This year is colder than last year. And how do I know this? Well because a year ago today, the hawthorn blossom was starting to flower quite nicely. And today on Beltane Day, I only found a single solitary Hawthorn flower out on the same tree I photographed last year.
So there you go, must be a whole 2 days behind last years emergence. Proof if proof were needed it's getting colder!
It's been a good day today. Another trip to Sand Bay before work to photograph the driftwood shelters. Sadly as can be seen below, two have collapsed, but the other one stands for all to see. I wonder if anyone will rebuild them over the Bank Holiday weekend?
Bird wise Sand Bay lived up to it's reputation. I could have swung a pair of Swarovski binoculars about my person for half an hour without hitting a single bird. The skylarks though were singing well, and back at the car a single long tailed tit bobbled about which was a good end to the walk.
However walking into work later, my first screaming swift over Clifton (Bristol). We have a bit of an informal competition who can hear a swift first at work. And I was beaten by Sarah, a radio producer by 45 minutes...... can you believe it!!
But from that a mad poetry session followed, which began with this missive from myself I composed between the BBC Club and the office while fetching a cup of tea.
Mayday turns into summer
Clifton swifts scream overhead
So glad it wasn't a herring gull
Dropping fish onto my head
and from there I received 3 back from various people, but I'll leave the last piece of poetry to Edward Thomas, one of England's greatest poets (in my view at least)
HOW AT ONCE
How at once should I know,
When stretched in the harvest blue
I saw the swift's black bow,
That I would not have that view
Another day
Until next May
Again it is due?
The same year after year --
But with the swift alone.
With other things I but fear
That they will be over and done
Suddenly
And I only see
Them to know them gone.
And finally, it that wasn't all enough excitement on a Friday before a Bank Holiday, this week there was a fabulous Radio 4 Programme on the history of Wildlife TV. If you missed it, here's the link to the listen again site. The Balancing Bluebottle.
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