Since before the Easter the sky has been blue at daytime and scattered full of stars by night. The days have been +10, the nights -10 so the snow gets frozen deep at night and begins to thaw only in the afternoon – it’s called steel snow and you can walk on it without sinking . A roedeer can walk on it but finds it difficult to dig through to get to the food beneath it. And there is a lot of snow still: 45 cm in (or actually on) our yard…
It might sound like winter but it’s spring because the snow buntings arrived
– and have carried on northwards. Looking at them, you understand the Finnish saying: Clean as a snowbunting on snow.
The Easter witches didn’t mind the snow (how I wish they’d at least have boots instead of slippers!)
The (still snow white) mountain hares come now in daylight to munch bird seeds under the living room windows
Our buzzards have arrived – as usually, too early for their comfort but fortunately we were in time with the food aid.
Yes, it’s spring. and you can see strange things!
We have never before had such an intimate meeting with a bittern; needless to say (but I’ll say it anyway) we have never before seen a bittern in the middle of nowhere on the snow bank of a forest road. When our distance was less than 10 m it decided we were well below its desirable visitor standards and so took wing and the course to the nearest open water.
BUT let me announce proudly that we haven’t ONLY fluttered around looking at everything: the tomatoes and the aubergines have been potted, the chillies and the sweet peppers will be the next ones and in a week (or a bit sooner) we’ll sow the cucumbers/gherkins, melons and various flowers for pregrowing. And I bet there’s still quite a lot of snow at that time…
Northbynorth 
So lucky to see the bittern up close! We’ve only ever seen one in India. We’ve just welcomed back our willow warblers but are still waiting for the swallows. But at least we managed to finishing the shelves in the shed where they nest. Love the white coated hare nibbling bird seed. I will plant out our brassica today and will need to hare proof them this time!
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They nest down at the lake and in the summer we hear them often and sometimes see them flying – but never like this. So you are now well prepared for the swallows! Have a fine Brassica planting day (we might be off to see more of the migration – the cranes are arriving…)!
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Wonderful wildlife photos but that still looks like winter in my (soft southerner) book! 😉 Swallows and cuckoos have been here a while, just the hoopoes and turtle doves to go, but since the weather here is so cold and stormy they can be forgiven for taking their time. Your plants are all looking great, enjoy the next batch of sowing!
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Yes, a bit wintery in my eyes, too, but I try to believe the snow buntings’ message…
Would love to see a hoopoe here but no chance of it – so I’ll concentrate my wishes on the Purple Emperor butterfly – those have in recent years been seen almost up in this region (not quite, though).
Hoping your weather will get warm soon!
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