Quite a quiet month for me due to the weather and a few other things.
Lots of stuff coming out of winter stasis at the field though.
The hedges are in bud, as are a few of the orchard trees (pears mainly, so I suspect further frosts will wipe out this years fruit potential).
In the base of the hedges, quite a bit of green undergrowth, including a reasonable amount of wood anemones.
In the grass, quite a bit of meadowsweet starting, as well as buttercups and celandines.
An early light harrowing during a rare dry spell lifted a bit of thatch from last years disjointed mowing due to 2012 being so wet.
Lots of robins in the hedgerow, buzzards occasionally above as well as another kestrel type bird of prey (possibly larger).
A cormorant is along the river by the castle quite often. Also woodpeckers and kingfishers in the ditch along the trackway.
One of the barn owls is noticeable early evenings.
A few visitors dropping by: locals, landowners, local history society and the Environment Agency (pleasant chatting all around) - a few unwelcome ones included 5 persons arrested by Cheshire Police for theft, after suspicious vehicle activity in the lane above. Also a few feral teenagers nearby causing a bit of nuisance and vandalism.
A sunny morning and hopefully a proper start to spring now the snow is melting...
