Buzzard. Like all the other birds today, it was gone before the camera was ready.

Happy Easter to all.

4 comments:

Sandpiper (Lin) said...

Catching up here a little. These are beautiful pictures! The first flower is a stunner! I like your previous posts too with the mosses and birds.

Mary said...

What lovely flowers! I love that nettle one....very pretty! I've never seen it before. All were pretty, but I see why you like the Forget-me-nots. They do have both beautiful color and name. Nice post for Good Friday. Sorry about the missed buzzard...frustration for a bird watcher is a non-ready camera :-)

Tony Morris said...

Steve are you sure the raptor wasn't a Harris's Hawk (American bird)? They're commonly kept and I know there are a couple on the loose in Kent. I don,t think Rough Legs are kept much, but I may be wrong.

Kingsdowner said...

Thanks for the comments!

Tony, thanks for the pointer to the Harris'. Having found a photo, I can see that it has a bright white band on the tail, so it could well have been one of those.