Nature notes

It was wonderful to notice all the signs of spring in the nature reserve. It all feels late this year but in fact I think it is actually a more 'normal' year and it's been the past two or three mild winters that have led to early springs. 

Green leaves are unfolding; catkins are on the trees. This (below) is, I think, an alder. The long dangly catkins are the males and the tiny pink buds are the as yet unfertilised females. 

Willow is commonly known as pussy willow because of its furry catkins, grey at first and then changing to yellow when they are ripe with pollen. 

There were a few birds around. I'm sure there were woodland birds, though I can't hear their song so I don't easily spot them. The heron was unmissable, standing in the shallows. Goosander (female on the left, male on the right) were cruising the river.  This is the Aire, remarkably low in water for the time of year. We've had a rather dry March. 

In the woodland, wild violets were blooming. They are so pretty. I'm not sure of the exact species. The differences are minor. I'd hazard a guess at Early Dog Violet. 

There were patches of primroses too:

Lesser celandine shines brightly in damp places. Its petals open in the sunshine and close if it's going to rain. They flower early, providing an important nectar source for insects. In C S Lewis's book 'The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe', they mark the coming of spring after the White Witch's eternal winter: "Coming suddenly round a corner into a glade of silver birch trees Edmund saw the ground covered in all directions with little yellow flowers - celandines".