St David's Day

According to the meteorologists, this is also the first day of spring. I have noticed in Stanmer woods that there are plenty of hazel catkins, and the first two daffodils in the garden have been out for a day or two. There are plenty in bloom in sheltered spots under the trees in Withdean park and I even came across a couple of hyacinths the day before yesterday. The redwings and fieldfares have left us, and a blackbird has been in full song in the woods for a few days now. Several of the black-headed gulls are in their summer plumage, although most seem not to have started developing theirs yet. We have had the occasional day when it has felt quite warm, but there is still not a lot of warmth in the sun.