After some bleak days with bitter north-easterly winds during the first two weeks of the month things have improved. First signs of spring included Adder at The Backwarden, Danbury on 5th, Bombus terrestris on 7th (Ingatestone), Peacock 13th (Ingatestone), Bombus lucorum 15th (Ingatestone Nurseries), Brimstone 16th (Bradwell), Comma 17th (Mill Green), Wheatear 19th (Blue House Farm), Small Tortiseshell & Chiffchaff 21st (Margaretting), Bombus pratorum 25th (Ingatestone), Blackcap 27th (Hitchcock Meadows, Danbury), Bombus hortorum 28th (Ingatestone), Swallow and Sandwich Tern (Southend Pier) 29th. Still no sign of Bombus pascorum, which is usually the last of the six regulars to appear round here. At Blue House there was also a Red Kite on 14th and an Osprey on 24th. Shame the hedges are still so bare and wintry. Still havn't seen Cherry Plum in bloom, let alone Blackthorn, whereas in most recent years the former has already been and gone.
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