While a few flakes of snow seem to suggest otherwise, recent days have provided some sounds of spring.

The volunteers and I were out monitoring the wet farming test beds one evening this week and we were treated to the reverberating sound of drumming snipe. A break in the clouds granted us a better view and gazing across our moonlit shadows, we could faintly see birds flying back and forth. As the snipe swooped down through the air, the vibration of their outer tail feathers produced the amazing noise (the 'drumming'); on that still night, the sound carried well. 

Until recently, the daytime has been blessed with an increasing chorus of great tit and blue tit song, as well skylarks, and the musical notes of linnets. Other birds are also quite vocal at this time of year, including the members of the crow family. Watch out for the aerial antics of jackdaws and, if you are lucky, the sight of the amazing, rolling ravens.

Lapwing flocks are breaking up and they are also starting to display; one of my favourite spring sights (and sounds). The male throws himself about in the air, rolling and diving, shouting out a piercing 'peewit' call; just one of the local names for this species.